Ive just bought a used Fiat Grande Punto, but it has a slight fault, occasionally when driving, the "Generic Warning indicator" lights and the MFD says "Check Stop Lights"

so i checked my brake lights, and sure enough, the left-hand brake light is behaving strangely. in normal conditions, the light is illuminated slightly after the other two (right and centre lights), the warning message is only toggled occasionally, as the delay does vary slightly.

when i turn on the sidelights, the problem is made worse, the delay is greater, and the warning message remains on the instrument panel constantly

engaging dipped headlights makes the problem worse still, making the left brake light almost useless (throughout the test, other brake lights operated as normal)

I have already tried swapping bulbs, but that made no difference. I have cleaned the contacts in the multi-plug and between the bulb and the light casing but the problem still persists.

I think that the problem is a lack of current to that individual light, possibly in a faulty fuse? or possibly (worryingly) in a wire hidden in the bodywork that i cant access easily

does anyone have any ideas on how to fix the issue?

thanks

Sounds like a possible defective earthing point for the defective lamp. Might be worth locating it and giving it a good clean up

How do i identify the earth? Is it one of the wires in the multi-plug?

TheGrover said:

Is it one of the wires in the multi-plug?

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Yes, although its the Body earthing point you'll need probably

I'd still put my money on a crusty terminal.
Try cleaning inside the bulb holder also, including the 2 bulb terminals and its side casing as this is it's earthing point.
It will be down to a bad earth, so the bulb is finding another route to earth via one of the other bulbs.

keat63 said:

I'd still put my money on a crusty terminal.
Try cleaning inside the bulb holder also, including the 2 bulb terminals and its side casing as this is it's earthing point.
It will be down to a bad earth, so the bulb is finding another route to earth via one of the other bulbs.

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I couldnt see anything wrong with the terminals when i opened them up.

I also swapped the bulbs over, and though it hasnt fixed it, the lights were far more reliable this evening driving home, even with the headlights on (which previously triggered the warning indicator almost every time i applied the brakes)

Tomorrow ill open up the lights again to clean them up. whats the best way to clean the terminals without damaging the anti-corrosion coating? just a quick blast with WD-40 and a wipe down with paper towels?

Thanks for all the help guys, i really appreciate it

TheGrover said:

I couldnt see anything wrong with the terminals when i opened them up.

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Which then suggests the origional fault I suggested, have you looked at the earthing point(s) on the chasis yet

Most Easterly Pandas said:

Which then suggests the origional fault I suggested, have you looked at the earthing point(s) on the chasis yet

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Ive not looked at the earthing point yet, though i cleaned the terminals and bulb contacts with a little WD-40 this morning and in the 20 miles after that, didnt get any warning lights, not even when i tested with the headlights on

if it pops up again ill check the earth, is that in one of the door sills? i noticed something that may have been an earthing point in the front passenger door sill when my insurance company was fitting a telematics box this morning (he drilled a small hole and attached a wire to a clamp, what i imagine was just an earthing point for the power supply)

Thanks for the help

So big brother is watching you. I'd ban the use of black boxes as an infringement of human rights if I were in power. Think about it, you've been bribed into surrendering some of your freedom for a small saving. Its totally unethical.

jameshobiecat said:

So big brother is watching you. I'd ban the use of black boxes as an infringement of human rights if I were in power. Think about it, you've been bribed into surrendering some of your freedom for a small saving. Its totally unethical.

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Don't be so silly. No-one is twisting your arm and forcing you to have one, its a choice, an option. Its your human right to either choose to have one or not to have one.

Simples

Earth you want is in your boot in the passenger side rear corner behind plastic trim _ carpet

Ive thoroughly picked my insurance company, they do collect data about my driving, but it is never used against me (like some companies fine the driver for poor driving, which is totally unreasonable in my opinion) but rather only every used for me. the insurance is already £500 a year cheaper than the next best quote i found anywhere (including ringing people directly) and i save another £200 if i drive well (or save less if i drive well, but not perfectly)

if anyone's interested, just throw your details into confused.com, and itll end up the best result by far if you have similar circumstances to me, and you can read the policy documents for yourself, theres absolutley no provision whatsoever for them to increase your permium, fine you, or cancel your policy (unless you refuse to allow your telematics box to be fitted)

Im not advertising them, im just saying that there ARE companies out there that dont seem to want to shaft you at every opportunity

TheGrover said:

Ive thoroughly picked my insurance company, they do collect data about my driving, but it is never used against me (like some companies fine the driver for poor driving, which is totally unreasonable in my opinion) but rather only every used for me. the insurance is already £500 a year cheaper than the next best quote i found anywhere (including ringing people directly) and i save another £200 if i drive well (or save less if i drive well, but not perfectly)

if anyone's interested, just throw your details into confused.com, and itll end up the best result by far if you have similar circumstances to me, and you can read the policy documents for yourself, theres absolutley no provision whatsoever for them to increase your permium, fine you, or cancel your policy (unless you refuse to allow your telematics box to be fitted)

Im not advertising them, im just saying that there ARE companies out there that dont seem to want to shaft you at every opportunity

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They don't fine you, yet you don't save £200 if in their eye you don't drive well :chin:

Sounds like a punishment, fine if you like, to me.....

Most Easterly Pandas said:

They don't fine you, yet you don't save £200 if in their eye you don't drive well :chin:

Sounds like a punishment, fine if you like, to me.....

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Not if i save £500 even if i dont earn a discount, i suppose you could look at it as a punishment, losing your discount, but on the other side of the same coin, youre rewarded if you do earn a discount

TheGrover said:

Not if i save £500 even if i dont earn a discount, i suppose you could look at it as a punishment, losing your discount, but on the other side of the same coin, youre rewarded if you do earn a discount

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As yes, fair point, I hadn't taken into consideration the origional £500 saved

Most Easterly Pandas said:

As yes, fair point, I hadn't taken into consideration the origional £500 saved

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It's still part of the bribe. What's the price of freedom? £500 seems to be about it.

jameshobiecat said:

It's still part of the bribe. What's the price of freedom? £500 seems to be about it.

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You don't have to drive to have freedom