General Headlight problems

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General Headlight problems

Chinky_500

Fire Power!
Joined
May 27, 2006
Messages
139
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27
Location
Brighton
Hey all,
I'm having problems with my headlights. Whenever I indicate to turn, the headlights sometimes will blink on / off. At times the lights will go out completely during the turn...meaning I have to complete the turn, turn the lights off, then put them back on again.

You can hear the light relay clicking on / off, and also the position of the headlight adjust will dissapear from the digital display.

Its an intermittent problem - I think it happens about 40% of the time.

Wondering if anyone has had this problem, or knows what it could be?
Thanks :worship:

C500
 
Does it only happen on turning the one way or both?. If its on turning both check your earth. If it only happens on the one direction, yep get the swith checked out, it may be a short.
 
Hi there,
I think this is a common failure. The light switch in my 1.3 Multijet was faulty, too. The dealer (in Germany) replaced the complete section, including wiper switch, as a case of warranty.
Check whether the light turns off and on by SLIGHTLY turning/tilting the upper part of the stick.


Greetings from germany

Gunter
 
My panda was standing outside the whole day yesterday, in the sun, at temperatures reaching about 40 C. When I drove of, I noticed the levers were very difficult to move. But they did bend easily, I felt they could break off any moment. It was really scary to signal a left/right, because the lever would bend up/down, but not actually 'click' into place. :yuck:
 
Soepy said:
My panda was standing outside the whole day yesterday, in the sun, at temperatures reaching about 40 C. When I drove of, I noticed the levers were very difficult to move. But they did bend easily, I felt they could break off any moment. It was really scary to signal a left/right, because the lever would bend up/down, but not actually 'click' into place. :yuck:


Didn't Fiat test the Panda in the Kalahari desert during its development? Perhaps they didn't use the indicators....

I got one of those folding silver reflector things for the windscreen this year, glad I did.

About 34C here yesterday.
 
Re: Headlight problems / Warranty problems

hi

I am having the exact same problem with my Panda - the headlights click on and off when using the indicator, or even turning the steering wheel which is pretty lethal after dark.
I have just taken the car to the Fiat retailer this morning to be sorted out under warranty (car is 04 reg) and they have rung to tell me that Fiat have declined to agree to repair under warranty because the last service (at said Fiat retailser) was not within specified mileage (I think it was just over 24k miles). Fiat garage said it's the indicator stick that needs replacing.
I am FURIOUS at this and have got the Fiat 'care' number to call direct, but am just trying to find out whether they have the right to do this. No matter if my car had been serviced a few weeks earlier in Feb, this problem didn't exist then anyway.
Surely, this indicates a defect in manufacturing? How can they possibly refuse to repair when you should reasonably expect a car part to last longer than 2 and a bit years.
And also, if the car is, in their eyes, not now under warranty, why didn't anybody tell me this when it was serviced. I am bloody fuming. Any tips?
 
Re: Headlight problems / Warranty problems

babycar said:
hi

I am having the exact same problem with my Panda -
Surely, this indicates a defect in manufacturing? How can they possibly refuse to repair when you should reasonably expect a car part to last longer than 2 and a bit years.



If the car is out of the statutory warranty period, which it is, then Fiat can dictate the warranty conditions for any subsequent extended warranty, which they do. Having your car serviced 'on schedule' is one of them.

You could write (politely) to your local Fiat service manager, reasonably pointing out that the indicator stalk assembly is not dependent on service schedules for correct operation, there are two further documented instances of the problem occurring on this forum (include printouts) and ask for a goodwill contribution, like you'll pay for the labour if they will provide the part.

But if you didn't have your car maintained under the terms of their warranty then you cannot expect Fiat to provide items and labour under it.

That's how it goes....
 
Re: Headlight problems / Warranty problems

pandissimo said:
If the car is out of the statutory warranty period, which it is, then Fiat can dictate the warranty conditions for any subsequent extended warranty, which they do. Having your car serviced 'on schedule' is one of them.

You could write (politely) to your local Fiat service manager, reasonably pointing out that the indicator stalk assembly is not dependent on service schedules for correct operation, there are two further documented instances of the problem occurring on this forum (include printouts) and ask for a goodwill contribution, like you'll pay for the labour if they will provide the part.

But if you didn't have your car maintained under the terms of their warranty then you cannot expect Fiat to provide items and labour under it.

That's how it goes....

(y)

Well put:worship:
 
have a 2016 500x that blinks onto bright whenever I use my blinkers. It does it very quickly and does not stay on. I assumed it was a precautionary measure built into the blinker system. was I right or do I have a problem?
I came to the forum to see if anyone else is having a problem seeing at night with the "shadowed" headlights the way they are. I have to leave them on bright most of the time just to see enough of the road to drive safely. Has anyone tried to remove the part inside the lens that seems to be causing the problem?
 
have a 2016 500x that blinks onto bright whenever I use my blinkers. It does it very quickly and does not stay on. I assumed it was a precautionary measure built into the blinker system. was I right or do I have a problem?
I came to the forum to see if anyone else is having a problem seeing at night with the "shadowed" headlights the way they are. I have to leave them on bright most of the time just to see enough of the road to drive safely. Has anyone tried to remove the part inside the lens that seems to be causing the problem?

Speak to a FIAT service centre.. while there is still a chance of a warranty claim.
 
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