the problem i have is with the headlights being on while ignition is on, even if switch for lights is off.

luckily, when i turn the ignition key off the lights go off but it is still a problem. especially due to the short journeys i make, the battery already would struggle to recharge but due to the headlights being on full dipped, even less juice seems to be making it back into the battery.

any ideas what this could be?

any ideas of possible repair costs and where in birmingham i could take it?

cheers guys

This is meant to be one of the few 'always happens' problem on the idea. I believe it is the switch on the steering column that has failed or shorted to cause this.

Not sure if it can be fixed or needs to be replaced though.

Our light are on atleast 90% of the time but I have made the effort to turn them off from time to time due to shortish journeys and -10C.

cheers for the response.

i have read back now quite far on this forum and at least 2 other threads come up for the same issue.

it primarily seems to be the switch is seen as the fault but 1 person stated a new computer solved it (?)

any idea what sort of costs may now be involved?

Switch, body computer goes into default if it does not recieve lights command from switch hence lights stay on, if body computer is at fault they dont come on. Column switch is around £95.

cheers guys.

any idea (scuse the pun) how i could confirm this to be the case before shelling out for a switch or is this definately the case? also where is best to get the switch? fiat themselves? lastly, is this a simple procedure or would somwhere like fiat have to do it? if it a d.i.y job, is there any instructions i could follow?

thx again

also to above, if it is possible to replace by myself, would fiat sell this for a d.i.y job or only provide it if they fitted it?

You will be able to get the switch from fiat, although it might take a while as idea parts will be few and far between.

I should think it will be about 5 phillips screws, a couple of awkward clips and less than 30mins work to replace it.

i was worried that firstly i may need to take out the airbag which is obviously not something i can do.
secondly, i am worried that i might fork out the £100 that it may cost and then find it doesnt solve it, i guess this is still better than paying paying a lot of money just to diagnose it

i had colliers (they are not fiat anymore) take a look at it today and their diagnostic came back confirming it was the switch.

they charged £45 for the diagnostic and if i have them fit the part they will only charge another £28 on top so the overall labour was just £73, pretty good i thought.

the only problem is the switch has to be sourced and found by me due to them not being fiat anymore. arnold clark charge £150 inc VAT!!
i saw one on ebay, saying fiat ducato but with the correct part number and looking identical. it was already sold though, £48 inc VAT. DAMN.

is there anyone who knows where i could get it, part number 735480396, fiat indicator/headlight/wiper unit for less?

hopefully i can find one quick as i will need to drive to arnold clark tomorrow to be robbed ( ) .... sorry i mean buy the part if i cant find it cheaper.

cheers.

try the desira group as they sell alot of fiat parts.

sorry mate, thanks for the advice but i couldnt wait and had to pay arnold clark to order it, £152 inc vat. terrible

hey marc.knuckle did your lights problem get solved after all this?

have the same one by the sounds of it

thanks

gaz127 said:

hey marc.knuckle did your lights problem get solved after all this?

have the same one by the sounds of it

thanks

Click to expand...

Hi,
Very old thread and Marc hasn't posted on here for years.
If lights are on all the time it is 90% certain to be the switch.
You can tell 99% by using Multiecuscan www.multiecuscan.net with interface and adaptors. It lets you check the switch status and turn the lights on and off from a laptop.


Robert G8RPI.