Apologies on both my first post on the forum being a call for help and for for adding another post to this topic; the previous ones hadn't seemed to give any solutions.

Problems started around 2 weeks ago when during a very frosty evening the headlights seemed a bit too bright when starting the car. They seemed to flicker a bit, and after fiddling with the high/low beam stick, confirmed that the full beam lights were intermittently stuck on. During the 30 minute ride home they were sporadically flicking on and off involuntarily.

The next day the problem went away and shortly after one of the dipped beam filaments blew. I assumed it was just a foible. Both Main/Dipped beam, and sidelights were replaced (One sidelight had gone a week before)

Last night, on long drive back down the motorway, the problem started again (With new bulbs). All had been fine for the 90 minutes drive up that afternoon, but on the return journey the full beam stayed stuck on from the moment I turned the key, apart from a few periods of respite when they reverted back to dipped beam, despite re-staring the engine a few times.

I've had a little poke this afternoon and confirmed the following:

- 'Wand' still works, in that turning the full beam on and off turns the blue indicator LED on correctly - but no regular correlation to the actual lights dipping. If I flick it on and off several times, occasionally it actually turns the lights off,, but usually just makes them flicker for a millisecond each actuation.
- Under-bonnet fuse box appears dry (No obvious sign of condensation or dampness inside
- Relay spade terminals appear clean and non-corroded
- Relay 'sockets' on the fuse board look in fair condition
- Having switched all the similar relays in the box around the problem persists.
- Hasn't reverted back to normal after disconnecting the battery for 10 minutes, or leaving the car for 24 hours.
- Lights turn off with both wand set to side-lights or no ights, and with engine turned off
- Follow me home seems to work OK, albeit with full beam.


Any suggestions on solutions would be great. really don't want the expense of taking it to a garage to pay for a bunch of diagnostics, especially at this time of year, or even confirmation of the relay number corresponding relay for high-beam for a 1.2 Active (2007) as I cant find it on the user manual or italian service manual, just fuses.

Thanks!

Davidac said:

- Under-bonnet fuse box appears dry (No obvious sign of condensation or dampness inside

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you need to look for water/corrosion at the connectors that plug in under the fusebox.

I just wonder if it is possible to temporarily disconnect the high beam by pulling off one of the three terminals on the h4 bulb? Best to check that the dip filament remains powered when high beam is activated otherwise you might get a nasty shock.

Thanks. Just pulled the fuse box and sure enough there were a few droplets of water in the longest socket of the three multi-connectors. Problem has gone away as of this afternoon so sounds like a water / condensation issues - I think the high beams are constant high signal so a drop in the relay signal resistance would keep them open / On?

Cleaned the terminals with a pin and dried the socket with a J-cloth. Let's see if it lasts

Hi,
I have this same issue, and can see the three multi connectors underneath the body computer / fusebox, but cant for the life of me undo them! Does anyone know how they come apart - there aren't any obvious "snappers" or anything - and its a pain to get to!
Thanks

Hi I had this problem last year basically not good news mine was related to the ecu and had to have a new one!! It's the signal from the computer that tells them to turn it off! The stalk was fine and everything worked so I took it to 2 different garages both said same thing

I think this must be a very common problem across all manufacturers, BMW 3 series seem to suffer especially :devil:

Cadabena said:

I think this must be a very common problem across all manufacturers, BMW 3 series seem to suffer especially :devil:

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Thanks for the replies guys

It's certainly water in the connectors under the fuse box - I had it diagnosed by Fiat a few weeks ago and they cleaned it up - it's damp again now so I need to take the connectors apart but can't see how they snap together!

jc86 said:

Thanks for the replies guys

It's certainly water in the connectors under the fuse box - I had it diagnosed by Fiat a few weeks ago and they cleaned it up - it's damp again now so I need to take the connectors apart but can't see how they snap together!

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I apologise in advance for a post that won't help, but I have almost the same problem as this, only not full beam - if anyone knows how to dry out the connectors, it would be much appreciated

RowingLad87 said:

I apologise in advance for a post that won't help, but I have almost the same problem as this, only not full beam - if anyone knows how to dry out the connectors, it would be much appreciated

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Fuse box out and placed on a radiator for a few hours and the connectors that plug into the fuse box I cannot see why a hairdryer couldnt be used on a low/mid temp. I use this on my fogs when they get condensation inside them

SJB1985 said:

Fuse box out and placed on a radiator for a few hours and the connectors that plug into the fuse box I cannot see why a hairdryer couldnt be used on a low/mid temp. I use this on my fogs when they get condensation inside them

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Thanks man Do you know if the fusebox is easy to get out? I guess I'll have to disconnect the battery? I'm afraid I can't look now as the Fiat's about 50 miles away, but after the exams when I'm home I'll either look at it myself or take it to the garage

From what I can work out, the flickering must be related to water ingress in the engine bay or the indicator stalk, and I'm hoping it's A

I need to dry the foglights out too actually

My partner's 08 Grande Punto 1.4 8v just started doing this, very shortly after having a new alternator fitted (I doubt if this is connected).
I'm not there at the moment so haven't been able to look myself, but she has taken it to an auto electrical place where they can't find the cause as yet. I suggested water under the fusebox and they have looked but say everything is perfectly dry. Are there other known causes for this.
(As the above symptoms, the stalk seems to work fine, with the high beam light coming on appropriately, but the lights randomly switch to high beam, (without the high beam indicator) and usually stay there.)

I know it's been a while since anyone posted on this thread, but I am experiencing the exact same problem as OP, with one little extra problem: my lights can switch themselves on even when the ignition is off and the key is out! I parked up yesterday morning and locked the car, before going inside. I swear that the lights were off. When I came back out much later, the lights were on. Checked the stalk and they were switched off. When I put the key in and switched on, I was able to cycle the stalk and get them to go off again, but they came back on, of their own accord later. Needless to say, the battery is now completely flat too!

Am hoping that someone can give me some info to help get this sorted. I don;t have a great deal of experience with electrics and (being Christmas week) don't have a great deal of money available to pay for repairs, plus finding a garage to fit me in at short notice is going to be tough.

Any advice guys?? Cheers!

As stated earlier in the thread, check for mosture in the fusebox and it's connectors. A hair dryer is a good idea for drying things out.

Robert G8RPI.

Thanks for the reply.

At first there didn't seem to be any sign of water ingress in fuse box, but I thought it was worthwhile to check fully, so I removed the battery and then fairly simply and quickly figured out how to remove the fuse box.

Once it came out, it was evident that there was some water in there, but luckily not a great amount. Have cleaned away what I can get to, but don't have access to a hair dryer (don't own one and also there is no way to get power to where the car is parked), so I was wondering what other options I have?

Would it be safe and beneficial to give the affected connector a light spray of WD40 and then a good clean up with clean cloths and cotton buds, then leave everything to dry for a period before reconnecting? Or would it simply be better to wipe away as much moisture as I can get at?

Betterspud said:

Thanks for the reply.

At first there didn't seem to be any sign of water ingress in fuse box, but I thought it was worthwhile to check fully, so I removed the battery and then fairly simply and quickly figured out how to remove the fuse box.

Once it came out, it was evident that there was some water in there, but luckily not a great amount. Have cleaned away what I can get to, but don't have access to a hair dryer (don't own one and also there is no way to get power to where the car is parked), so I was wondering what other options I have?

Would it be safe and beneficial to give the affected connector a light spray of WD40 and then a good clean up with clean cloths and cotton buds, then leave everything to dry for a period before reconnecting? Or would it simply be better to wipe away as much moisture as I can get at?

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Hi,

WD 40 tends to leave a residue..,

if the board is demounted, bring it into the warm for a while..

otherwise get some absorbing crystals from a DIY / camping store for a couple of quid..,

proper electrical contact cleaner in aerosol form can be a sound investment..as will last a while,( NOT used on live contacts )
Charlie

Awesome! Thanks. Will grab some contact cleaner and will keep the board in the warm for a while.

Cheers!

Betterspud said:

<SNIP>
Would it be safe and beneficial to give the affected connector a light spray of WD40 and then a good clean up with clean cloths and cotton buds, then leave everything to dry for a period before reconnecting? Or would it simply be better to wipe away as much moisture as I can get at?

Click to expand...

Wipe off any visible moisture, give the box and connectors a shake and wipe again. Leave to dry for a bit with the plugs off if you can. Then light spray of WD40 on the connector contacts will help, but don't soak it.

Robert G8RPI.

OK. I am stumped now.

Have removed the fuse box, dismantled it and found no sign of water damage, but have used contact cleaner and cleaned it up anyway. Have also cleaned the three connectors that plug into the fuse box.

None of it has made a difference. Still I have permanent high beams. Have had to temporarily resort to pulling plugs from headlights, just so I can use the car. If I leave them connected they are always on, even with stalk switch in off position and key removed.

Anyone have any ideas? Starting to think it might be cable fault or ECU..

On a side note: is there a simple, temporary way to disable high beam but leave dipped lights only? Would allow safer driving until I get it fixed and would let me test whether it is highbeam overriding or whether the dip function is simply unavailable.

Cheers.

pull the relay for the high beam (not sure which one but engine fuse box pull them one at a time till the light/s go out


if a good drying of the fuse box hasnt worked try unplugging the stalk

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