Hi, please excuse the essay but I figured it would be easier to aggregate my issues in one thread rather than multiple clogging the forum.

I have a 2007 Grande Punto Active 1.2. Recently, the headlights decided they wanted to come on whether I have them switched on or not. When I turn the switch to off or parking lights, they just stay on main beam. High beam works fine, both indicators work fine but the headlights act as if I have turned the switch to main beam. I have read through some threads and it seems it may be the indicator stalk that is causing the issue. I read that if the body computer can't detect and input from the stalk, it defaults to on as a safety precaution (if true, well done Fiat). However, can there be a loose connection, so to speak, as I went over a bump perhaps too quickly and the lights went off. Tried the switch and it worked fine; for about an hour...It's not back to being on all the time unless I turn the engine off.

My second problem, perhaps more vaguely, is when my fuel gauge gets to just below half a tank, it starts to drop very rapidly to reserve and the trip computer shows a reduced range as if to say there isn't too much petrol in it. I know this isn't the case as I immediately put £20 in and it nearly filled it. Knowing that it takes around £40 to fill my car, based on what the gauge was reading, £20 should have given me just over half. The gauge seems to work perfectly when the car is above half a tank. I'm guessing it is the sensor but I'm very much a noob at this stuff. Just don't want to be ripped off in a garage.

Finally, when I turn the key to engage the electrics (one notch before starting the car), the check engine light is on and stays on. When I fully start the car up, the light goes out as if there is no issue. Is this something I should be concerned about or is that normal behaviour (my first Fiat).

Any, and all, help is much appreciated. Again, apologies for the essay.

Regards,

Mike

The headlights is quite possibly a faulty stalk.
However, at about £120 a pop, it's an expensive mistake to make if it isn't.

Fuel gauges are not particularly accurate, the sensor is a resistor. readings can fluctuate when going up or down hill.
If your'e not confident with it, this is what i would do.
Carry a gallon in the boot.
Fill the tank to a normal knock off fill, and drive it till it stops.
Or i'd estimate 450 miles.
This will give you some indication as to how many miles per gallon, your getting and how far you can drive it before you need to worry.
Although i'm a great advocate of the warning light being a tell tale sign.
Its a 45 litre tank, so £20 should give you about half a tank (Feb 2015 prices)
But as they are not 100% accurate, this could take you almost from the red to showing 3/4's.

Check engine light being on when you switch the ignition on is normal.
the engine isn't running so the ECU doesn't know what state it's in.
Similarly, oil warning light and probably a few others.

That's what I'm worried about. Spending £100+ for it to not resolve the issue.

I will give the gallon idea a go and see what i come up with. On my last car (03 clio), when the warning light came on, I could maybe get 60 or so miles. I'd never do that, I'd just top it up. But when the warning light came on this my range was showing around 15.

Regarding the check engine light, that's good to hear. One less thing to worry about.

Thanks for the great answer!!

That's true about the stalk.

Now about fuel gauge since it's not normal (plus this behavior affects range calculations etc) you have to check the sensor. Sadly this sensor is on the fuel pump so it's not so easy to check or replace.

My headlights on my 1.2 used to flicker or go out when I touched the stalk to indicate. I used to have to wiggle the stalk to get them back. I got a can of that electrosolve contact cleaner a couple of weeks ago and squirted it best I could into the stalk. They've been fine since. Might be worth a try, even just for a temporary fix.

Gary

When you say you cleaned the contacts, did you take the steering wheel off an whatnot to do that or just spray it in the Indicator stalk (as in the gap between the turnable light switch and the solid stalk).

If you look at where the stalk is, there is a small curved plastic panel round it. I took that off (it just popped off) and squirted it onto and around the ball whilst moving the stalk around. I used a good half to 3/4 of a can. Maybe do it a couple of times over the course of a few days. Hope it helps.