Northern Auto Tech - ECU and Blue & Me Repairs

Technical LED Tail Lights

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Technical LED Tail Lights

Thanks for the comments, the idea it could be down to the screenwash hose is plausible - I have never felt the rear jet has forced the water out with any great deal of pressure, so maybe that is part of the issue.

Yesterday I tried to open the casing by unscrewing both of the bolts; maybe there is a special technique, but I couldn't get it to budge. I did note however that there was a lot of water/moisture in and around the edges of the casing.

Funnily enough, it has worked absolutely fine again from yesterday morning onwards!:eek: But have got an auto electrician coming today to have a look, so hopefully we can nail down the cause.
 
Further update for everyone.

The auto electrician has just been now, it was only a 2 minute job but regardless of that I was still grateful that he didn't charge me as he was on the way to another job(y)

Checked out the wiring and connections and everything looks fine, so it probably is a case of the element on its way out some time in the future. He applied some stuff to the cable (stupidly forgot to ask, sorry) and popped it back in.

However, good news. This is a RIDICULOUSLY easy job to sort out yourself if you need to replace the entire casing as it is basically like a "plug and play" connection:

1. Unscrew the two bolts.
2. Make sure all lights are switched off, pull the casing out, and don't be afraid to give it a good tug!:D
3. Pull the cable out of the socket in the back of the casing and remove it.
4. Plug in the replacement casing, push casing back into recess and then screw two bolts in.

It is annoying, but we should probably be grateful this is a Fiat and the parts are relatively cheap! Was talking to the auto electrician and he said he has had to do loads of Audis over the past few years; sometimes the individual parts have been in excess of £300!:eek:

Anyway, hope the above helps.(y)
 
Well...after a very damp weekend, the unit is playing up again and is at 10% brightness.

So I will have to bite the bullet and buy a new one I guess, it does behave itself every now and then but clearly I can't rely on the UK weather to stay dry over the winter (especially as we've seen in the north-west of the UK, can only sympathise with the desperate situation there).
 
Hi all,

I thought I'd share my experiences with you about this issue. I have had condensation in the passenger side light cluster as a lot of you describe, and thought nothing of it at first. I also recently found that the LED light is not visible at all during the day, but can be seen during the night (albeit dim). I didn't notice this until recently as the Punto (62 reg) is due for it's first MOT soon. (n)

Seeing as the actual LED works, I decided to remove the light cluster to investigate. After removing the light cluster, I found the back of the cluster, and bare metal of the car to be damp. I properly dried the area, and lined the outline of the light installation area (the bare metal of the car) (about 4 mm in from the edge) with electrical tape.

I then doubled up the existing electrical tape on the 'plug and play' light connector.

I then removed the bulb array using the clips in the light plastics which exposes the LED and electronics for the LED. From here I simply got a hair drier, and blasted the plastics an electronics for 15 minutes using the hair-drier in a sweeping motion.

This was then left to cool for 45 minutes, re-assembled, and was reinstalled into the car.

The LED is now brighter than my other side - even in the daytime!:D:D, I'm going to start the same process with the other rear light cluster and see if that helps seeing as the MOT is due soon!

Hope that helps anyone with this issue:)
 
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Having done the same for the other rear light cluster, both sides are now the same brightness. The bare metal behind the light was moist to the touch as well, this is definatley a design flaw...

Looks like this Punto is going back when my 2 years is up (Feb 2016). This car has been a nightmare throughout ownership, and with only 18,000 miles, you'd expect minimal issues! Especially given that the car has been in the garage for warranty repairs 3 times now. (Starer motor, alternator, and camshaft sensor!).

I don't even drive the car like an idiot either, I like to play the 'how many MPG can I get out of this tank' game...

Anyway, that's my experience with the rear LED lights - Here's hoping it passes the MOT and doesnt cost me an arm and a leg before it goes back lol.:D
 
Im also experiencing a dim passenger rear led:confused:
Ialso get a warning triangle saying check running lights all lights appear ok other than the rear passenger
when its dry for several weeks it seems to be ok i.e the warning doesnt show but when wet/raining its there again

Is it possible i have same fault?
 
bahamutzeta said:
Hi all,

I thought I'd share my experiences with you about this issue. I have had condensation in the passenger side light cluster as a lot of you describe, and thought nothing of it at first. I also recently found that the LED light is not visible at all during the day, but can be seen during the night (albeit dim). I didn't notice this until recently as the Punto (62 reg) is due for it's first MOT soon. (n)

Seeing as the actual LED works, I decided to remove the light cluster to investigate. After removing the light cluster, I found the back of the cluster, and bare metal of the car to be damp. I properly dried the area, and lined the outline of the light installation area (the bare metal of the car) (about 4 mm in from the edge) with electrical tape.

I then doubled up the existing electrical tape on the 'plug and play' light connector.

I then removed the bulb array using the clips in the light plastics which exposes the LED and electronics for the LED. From here I simply got a hair drier, and blasted the plastics an electronics for 15 minutes using the hair-drier in a sweeping motion.

This was then left to cool for 45 minutes, re-assembled, and was reinstalled into the car.

The LED is now brighter than my other side - even in the daytime!:D:D, I'm going to start the same process with the other rear light cluster and see if that helps seeing as the MOT is due soon!

Hope that helps anyone with this issue:)
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for the detailed post!

I completely agree with you, when I checked out the casing a few weeks ago it would appear that the issue is related to water ingress as it was wet to the touch. And that would probably explain why when I left the car facing the sun for several hours that it started working again.

I am definitely going to give your method a punt as my LED is also working. It didn't work at all a couple of days ago, but I checked it again last night and it was about 30% brightness (it does seem to vary). But by the sounds of it I may well be able to get it to work on a more permanent basis without having to fork out for a new unit:eek::)

PS sorry to hear about the reliability issues though, seems a shame.
 
derbyshire gp said:
Im also experiencing a dim passenger rear led:confused:
Ialso get a warning triangle saying check running lights all lights appear ok other than the rear passenger
when its dry for several weeks it seems to be ok i.e the warning doesnt show but when wet/raining its there again

Is it possible i have same fault?
Click to expand...

I would definitely say similar, the only thing different compared to my issue is the check running lights warning triangle. That would suggest something slightly different is wrong as I haven't had any warning lights at all.
 
The lamp supplier to fiat has modified the lamp in approx 2013, the circuit boards were not produced to standard (automotive lamps make them for all brands, so maybe just other vehicles have similar faults). Speaking of the hairdryer trick, my PS3 has broke and that's a fix off the net. Technology eh...
 
its been a while but triangle warning has gone out flashes up randomly every now and again for a few seconds...
Well took lamp cluster out ,but before i did i could tell from the screw heads it has been out before .....
gave a good look over and its not wet and not damp?.
connected back up and still leds appear dim.
So it has to be a faulty led/controller as the entire cluster seems to be a sealed unit i doubt its accessible by a novice so a new cluster is the best option.
 
derbyshire gp said:
its been a while but triangle warning has gone out flashes up randomly every now and again for a few seconds...
Well took lamp cluster out ,but before i did i could tell from the screw heads it has been out before .....
gave a good look over and its not wet and not damp?.
connected back up and still leds appear dim.
So it has to be a faulty led/controller as the entire cluster seems to be a sealed unit i doubt its accessible by a novice so a new cluster is the best option.
Click to expand...

Its a shame you can't swap with another car - to see if it's the unit,
or the power supply..,
Charlie
 
Its definately a faulty led unit:mad:
I tried a cluster from a 2011 evo and led's are lighting up fine
but it doesnt fit right :bang:as the wiring connector is different and the brake/indicator bulb cage mounting is slightly different :confused:
On the 2012 puntos it clips either side and bolts up on top and bottom.
Where as the evo one has clips on all 4 sides so a little modification is needed to ensure a tight seal with some silicone and i may have it cured.
 
There was a service bulletin for the Evo where you renew the multi plug on the vehicle wiring to match the smaller connection on the new lamps. Speak to a dealer they can supply part numbers, or get one off a scrapper
 
Hello, guys. This is probably a bit late, but I'm experiencing the same issue, dim rear driver side lights. Although, if you give it a light slap it goes full brightness again. Not sure what's up...
 
MrLeez said:
Hello, guys. This is probably a bit late, but I'm experiencing the same issue, dim rear driver side lights. Although, if you give it a light slap it goes full brightness again. Not sure what's up...
Click to expand...

A little update. I took out the whole cluster, unplugged it, re-plugged it, everything is working normally now...
 
Super Uwe said:
Lol, well mine still plays up every now and then.

Behaved itself for a good couple of months, including for the MOT last month.

Then it started going dim again/not working at all a couple of weeks ago.

Generally the "smashing it hard" technique does get it working again! The joys of Fiat ownership...
Click to expand...

I would just replace one myself next time only takes 5 mins or so and if its the updated version you wont have to do it again for a while ....
https://www.shop4parts.co.uk/?name=store&op=Details&ProdID=5160&sku=263101
 
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