Technical ABS Warning light flashes in time with right indicator.

[cattard]

Hi,

Wondering if anyone else has had this problem. This morning I noticed that when I use my right indicator the ABS and Traction Control warning lights flash in time with the indicator. They don't flash red though, just a very pale orange. They also stay on (again pale orange, not red), for a few seconds after I turn off the engine.
Any ideas as to what might be going on?

Many thanks

 

[Mick F]

More than likely, it'll be the dreaded hatch wiring issue.
There are many threads on here, this is one I've picked out.
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/354891-hatch-wiring-cables.html

Make sure you disconnect the battery before you have a look at the wires.

Regards,
Mick.

 

[cattard]

I have only had the car since April this year and open the boot maybe once or twice a week, so hope the hatch wiring hasn't deteriorated already. It was parked on the street in heavy rain and then this problem started, am wondering if it is a moisture issue?

 

[pasotibbs]

Similar to the issue we have
https://www.fiatforum.com/500/35858...-lights-dim-while-dash-powered.html?p=4129756

No solution as yet, new dash only fixed for a few months.

 

[cattard]

pasotibbs This is exactly what happens with mine, is yours similar?
When I first turn on the car all the warning lights light up brightly, then all turn off except the the ABS & Traction Control warning lights which remain on but only a very, very pale amber - so pale in fact, that out in the sunlight you barely see them, you really only see them in shade or in a garage. Then when I turn on my right indicator the ABS & EOBD - engine control system failure warning lights start to flash a very pale amber in time with the indicator - the Traction Control light remains on (very pale), but doesn't flash with the indicator.
I have it booked in with the Fiat dealer on December 30, but have heard so many bad reports about Fiat dealers that I am not optimistic that this situation will be sorted easily.
I don't feel that it was coincidental that this happened after heavy rain, I am sure it has something to do with it - having said that it has been out in the rain before without incident.

 

[frupi]

This sounds very similar to what happened on our old TA. Took it to a Fiat dealership for them to look at and they put a brand new instrument pod in stating that they'd seen this problem before and it was a dash pod failure. I'm glad it was replaced under warranty as they told me supply and fit would have cost me over £500 if I'd had to pay for it. With the new dash pod, we never had another issue with anything flashing during our ownership. Whether this is likely to be your issue is another matter and probably one that will only be solved plugged into diagnostics.

 

[pasotibbs]

Yes very similar, replacement dash cures but suspect underlying design fault remains so as in our case fault can return.
Getting interior really hot ( heater on full for an hour or so) fixed the issue on the original dash (until it cooled down again) so I figured moisture may be getting into unit but not tried with the replacement yet.

 

[forzaf1]

Well, this has now happened to me. After fixing a 13 plate Sport and not had issues at all, it's now flashed up this morning on the right indicator, the ABS and engine management lights dimly lit.

Coincidence really that it's been wet overnight? I was about to list it for sale aswell.

 

[jrkitching]

it's now flashed up this morning on the right indicator, the ABS and engine management lights dimly lit.

This is ringing a bell somewhere in my memory.

@typecastboy, is this one of the manifestations of the all-too common cluster fault?

 

[forzaf1]

Seems most common cure is replace Speedo.

Others have suggest it's boot wiring loom, poor battery connection or light bleed.

 

[chris3234]

Yes very similar, replacement dash cures but suspect underlying design fault remains so as in our case fault can return.
Getting interior really hot ( heater on full for an hour or so) fixed the issue on the original dash (until it cooled down again) so I figured moisture may be getting into unit but not tried with the replacement yet.

Prehaps some sort of fault with the soldering

Getting the car interior hot could soften the solder just enough to restore a good contact

 

[typecastboy]

Yeah, I’m afraid it’s new speedo time. The can be repaired but you have to take it out and send it off and it’s around £200 I believe.

Get a secondhand one on eBay although prices seem quite high at the moment. Less cars on the road, less crashes, less available secondhand parts pushes prices up.

I’ve done a few recently. You must get one with less miles than your car as the mileage can be upped in MES but not reduced. It will also require a proxy alignment.

It might due to prices be a good time to upgrade to a colour screen one but must be from the same generation car.

 

[jrkitching]

If desperate, Shop4Parts is probably the (relatively) cheapest proper place to buy a new replacement; a donation to the forum will get you a further 10% off.

There's also this on ebay, but don't know how genuine it is.

 

[forzaf1]

The joys of having a 13 plate with very low mileage, getting a replacement is very very difficult.

I thought about just sending it away but figure as I am flipping the car, that getting a second hand one is cheaper as I can sell the old Speedo and recoup money back.

I think typecastboy did the video that explained that getting a Speedo not from the same generation just causes issues. So I really need to find a pre 2014?

 

[typecastboy]

The joys of having a 13 plate with very low mileage, getting a replacement is very very difficult.



I thought about just sending it away but figure as I am flipping the car, that getting a second hand one is cheaper as I can sell the old Speedo and recoup money back.



I think typecastboy did the video that explained that getting a Speedo not from the same generation just causes issues. So I really need to find a pre 2014?

I may have your solution. Join the Facebook Group “Fiat 500 owners club” and message a member called Chris CFC Fisher. He sells used parts and has speedos that are set to zero miles. He can program them to whatever mileage you like. I got one from him recently £150 delivered. You will still need to proxy align but will work. He will want to know what year and what colour the dial where the mph is, black or white. Worked like a dream.

 

[jrkitching]

So I really need to find a pre 2014?

You also need to find one that's from a 2010 model year car or later; the display was changed at that time.

 

[forzaf1]

Thanks to everyones advice.

I've contacted the source mentioned on FB. Unfortunately it's taking forever to get a response.

On eBay it's so difficult to find a Speedo with 37k or less.

Ideally I want to buy one so I can sell the old one and recoup money back. Last resort is to send damaged Speedo away and get it repaired ...but that will dig into my profit.

 

[jrkitching]

...sell the old one and recoup money back

I don't understand; I thought the old one was faulty?

...but that will dig into my profit

Every day the car sits on your drive in an unsaleable condition digs into your profit.

You can have this car properly repaired and ready for sale in a couple of days. Just phone S4P and pay the price for a new speedo.

Trying to fix this in the cheapest way possible could be storing up problems for its next unsuspecting owner and may end up costing you more in the end.

 

[jackwhoo]

You intend to sell your faulty speedo to get your money back for a working speedo, How does that work?
Who is going to buy a faulty speedo for the cost of a working speedo?

 

[forzaf1]

No, the Speedo would be sold to recoup some of the money back from a new one.