Help!

[Suecampbell]

How do I change bulbs in the Third brake light in my Fiat 500c please?
Am very confused!

 

[jrkitching]

How do I change bulbs in the Third brake light in my Fiat 500c please?
Am very confused!

Hello and welcome.

Is this any help? (watch the second video)

Bulbs here.

Edit: This applies to the 500, not the 500c. Thanks to Piccolo for spotting this.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

How do I change bulbs in the Third brake light in my Fiat 500c please?
Am very confused!

Unfortunately JR's response refers to the 500 hatch, not your 500C.

The third brake light in the 500C is a sealed LED unit and individual lights cannot be replaced. If moisture has contaminated the light it will cause corrosion and failure of the LED's, usually in groups, and it probably isn't worth trying to open the light up to repair it; you can only replace the whole unit (and it's quite expensive). Do not try to lever the unit out of the spoiler - this has to be done from inside the car, dismantling part of the rear trim and there's a post describing the process by BigKev which I'll try to find when I have more time.

Later;

Quote from BigKev;
“Well, actually I had a go at this last year (this is an old thread). The rear portion of head lining is unclipped, then four screws are removed to release the spoiler, then the whole LED unit can be replaced. On assembly, apply more sealant to the four screw holes to combat leaks, replace screws and headlining. Fiddly working in the back of the car (it is for me as I am a huge fella!) but not difficult for a competent DIY type.
The new LED unit is hellishly expensive though, at over £100!!!”

 

[jrkitching]

Unfortunately JR's response refers to the 500 hatch, not your 500C.

Oops! Thanks for spotting this.

 

[g8rpi]

Unfortunately JR's response refers to the 500 hatch, not your 500C.


Hi @Suecampbell
The third brake light in the 500C is a sealed LED unit and individual lights cannot be replaced. If moisture has contaminated the light it will cause corrosion and failure of the LED's, usually in groups, and it probably isn't worth trying to open the light up to repair it; you can only replace the whole unit (and it's quite expensive). Do not try to lever the unit out of the spoiler - this has to be done from inside the car, dismantling part of the rear trim and there's a post describing the process by BigKev which I'll try to find when I have more time.

Later;

Quote from BigKev;
“Well, actually I had a go at this last year (this is an old thread). The rear portion of head lining is unclipped, then four screws are removed to release the spoiler, then the whole LED unit can be replaced. On assembly, apply more sealant to the four screw holes to combat leaks, replace screws and headlining. Fiddly working in the back of the car (it is for me as I am a huge fella!) but not difficult for a competent DIY type.
The new LED unit is hellishly expensive though, at over £100!!!”

Note that while annoying to have LEDs out, it's not an MOT failure until more than half of the individual LEDs or bulbs have failed. See
https://www.mot-testing.service.gov.uk/documents/manuals/m4s01000201.htm
for the official guidance.


Robert G8RPI

 

[varesecrazy]

Pm sent..as Sue has yet to reply to this thread