Technical Lights stay on when ignition is on

[Joshua69]

Hi I have just bought a grande 1.4 16v eleganza 2009 and the lights stay on and the stork doesn’t do anything I have been told by the previous owner that he had it diagnosed as a relay, he spent 2k on it in 2018 and didn’t bother to fix and the dodgy dealer didn’t mention it. I suspect it is the stork (ouch) by is there any chance it could be a relay if so which one? I have taken some pictures and found a diagram online, any help or thoughts appreciated

 

[g8rpi]

Hi I have just bought a grande 1.4 16v eleganza 2009 and the lights stay on and the stork doesn’t do anything I have been told by the previous owner that he had it diagnosed as a relay, he spent 2k on it in 2018 and didn’t bother to fix and the dodgy dealer didn’t mention it. I suspect it is the stork (ouch) by is there any chance it could be a relay if so which one? I have taken some pictures and found a diagram online, any help or thoughts appreciated

Hi,
Welcome to Fiat Forum.
If you bought the car from a dealer, take it back and get thrm to sort it out. You have a lot of rights regarding used cars these days.

The actual fault could be a number of things,
Stalk switch,
Relay,
Body Computer (BC)

Wiring fault
Dodgy repair.

Exactly what lights are staying on?
The best way forward would be to get proper Fiat diagnostics e.g. Multiecuscan (MES) www.multiecucan.net on the car. This will enable you to check the status of the stalk switches, if the BC thinks the lights are on and turn the lights on and of from the software.

Depending on the lights involved some fault finding by relay removal and measurements may be possible.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[Joshua69]

Hi Robert

Thanks for your reply, the dealer isn’t playing ball in fact got nasty ... sold as seen etc as it was a part exchange sold on advertised on eBay by son who works for the dealer

Main beam and rear lights are on the stork still works with main beam and indicators. I have been told by a fiat dealer locally who want to charge 115 plus vat to diagnose and 400 if it is the stork that the light stay on if there is a fault and that it is a MOT failure as you can leave the side lights on with the keys out which you can’t.



The previous one had spent a fortune on the car at a fiat at a . Alpha specialist AJS up north he said they diagnosed the fault as a relay. I contacted them but they have no records.

I am in Salisbury not any independent nearby I can find. I have found whole fuse boxes on sale on eBay so my idea was to buy one and try swapping the relay but I don’t know which one it would be. I am fairly useless with cars but thought if I could find out which relay it was a good starting point.

Thanks Josh



I

 

[g8rpi]

Hi @Joshua69
By main beam do you mean dipped headlights or full?

If it is full beam you should not driving the car. If dipped you can drive it OK. Not being able to switch side lights on with ignition off (parking lights) is not a MOT requirement. Being able to turn the dipped beam off is debatable the MOT requirement is that they must come on immediately when switched on.

When I know which ligts are on I'll try to look at the circuit diagrams. A copy of MES and an interface would be less than the dealer want's to do the job.
Can you tell me the ebay item number and I'll look at the ad regards dealr responsibility.

Robert G8RPI.

 

[Joshua69]

Thank you
Sorry I mean dipped lights


.
Links seem to stop me posting ....so
eBay listing number 254185093478

Ok i saw it listed here it was described as “My”but he car was at the dealer below for viewing

The Elite carriage company SALISBURY

I turned up and Dan the seller who is the son of the proprietor Pete explained that his Dad had taken in part exchange for ta Alfa Romeo but the car was not being sold by the garage as they only sell high end stuff

I emailed the previous owner about the fault and in his email he’s said he had sold it (traded in) to elite garages to the proprietor Pete.

Thanks for the info about the MOT it actually passed the MOT with the fault and it is listed in the comments but the local FIAT garage westover in Salisbury have told me that it is a fail the one that quoted 115 to diagnose and 400 to fix if it is the stork.

Thanks
Josh

 

[Joshua69]

Here’s the previous owners exact words

 

[Bernievarian]

Hi Josh,

please stop immediately even thinking about spending ANY money on that one!!

We need a CLEAR and EXACT description, more precise than "main beam" etc.
According to what you say the(some) lights are ALWAYS on ??
Even with key OFF (removed)??
Know what I mean when I ask for a CLEAR description ??

A relay will (might) cost a few £, not hundreds, even at a Fiat (st/d)ealer. A complete stalk from ou friend Ali B. can be found for about 20£ and we will be more than happy to help you replacing them, providing you've got some skills and basic tooling.

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[Joshua69]

Hi Bernie



Thanks for your message. I am not keen to spend lots of money Sorry for the confusion I am very dyslexic, which hinders. Explanations and clarity.

Ok the main, side and rear lights come on when you turn on the ignition. The lights stork can be use for indicators and high beam, but you cannot use the stork/switch to turn the lights off when the ignition is. When the ignition is on you cannot turn off the lights or go down to side light . All he lights go off when you turn the ignition off. With the keys out you cannot turn on the side lights

If it isn’t a relay I think the stork I would need would be part number
735521318 As I have cruise control.

As explained before if it is a relay I am trying to find out which one and where the best place to get one is

Thanks
Josh
.

 

[g8rpi]

@Joshua69
I've looked at the schematics and this problem, as described, cannot be a simple relay issue. The fault is one of these, in order of probability

1/ Faulty stalk switch
2/ Faulty Body computer
3/ Wiring fault or bodged wiring to bypass faulty body computer.
Multiecuscan will tell quickly which it is. Sounds like your repair capability is pretty basic, do you have a multimeter?

It does sound like a faulty stalk switch but can't be 100% sure.
If you are OK with computers and have windows laptop I strongly sugget you get MES and a interface and lead set like this
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-Diagnostics-Italian-Cars-Fiat-Alfa-ELM-OBD2-cables-adapters-MULTIECUSCAN/281712496622?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
At £70 it will do all the diagnostics you need.
The ebay item number does not come up with anything on a search. I think you have a case if you just want to get your money back but if you like the car I suggest you get it fixed. Either DIY or find a good independent garage.

One final thing, Does the green sidelight warning come on on the dashbaord? If it does it's 99% certain it's a faulty stalk switch.


Robert G8RPI.

 

[Joshua69]

Robert

Thank you !

Yes the green lights are on !

Yes I am good with computer's.


Is the £70 for Multiecuscan software? Where is the best place to buy it and what sort of error will it come up with.

I don't have a multimeter but can get one from a friend


eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/254185093478

Yes I like the car don't want to get rid of it and I really don't think I have a chance with the seller.

Where is the best place to get a replacement stork as I have cruise control etc is second hand a good idea ?

Thanks
Josh

 

[nikrox]

Second hand units are around £20..at least mine was..FYI its a complete signal/light unit,both sides etc.

 

[g8rpi]

Robert

Thank you !

Yes the green lights are on !

Yes I am good with computer's.


Is the £70 for Multiecuscan software? Where is the best place to buy it and what sort of error will it come up with.

I don't have a multimeter but can get one from a friend


eBay
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F254185093478

Yes I like the car don't want to get rid of it and I really don't think I have a chance with the seller.

Where is the best place to get a replacement stork as I have cruise control etc is second hand a good idea ?

Thanks
Josh

MES is downloaded directly from their website www.multiecuscan.net
You can play with it (and check CAN connectivity) without paying registration and don't even need an interface to play, just click "simulate" instead of connect. Download it and have a play. select your model and Body Computer and look t the parameters and actuators tabs. You will see low beam and high beam, tick the box in parameters. On the live car parameters will show the stalk position and actuators will let you turn the lights on or off regardless of switch position. Registration is 50 Euros, the interface is about £30.

Second hand is OK for a stalk, ebay is a good place to start. They seem to average around £50 used so it's a bit of a toss up if it's worth checking with MES first, but it's a fair bit of work to change the stalk. If you intend doing your own maintenence on the car then it is well worth getting MES regardless.

Robert G8RPI.

P.S. Car looks nice.

 

[Joshua69]

Hi Robert,

Thanks I have orders leads and downloaded the software, one question how do you find out which body computer you have mine is the 1.4 16v starjet engine 2009 is there somewere I can find out or will it just not connwct.

Thanks
Josh

 

[aurick86]

Hi Robert,

Thanks I have orders leads and downloaded the software, one question how do you find out which body computer you have mine is the 1.4 16v starjet engine 2009 is there somewere I can find out or will it just not connwct.

Thanks
Josh

MES can just detect all the different computers on the car.

You can get an idea of what leads you need here:
https://www.multiecuscan.net/SupportedVehiclesList.aspx

And you will also find out what ecus are were installed on that particular car/engine combination.

 

[Bernievarian]

Won't connect until you select the correct one, and BTW You'll also need the "Yellow" adapter #3 to connect to BCM ...

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)