Hi All
I know there's been posts on this before probably but can't find them. Every couple of weeks / month, I get into my car and the warning triangle is lit up with the warning message 'check number plate light' on. The first time it happened I thought the bulb must've just gone, but a while later the light worked again and problem was resolved for about a month. It's happened 3 or 4 times since then and every time the bulb eventually works again and the warning goes away.

I know it could be the hatch wiring or something but I don't seem to have any other problems, and it's the same bulb/light every time (right hand).

What other symptoms would tell if it's likely the hatch wiring? I'm scared of the cost of this.

Thank you

Change the bulb and review.

If its the wiring, they both go out.

D

If only one goes out then its not the hatch wiring,, yet,,, unlike the position I've just encountered(both out suddenly), use a new bulb even if the old one looks Ok, check the contacts in the holder are clean and that they hold the bulb firmly, you may need to bend them inwards a bit, once you've put the new bulb in, spin it round a bit, other than that it maybe the connection on the rear of the holder?

Thank you. Is it easy enough to get into where the bulbs are?

Usually the light warning goes off and doesn't come back for weeks/a month, but today it was on all the way to work, on still on my way home until half way when the light started working again, and then later on after I came out from Tesco it had the warning again and bulb was off, so it sssms this is getting worse.

Is it worth a trip to Halfords?

The bulb cover comes off with a screw driver, prizes off/out so easy to do, half open the boot lid so its horizontal.

Thank you. Will do this tomorrow. X

Checked connections, all looked fine. Put the working bulb into dodgy side and it worked, and dodgy bulb didn't work in the good side, so definitely the bulb I think.

Ugh feel like everything’s going wrong with my car again!! Had my number plate lights come on again a fortnight ago but this time it was BOTH lights. Changed the bulbs and all’s been well for a fortnight until tonight when I got into my car and the check number plate warning was on. Got out and both bulbs out again. Opened my boot, closed it, put lights off and on again, still off. Switched it off a few more times and happy days my lights came on. My rear wiper works and my car central locking still works. If the wiring had gone, surely the number plate lights would never work? Or is the fault of wires still intermittent and even though they work for a while, stop, work, can this still be the issue?

Intermittent as the wires get asmall break within them so depending on how they are sitting they may or may not work

Unfortunately it's almost certainly the hatch wiring issue given BOTH go out together.

John202020 said:

Unfortunately it's almost certainly the hatch wiring issue given BOTH go out together.

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I thoight this. I never use my boot so annoyed how it would happen if wires are never strained. There’s no way I can replace the wires myself, it sssms too complicated. Would the wiring not cause it to happen every time I put my lights on? Any other signs of damage to look for?

JNAnderson said:

I thoight this. I never use my boot so annoyed how it would happen if wires are never strained. There’s no way I can replace the wires myself, it sssms too complicated. Would the wiring not cause it to happen every time I put my lights on? Any other signs of damage to look for?

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Have you been the sole owner of this vehicle? I'd agree with your point about the rear hatch wiring not being strained if you don't use it, but dependent on the age of the vehicle and whether or not you have been the only owner, you wouldn't have much idea about the useage it had in a previous life.

I'm just so glad we never had this issue when we had both our 500's, but then we got shot of them as soon as the warranty expired.

frupi said:

Have you been the sole owner of this vehicle? I'd agree with your point about the rear hatch wiring not being strained if you don't use it, but dependent on the age of the vehicle and whether or not you have been the only owner, you wouldn't have much idea about the useage it had in a previous life.

I'm just so glad we never had this issue when we had both our 500's, but then we got shot of them as soon as the warranty expired.

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I’m not unfortunately. I got the car April 16 when it was 5 years old, so quite a few years of a previous owner. My first issues started a year ago when it was 1 number plate bulb, all was fine when bulb was changed. Now when it goes it’s both. Don’t get how turning the lights on abd off helps and they work? X

If it is the hatch wiring and you have no option but to buy that loom in the link (but please make sure you check it's the right loom before purchase). I realise you can't do the job yourself, but a decent auto electrician would be able to do that job very easily for you. Don't whatever you do let a dealership do it, it'll cost you a fortune.

frupi said:

If it is the hatch wiring and you have no option but to buy that loom in the link (but please make sure you check it's the right loom before purchase). I realise you can't do the job yourself, but a decent auto electrician would be able to do that job very easily for you. Don't whatever you do let a dealership do it, it'll cost you a fortune.

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I don’t know of any auto electricians in the area. Are they completely different from a mechanic?

JNAnderson said:

I don’t know of any auto electricians in the area. Are they completely different from a mechanic?

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Auto electricians are specialists in vehicle wiring systems. They have their particular skills, mechanics have their specialist skills. To put it bluntly, you wouldn't ask dentist to cut your toenails, just as you wouldn't ask a podiatrist to fill a tooth......

If you use a popular search engine for 'Auto Electrician' for your particular location, you should find one. As a starter, an auto electrician would easily be able to diagnose if it is your hatch wiring that's causing the problem before you spend any other money. Of course their diagnosis won't be free, but sadly, that's the rub, you still have to pay for their time.

frupi said:

Auto electricians are specialists in vehicle wiring systems. They have their particular skills, mechanics have their specialist skills. To put it bluntly, you wouldn't ask dentist to cut your toenails, just as you wouldn't ask a podiatrist to fill a tooth......

If you use a popular search engine for 'Auto Electrician' for your particular location, you should find one. As a starter, an auto electrician would easily be able to diagnose if it is your hatch wiring that's causing the problem before you spend any other money. Of course their diagnosis won't be free, but sadly, that's the rub, you still have to pay for their time.

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Thank you. Have messaged one I found in my town, he’d be £30 an hour to diagnose problem (how many hours would it normally take?) and £10 fuel. Anybody any idea how much an auto electrician would cost all in, including part?

JNAnderson said:

Thank you. Have messaged one I found in my town, he’d be £30 an hour to diagnose problem (how many hours would it normally take?) and £10 fuel. Anybody any idea how much an auto electrician would cost all in, including part?

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I was about £80 including the loom repair kit a couple of years ago. My auto electrician took about an hour to repair but he'd done it before. For what it's worth he said that he commonly repairs VW's, Audi's and Fords with similar hatch wiring faults so isn't just a Fiat issue.

gazz_bee said:

I was about £80 including the loom repair kit a couple of years ago. My auto electrician took about an hour to repair but he'd done it before. For what it's worth he said that he commonly repairs VW's, Audi's and Fords with similar hatch wiring faults so isn't just a Fiat issue.

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Thank you. There’s another electrician in the area I’ve found so gonna get a quote from him too. Mine looks neat inside a black material when you look inside the rubber part, will this need to be completely destroyed it will they tidy all wires back up?