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Technical Help! Lots of lights on

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Technical Help! Lots of lights on

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Elizabeth13

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Feb 18, 2011
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Car was normal - has had the airbag light come on now and again when I touch the brakes (from when I had to break hard when someone stepped out infront of me) but this was last year and has been checked a lot since and could not find a problem - possible electrical fault was the only possibility from my Fiat garage.

No problems since, and now suddenly today..

Got in, turned car on, some lights are lit up.
Sometimes when it's cold, the steering light comes on and turning it off and on again resolves this. However, this didn't work.
The warning lights on are as follows:
- power steering
- ABS
- Handbrake light
- Red light for heating/coolant (arrow down though)
- Fuel light flashing (arrow down to say empty)

Strangely the handbrake light does not turn off when handbrake is released..
Power steering doesn't feel locked or heavy (which usually happens if it comes on)..
Also, headlights are on, but light has not come on to say it is on (have turned off and on and still indicating light does not say so).

Now, firstly I have trudged the long trek all the way to the garage to fill up a 5litre can to give her some more unleaded. I know the tank is not completely dry from yesterday, but I am parked a bit up the curb (because of some bozo infront of me) so the fuel is probably not being correctly recognised due to the slant.

So yes, some more 5litres of fuel has now been added, and tried again.
Same result as before, including fuel apparently being dry and flashing at me.

What do I do? What could be wrong?
I'm nowhere near my Fiat garage either, as i'm visiting someone about 60 miles away. Talk about good timing, eh?
 
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Elizabeth13 said:
Car was normal - has had the airbag light come on now and again when I touch the brakes (from when I had to break hard when someone stepped out infront of me) but this was last year and has been checked a lot since and could not find a problem - possible electrical fault was the only possibility from my Fiat garage.

No problems since, and now suddenly today..

Got in, turned car on, some lights are lit up.
Sometimes when it's cold, the steering light comes on and turning it off and on again resolves this. However, this didn't work.
The warning lights on are as follows:
- power steering
- ABS
- Handbrake light
- Red light for heating/coolant (arrow down though)
- Fuel light flashing (arrow down to say empty)

Strangely the handbrake light does not turn off when handbrake is released..
Power steering doesn't feel locked or heavy (which usually happens if it comes on)..
Also, headlights are on, but light has not come on to say it is on (have turned off and on and still indicating light does not say so).

Now, firstly I have trudged the long trek all the way to the garage to fill up a 5litre can to give her some more unleaded. I know the tank is not completely dry from yesterday, but I am parked a bit up the curb (because of some bozo infront of me) so the fuel is probably not being correctly recognised due to the slant.

So yes, some more 5litres of fuel has now been added, and tried again.
Same result as before, including fuel apparently being dry and flashing at me.

What do I do? What could be wrong?
I'm nowhere near my Fiat garage either, as i'm visiting someone about 60 miles away. Talk about good timing, eh?
Click to expand...

Do all these lights come on all the time or only when its cold and you start the car? after you have been driving the car for say 30 minutes and its warmed up inside do they all stay on or go out? have a look in the fuse box next to your right leg while in the drivers seat and see if there is any signs of moisture in there?

Luke
 
This is the first time all these lights have come on, and they are staying on (not going off). I haven't tried moving the car as the car infront is too close and if I try to pull out around him and the car crashes I am screwed and will be blocked the whole road (very small one way road).

The power steering light used to come on in cold weather, but like I said that would stop if I turned the car off and on again.

This is the first time the power steering, ABS and the other warning lights have all come on, and won't go off.

I have tried using the key electric lock (was using the alarm lock) as suggested by my garage, with no change.
 
Elizabeth13 said:
This is the first time all these lights have come on, and they are staying on (not going off). I haven't tried moving the car as the car infront is too close and if I try to pull out around him and the car crashes I am screwed and will be blocked the whole road (very small one way road).

The power steering light used to come on in cold weather, but like I said that would stop if I turned the car off and on again.

This is the first time the power steering, ABS and the other warning lights have all come on, and won't go off.

I have tried using the key electric lock (was using the alarm lock) as suggested by my garage, with no change.
Click to expand...

Go in your car and turn it on then use the heater and warm it up so its nice and toasty inside, when its nice and warm near the steering column turn the engine off and back on and see if the lights are still on. If they are then I'm assuming it's not a problem with moisture.

Luke
 
lukespalding said:
Go in your car and turn it on then use the heater and warm it up so its nice and toasty inside, when its nice and warm near the steering column turn the engine off and back on and see if the lights are still on. If they are then I'm assuming it's not a problem with moisture.

Luke
Click to expand...

Okay, will go try that now..

See everyone in a few minutes (y)
 
might be worth checking the earth points

when the steering light came on intermittently that would point to the battery because an old weak battery can cause problems with the steering
 
Theres 3 as far as I know, one ontop of gearbox, one under the battery tray and one is at the side near the battery tray. Remove them, clean, Grease em up then put em back.

Not sure on a earthing problem tbh cause she said the powersteering light comes on but it isn't heavy but still worth cleaning them anyway so I'd do it tbh.

Luke
 
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Right, I have tried turning it on, warming it up, and then turning off and on again.
No change. The dial didn't even move to say it was warming up

jip0 - When the steering light came on previously, it was just on and during cold snowy weather. I turned off the engine and turned it back on and the steering light was off. Since then I have had the car serviced and been on the computer (diagnostic machine) and they haven't found any problems with it.
I haven't had the steering light come on in quite a while now, until this moment when it is now on with the other lights.

Interestingly enough, when I turned the headlights on, full beam or normal, and when I put my indicators on the dashboard signal lights are not coming on - same as the handbrake warning light remains on even when handbrake is off.

I have taken some photo's of what I am seeing (incase of confusion) and the photo was taken with headlights on (as you can see) but the light obviously is not on to say so. The amber fuel light is the only light flashing, the rest are a continuous red light (except ABS, which is a continuous amber light)

P1090690.JPG


P1090694.JPG
 
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Off-topic:
You need to make sure you upload all photo's into the members gallery or attach them, this site doesn't let you use picture hosting sevices such as tinypic etc. Make sure you use the gallery or attach them to the post in future or mod's will lock your threads.

On-Topic:
Well if it's not moisture playing with the wiring inside the car then I'd say check the earth connections as stated by Jip0 but I'd have thought if it was a earth problem then the dash lights wouldn't work nor the lights etc...

Luke
 
Last edited:
lukespalding said:
Off-topic:
You need to make sure you upload all photo's into the members gallery or attach them, this site doesn't let you use picture hosting sevices such as tinypic etc. Make sure you use the gallery or attach them to the post in future or mod's will lock your threads.

On-Topic:
Well if it's not moisture playing with the wiring inside the car then I'd say check the earth connections as stated by Jip0 but I'd have thought if it was a earth problem then the dash lights wouldn't work nor the lights etc...

Luke
Click to expand...

Off-topic: Ah, thanks, didn't know about that - have now rectified that!

On-topic: It is very strange.. It's dark now and I don't have a torch, so will have to possibly leave any wiring until tomorrow (plus I wouldn't know what I am doing!). Surely I would have had some kind of warning though? It hasn't had any problems and has been normal up until today's sudden weirdness! Unfortunately I don't know a whole deal about cars, especially when it comes to the wiring.

I am going to try later when it is quieter on the roads to drive it - see if it is driving normal despite the lights. Then at least I can get it flat and see if it acknowledges the fuel in the tank.

Edit: Oh, and a little bit of extra history - this car has had a new steering wheel motor put in last year, around summer time. Had a oil change a couple of months ago, and has had the cam-belt changed a year or so ago. As said, it has been on the machine and serviced without finding a fault recently.. So this is all out of the blue.
 
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Right - Temperture warning - I'd be fair to say that possibly a Dead Sensor
Fuel Guage - Possibly Dead Sensor

PS - Check Fuses and relays - and Dry the Coloumn up with a Hairdrier
ABS - again check its fuses

I'd be on the grounds that the Dash's connector has slightly worked loose magically - usually they lock in

Next i would be checking all the Engine Bay Earths as well

And I would also be checking there Center Console earthing Point (yes there is one - its a complete ""b****"" to get too -

If you can - i'd try to get the FiatEcuScan Software to get the fault codes too

And i'd try borrowing a battery for a Known Good working car - see if these faults magically disappear? as the PS is as sure as can be the battery may be getting weak

Ziggy
 
Last edited:
Ziggy122 said:
Right - Temperture warning - I'd be fair to say that possibly a Dead Sensor
Fuel Guage - Possibly Dead Sensor

PS - Check Fuses and relays - and Dry the Coloumn up with a Hairdrier
ABS - again check its fuses

I'd be on the grounds that the Dash's connector has slightly worked loose magically - usually they lock in

Next i would be checking all the Engine Bay Earths as well

And I would also be checking there Center Console earthing Point (yes there is one - its a complete ""b****"" to get too -

If you can - i'd try to get the FiatEcuScan Software to get the fault codes too

And i'd try borrowing a battery for a Known Good working car - see if these faults magically disappear? as the PS is as sure as can be the battery may be getting weak

Ziggy
Click to expand...


Basically I need to get it to a garage then and get them to check a few things? As I don't have a working battery or know of anyone I can borrow one from..
 
Update:

Have run the car around the block - runs fine with seemingly no problems,
however, can now report the rev count and speedometer doesn't work either.
:confused:
 
Okay i really do dowt now that
The Temperature Sensor has failed
the Fuel Float/Sensor has failed
The Crank sensor
Speedo Sensor (for Speedo / EPS and ABS) have all failed at once

Have you been over any really hard Bumps or had any really weird situations with the car

I'd be getting a Few Spanners out - some wire wool and disconnecting the battery

Get the 3 Main Engine Bay Earthing Point removed - Cleaned up - copper Grease or Vaseline - Refit
(Multi plug Earth, Battery Negative Strap on chassis, Gearbox Earth)

Btw - when you switch you lights on - does the dash say the lights are on?
Indicator light flashing?
Handbrake Light goes off when Handbrake Released
Beam warning light works?
Fog Lights?

I'd honestly be Deamed to say to get the Dash Clocks out - and check the connector on the back there
Its really easy todo
as it sounds like a Mass Earthing Fail or a Dodgey Connection
Click here to see how to remove dash clocks to check if its snug and tight

ziggy
 
Ziggy122 said:
Have you been over any really hard Bumps or had any really weird situations with the car
Click to expand...

Nope, nothing at all. Totally happened out of the blue!


Ziggy122 said:
Btw - when you switch you lights on - does the dash say the lights are on?
Indicator light flashing?
Handbrake Light goes off when Handbrake Released
Beam warning light works?
Fog Lights?
Click to expand...

As said previously, the dash does not say the lights are on, or indicators, or beam warning lights when these are in use. Again, the handbrake light remains on even when handbrake is released.

Update
This lunch time car had same problems - nothing had changed.
Just before 8pm when to take my OH to work - everything is normal again!
Lights on the dash have gone, when indicating dash lights come on, speedometer & rev count work, heating coolant indications normal, and now fuel gauge is telling me I have half a tank.
Nothing has changed - no bumps or jaunts have occurred in previous little drive.
I will be going out again to pick the OH up after work, will see then if it is all apparently 'normal' or whether it has gone back to being weird.

I am intending still to take this to the garage as soon as I can, the only thing they can think of is the earth connections - as anything else would probably have the car suffering problems such as the engine not turning on.
Surely (as it's worked again like normal) this must mean some sort of weird loose connection with the dash lights?? Is it an electrical fault?? Or does this sound more like the earth problem, maybe it's burnt out of loose??
 
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its Defo sounds like an earthing issue / Broken connection somewhere
Or it could be a Software Glitch - which does happen with punto's

If the Speedo Does stop working when driving - Pull over

I'm going to say the dash clocks plug is loose
or the Earthing Post on the center console is Playing funny

ziggy
 
Ziggy122 said:
its Defo sounds like an earthing issue / Broken connection somewhere
Or it could be a Software Glitch - which does happen with punto's

If the Speedo Does stop working when driving - Pull over

I'm going to say the dash clocks plug is loose
or the Earthing Post on the center console is Playing funny

ziggy
Click to expand...

Is any of them dangerous at all? Or is it just superficial then??
(Sorry, n00b here)

All was working fine, until a couple of hours ago.
Car was fine, happily driving, and then bam - back to being weird.
I noticed just when I was approaching home that the fuel light was flashing - sure enough headlight light was now out on the dash, handbrake light suddenly on, ABS light suddenly on and steering light suddenly on.. Speedometer no longer working.

Was hoping to get it to my Fiat garage (my dad works there, handy!) this weekend, but unfortunately work commitments are preventing this. May have to now wait until the next weekend.. (n)
 
it might be a long shot - But when i was testing wiring when fitting my central locking kit - i pulled one set of a Plugs wires out
And it knocks stuff out like the fuel guage lights etc

Might be worth while giving them a Wiggle when this mass warning fault of lights appear

DSCF0703.JPG

Can you see at the Bottom Left is a Black Plug with a Red Strap on it?

Well - give that a wiggle - see if the lights flicker / change

Ziggy
 
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