Dash fan toggle switches. Which way is on?

I was hoping to poll the community for an answer to this one. On the dash of the 246 there are two toggle switches that operate the left and right blower ventilation fan motors.

These switches have two positions:

- Straight level (not up or down)

or

- DOWN or UP depending on the orientation of the switch

The switches can be wired to operate in any configuration so my question is:

What is the correct off and on orientation for the switch?

I ask because I have seen various European toggles on other applications be off in the straight level position and on in the DOWN position. Also it is pretty rare to have a Dino in which these switches have not been removed and re-installed so I'm looking for a consensus as to what is correct.

Any official literature references would be great too.

 

Down is on ON in all four of my Dinos Rob.

 

Also "down" on both of my U.S. GTs. Fred

 

Ok I think this one is pretty much decided upon and is consistent with European switches in which DOWN is on.

Now without starting another thread I want to confirm the operation of the headlights as it is not detailed in the owners manual. I ask because I am in the middle of wiring and want to make sure I am getting all of this correct. Referring to the headlight stalk only please correct me if this is wrong:

1. Rotated counter clockwise by 90 degrees turns on:
- front marker lights EXCLUDING the little ones on the fenders that operate only when the indicators are on
- red tail lights on


2. Same as above but with the stalk pulled down one click:
- low beam headlights on

3. Same as #1 but with stalk pulled down 2 clicks:
- high beam lights on

4. Stalk pulled towards the steering regardless of position or rotation:
- flash high beams

 

The international standard for any electrical switch in the "on" position is down. However some variations occur when the failsafe or accidental operation of a device is required would be up.

I believe these switches are SPST

 

On both of my U.S. models, at the topmost setting of the stalk, the front parking lights, side marker lights (4) and the inner rear lights (taillights) are lit. Down one click, and the low beams come on. One final click for the high beams. Fred

 

The same operation that Fred describes applies to the stalks in my RHD spec Dinos. Twist for sidelights, down 1 click for dipped headlights, down a second click for main beam.

 

Thank you for the replies. I edited my original post because I presented things wrong but they now concur with what Fred and Iain have posted. I believe US cars make the 4 rectangular signals operate while the Euro cars do not have these and only the tiny round markers on the front fenders (wings) operate with the turning indicators.

 

That was my understanding and mine were rewired to this behavior after I acquired it. Just another Euro-US difference that some (judges) don't pick up on.

 

OK guys one last electrical brain teaser. My question is:

Are the reverse light(s) on only when the headlights are on?

This makes no sense to me but please follow my reasoning. In the owners manual it shows Fuse #5 being in English for:

- Side lights
- Rear lights
- Instrument lights

Fuse #5 BTW receives its power from the headlight relay when the lights are on.

But it appears as though the owners manual has a glitch in it.

Side lights are referred to as 'Luci Posizione' which translates to 'position lights'. This then should be the front marker lights and red rear tail lights and it would make sense that these be powered by the actuation of the headlight switch.

Same goes for the instrument lights.

But the owners manual refers to in English the 'rear lights' but in Italian calls them 'Luci retromarcia'. Luci retromarcia is most definitely 'Reverse lights' as Retro means back and Marcia means gear: essentially 'light back gear' or rather 'reverse light'. Furthermore there is no reference to any other fuse as operating the reverse light.

So if wired in this fashion the reverse light only has access to power when the headlight switch is in the on position and will not come on at any other time. To my mind it should have power any time the ignition is in the on position.

 

wouldnt the owners manual have these details?

 

On my euro GTS, the reverse light only operates when the parking lights are on, i.e. light stalk rotated 90 degrees. Makes no sense to me either, but I guess if the point of the reverse light is to illuminate behind you so you can see where you're going, then it doesn't need to work in daylight.

 

You would think but it does not.

 

I'm obviously in no position to observe whether my reverse or back-up light is on when I'm behind the wheel, but when I have gone for a state auto safety inspection, they have checked operation of the reverse light, and it has functioned without other lights being on. Now my curiosity is really piqued! Next---the light in the fridge! Fred

 

I will add that the wiring diagram is consistent with the reverse light only having power if the light switch is in the on position.

 

Rob.
Look on page 117 of the owners manual, it does describe its operation, however this may be for a early series as my car the light comes on when reverse gear is selected regardless of lights

 

The purpose of a reverse light is twofold: to illuminate the area behind the reversing vehicle, and to alert pedestrians and other drivers to the fact that a nearby vehicle is or will soon be reversing. At least in the U.S., due to the stringent safety regulations, I would imagine that, even when Dinos were still in production, this warning function of the reverse light would have dictated that it be illuminated whenever the car was being operated in reverse. Fred

 

Thank you Tony and stupid me for missing it in my owners manual (it appears a couple of pages apart from the Pg 117 of the later manual). Clear as anything it says that the reverse light operates when the headlights are on.

Makes no sense to me but with that documentation it is the way it is going back.

On the same subject I can confirm that the engine, rear trunk, and front trunk lights only come on if the lights are on. Add to that the ash tray light too. Confirmed by other Dino's and the wiring diagram

 

As usual with these types of Dino matters, both sides are correct.

We have apparently stumbled upon yet another small difference between US and Euro Dinos - for the reasons that Fred just stated.

According to the US wiring diagram, the reverse light is fed from a fuse which receives power as soon as the ignition is on. So, on US Dinos the reverse light will come anytime, regardless of whether head lights/parking lights are on or off.

 

Its the same as you describe on my UK E series Dino. Possibly a design flaw which was never corrected and early cars had it wired this way and changed for later cars.

The car would never pass our yearly roadworthy MOT test wired to come on with the parking lights.

 

Puzzled as to why Ferrari would do it this way I checked my car this morning and found the reverse light is actually wired from the red box, fuse for stoplights. so when ignition is on the reverse light can work if reverse is selected.

disconnected this wire and tried to fit it into the fuse that is marked reverse light (black box) and it doesn't reach, its not been cut either as the end looks like all the others ie soldered!!

so who did it? Ferrari? UK importer?

My guess is Ferrari screwed up the design, couldn't be bothered to change the wiring diagram or labels!!

 

Very likely.

It may have been more of a gradual change in praxis rather than a screw-up, though. I checked the wiring diagram of the 1967 Duetto, and it shows clearly that the reversing light switch receives its feed from the same fuse that is supplying the parking lights. That seems to have been the old standard way of wiring the reversing light.

 

The dash fans on my two Dinos also have Down as ON.

And BTW, the Alfa Duetto switches appear similar but function electrically opposite so they aren't a direct replacement
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