General Any ideas on what it good be?

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General Any ideas on what it good be?

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So I own 1997 1.9td fiat ducato motorhome, which as been running great for quite some time, after extensive refurbishment and complete overall of the coolant system on new parts, had so much work done it, new water pump, new timing belt, new radiator etc etc.

Anyway a couple of months ago I started having issues with the immobiliser key symbol coming on at ignition and staying on preventing me from starting the engine. I finally pin pointed it to a badly corroded wire and terminal going to the fuel pump. Since replacing it's been sorted.

Then last week I removed the rear bumper to repair a few cracks on it, I removed all the rear lights etc. After finishing I put it all together again checking all wires and terminals were in the correct positions. But now I have a strange issue, the lights stay on even with key removed. The light symbol is visable on the dash however as soon as you start the engine the light symbol goes off as do the lights even though they are switched on on the twist knob on the dash.

The only way I can get them turned off is my removing the 2 x 7.5amp fuses for them.

Anyone who as any ideas or had similar issues I would love your help or advice.
 
I've never needed to 'park' any of my vans but there is a procedure to be able to leave sidelights on without key in ignition. (details of how to do this should be in handbook)

It may be that this system has inadvertently come into play?
 
Many older Fiats had a key position that put the parking lights on. Usually depress a button at the key and turn it back one click from the normal off position.
If yours has this, it is possible that the latch is worn, allowing the key to turn far enough back to put the lights on, or the switch itself is worn making contact when it shouldn't. A worn ignition switch could also have been part of the immobiliser problem.
Hopefully the switch can be replaced without needing the whole lock and a new key to be programmed.
 
You you remove the light connectors without taking the bumper back off?


You could try removing the connections from one light then seeing if the other side stays on
The swap around and try the other side
Should rule out any odd issues with the light wiring

Also worth checking the relay in the fusebox if you can't find the on that feeds the lights
 
Many older Fiats had a key position that put the parking lights on. Usually depress a button at the key and turn it back one click from the normal off position.
If yours has this, it is possible that the latch is worn, allowing the key to turn far enough back to put the lights on, or the switch itself is worn making contact when it shouldn't. A worn ignition switch could also have been part of the immobiliser problem.
Hopefully the switch can be replaced without needing the whole lock and a new key to be programmed.

I agree with the above suggestion.
The OP was not specific, but I assume we are discussing side and tail marker lights, and not any other lights.

On the eLearn diagram for my 2006 x244, which is more recent than the OP's vehicle, it is not necessary to turn the lights ON when using the parking position of the ignition switch. I have just proved this on my
vehicle, and it took more thumb pressure to release than to engage.

As suggested above a worn ignition switch, with the lighting section stuck in the parking position, could possibly inhibit the normal supply to the lighting switch, which would then have no control over the side/tail lights. The headlights only, are controlled by a separate section of the lighting switch via relays.
 
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I agree with the above suggestion.
The OP was not specific, but I assume we are discussing side and tail marker lights, and not any other lights.

On the eLearn diagram for my 2006 x244, which is more recent than the OP's vehicle, it is not necessary to turn the lights ON when using the parking position of the ignition switch. I have just proved this on my
vehicle, and it took more thumb pressure to release than to engage.

As suggested above a worn ignition switch, with the lighting section stuck in the parking position, could possibly inhibit the normal supply to the lighting switch, which would then have no control over the side/tail lights. The headlights only, are controlled by a separate section of the lighting switch via relays.

Hi thank you for your reply no talking about all lights including headlights, rear lights, and they do not switch off after a certain time, if I don't remove the fuses they will stay on all night/day long and flatten the battery. I've checked the cables, terminals and switch, including removing the terminals spraying with contact cleaner and putting back. Still the same.
Am I right in thinking this is most likely a bad earth somewhere, or could it be a relay? is there a relay for the lights which activate power to them when ignition is switched on, just that I keep hearing a clicking noise like relay been activated. They go off when engine is running and I turn lights on, which is weird opposite to what they should be doing, no light symbol on dash like this, however as soon as I switch engine off, lights come on and light symbol on dash comes on. Really weird.
 
A missing earth connection could be part of the problem, but there would have to be another fault in addition. With the info available I cannot confirm a faulty relay, which thankfully is not a common fault.


After some internet searching I have found a German maintenance manual with wiring diagrams. To confirm that I am looking at a (nearly?) correct drawing, can you supply the fuse numbers and designations of the four? fuses for the headlights, i.e Fxx, Fxx, Fxx, & Fxx.
 
Well been out today and sorted the problem. I can confirm that the cause of the weird issue was caused by as someone mentioned around the key ignition there is a black ring for the immobiliser and on this ring is a black button. I always remember it been springy, you press it in and it would spring straight back out. Well whilst removing the steering column shrouds to check wires etc behind. Well when assembling it back together I must of not fitted it correctly as this black button was all the time pressed in. Now I've corrected it, all appears to be back to normal. A weird outcome as a result of this button not releasing. Does anybody know what it's for or what it does under normal circumstances? I would be very interested in knowing.
 
It is for parking lights, as mentioned earlier in this thread. Push and hold black button, then turn ignition key anticlockwise beyond the OFF position. Remove key, then side + rear lights remain ON. I am concerned that your headlights also remained ON. Sounds like a switch or wiring problem.
 
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