Save up to 15% with Adrian Flux insurance!

Panda 2012+ Headlight recall

Currently reading:
Panda 2012+ Headlight recall

P

Panda2016

New member
Joined
Feb 25, 2016
Messages
3
Points
1
My Panda has had the headlight recall done by the recommended garage however following it being done my dipped headlights won't switch off once the ignition is switched on. It has been back in again for a computer re upload and still got the same problem. The stalk has been checked and is ok. Now the garage ants my car in for a full day to get a computer report of it and send it to Fiat. Surely there is a quicker and better way to solve this problem, not just by the computer, how was this problem in the old days, pre-computer.
Has any one else got this problem, all was fine before the computer was done for the recall.
 
Took ours in this morning for the recall (2012 lounge). All was initially ok and then about a mile from the garage driving home and EXACTLY the same problem. Console dimmed and headlights / tail lights permanently on!! No time currently to take it back so we're in a world of being flashed everywhere!

Well at least it's safer than the lights turning off at night when indicating left!

Why the hell is Fiat controlling the lights by computer?? What's wrong with a switch and relay?? The answer, by the way is it saves on wiring. If this was an aeroplane it would be grounded!

I feel this is going to be something of a saga. Will be interested to hear your outcome Panda 2016
 
Panda2016 said:
My Panda has had the headlight recall done by the recommended garage however following it being done my dipped headlights won't switch off once the ignition is switched on. It has been back in again for a computer re upload and still got the same problem. The stalk has been checked and is ok. Now the garage ants my car in for a full day to get a computer report of it and send it to Fiat. Surely there is a quicker and better way to solve this problem, not just by the computer, how was this problem in the old days, pre-computer.
Has any one else got this problem, all was fine before the computer was done for the recall.
Click to expand...
Any new electrical parts should be recognised in the cars BRAIN via a relearn..have the mechanics not done this..??
Charlie . OXFORD
 
Nothing new has been fitted. The recall involved the body computer software being updated. This would have required a proxy alignment as a matter of course or nothing would have worked properly.

The fact that we are suddenly seeing this today leads me to suspect that possibly fiat have made a very recent change to the software and got something wrong!
 
Vic20 said:
If this was an aeroplane it would be grounded!
Click to expand...

If this was an aeroplane it would never have got an airworthiness certificate in the first place.

The design philosophy demands a failure rate several orders of magnitude lower than you would expect with any modern car.

This requires a fundamental change in thinking from the ground up, if you'll pardon the pun. Most attempts to fit derivatives of automotive engines into aircraft have ended in failure.

Piston engine aircraft technology is still largely stuck in the 1960's, to the extent that most currently certificated piston engined light aircraft can only be run on leaded fuel.
 
After a call to Fiat Customer Services they came back to me today and have said now that it is a two phase recall. A new stalk has to be fitted first and then programmed in according to its serial number in conjunction with Fiat and the dealers. Stone acre have warned me that it could take most of the day to it, having to go back and forwards to Fiat. This problem has only come to light about a week ago??????.
Thanks to who replied and I hope this information may be of use to you.
If anyone still gets the same problem don't hesitate to get onto Fiat Customer Service straight away rather than the dealer who could easily fob you off.:bang:
 
Thanks for the update P2016.

I called my main dealer today and they confirmed that they received a bulletin last Friday from Fiat saying that the recall was now a bigger process involving replacement of the indicator stalk / light switch :eek: Mine is booked in for two weeks time while the part is ordered.

It does beg the question why other owners on here seem to have previously had the recall completed without issue?

I have Multiecuscan and, curiosity getting the better of me, scanned the body computer today with interesting results..

Code: 
Scanning ...

Body
Body Computer Delphi (846)
ISO Code: 40 83 F4 8A 16
Errors found:
B12CB - Cruise Controls from Multi-Function Stalks (CSM)
B1045 - Exterior light switch

The first error is interesting, possibly suggesting that the new body computer software is thinking that the indicator stalk is a cruse control stalk??!
These DTC's won't clear and they didn't exist before the software update was done when I was investigating the initial 'fault' of the lights randomly switching off (before the recall note hit the doormat :confused:)

Other checks with (the very clever) Multiecuscan confirm all the light switches contacts function ok, as does the circuitry that switches the individual lights.

The whole issue of the stalk needing replacing suggests to me that is has processor circuitry in it (really?? . not just switching contacts?).

A loan car has been booked for they day, they can have ours for as long as it takes!(y)
 
Vic20 said:
Thanks for the update P2016.

I called my main dealer today and they confirmed that they received a bulletin last Friday from Fiat saying that the recall was now a bigger process involving replacement of the indicator stalk / light switch :eek: Mine is booked in for two weeks time while the part is ordered.

It does beg the question why other owners on here seem to have previously had the recall completed without issue?

I have Multiecuscan and, curiosity getting the better of me, scanned the body computer today with interesting results..

Code: 
Scanning ...

Body
Body Computer Delphi (846)
ISO Code: 40 83 F4 8A 16
Errors found:
B12CB - Cruise Controls from Multi-Function Stalks (CSM)
B1045 - Exterior light switch

The first error is interesting, possibly suggesting that the new body computer software is thinking that the indicator stalk is a cruse control stalk??!
These DTC's won't clear and they didn't exist before the software update was done when I was investigating the initial 'fault' of the lights randomly switching off (before the recall note hit the doormat :confused:)

Other checks with (the very clever) Multiecuscan confirm all the light switches contacts function ok, as does the circuitry that switches the individual lights.

The whole issue of the stalk needing replacing suggests to me that is has processor circuitry in it (really?? . not just switching contacts?).

A loan car has been booked for they day, they can have ours for as long as it takes!(y)
Click to expand...
I can now confirm my recall has been fully completed and that a new stalk had to be fitted then programmed accordingly. All is ok, no more driving in broad daylight with dipped headlights. Successful at the third attempt. Not bad for a faulty headlight problem but why, why, why!!!!!! everything has to be computerised these days, Does this mean that every time something goes wrong we have to take our Panda to the Zoo called an authorised dealer and cannot use our local excellent car mechanic?. Thanks to the Fiat Customer Service who have followed this recall through with me. They actually realise now it is a bigger recall than initially thought.
 
I have the same problem. Headlamps acting like DRL. Strangely enough I also removed the fuse linked to the headlamps and still they won't turn off. Is fiat charging for this recall even if it is out of warranty?
 
Problem solved. Took it to fiat dealer. Connected vehicle to OBD to pair the new headlight stalk. Headlights back to normal mode. (As they should be).
 
I've got the exact same issue. I recieved the DVLA recall notice and I went in for the software upgrade, even though I hadn't any issue with the headlights. Three days later the headlights wouldn't switch off.
I went back to the dealer who re-applied the software upgarde and alignged the switch.
All was weel for a week. Now I can't switch the headlights off again! :bang:
Back to the Fiat dealer next week.I hope it's third time lucky, as it's getting a bit tiresome now.
 
I've had the same problem as you mate ...recall and now can't turn headlights off when car is on




Panda2016 said:
My Panda has had the headlight recall done by the recommended garage however following it being done my dipped headlights won't switch off once the ignition is switched on. It has been back in again for a computer re upload and still got the same problem. The stalk has been checked and is ok. Now the garage ants my car in for a full day to get a computer report of it and send it to Fiat. Surely there is a quicker and better way to solve this problem, not just by the computer, how was this problem in the old days, pre-computer.
Has any one else got this problem, all was fine before the computer was done for the recall.
Click to expand...
 
Update: It was third time lucky! New switch fitted and alignment done. I have been driving around with my headlights switched off (during the day obviously) with no re-occurence of this issue. It's the simple little things...
 
Having recently re-joined the forum and just read this thread I thought I'd better check the lights on my 2016 Panda K-Way.

Everything worked as expected, no obvious faults.
 
Just another data point on the "headlights stuck on" problem. I won't name the dealer, as they've been very patient, even if they may have made a mistake.
So, 62-reg Panda started showing these problems Dec2016.
The stalk switch still correctly operated the parking lights when the ignition was off, but with the ignition on, the headlights stayed on regardless of the switch position.
Took it in for attention, mentioning that there had been a recall. Apparently the recall had already been done.
Main dealer diagnosed that the stalk unit needed replacing at ~£200. Ouch. The dealer tried to get a goodwill gesture from Fiat, but eventually they said no.
Meanwhile, the dealer fixed a new stalk unit (the old one removed had a date of 2012 on it, so evidently the original unit). Then they rang to say well actually that didn't work, the diagnosis now shows the body computer needs replacing, that'll be another £200+.
Wrote a "very disappointed" email to the Fiat goodwill people, who eventually said to take it back to the main dealer who would take it all apart and check the installed codes (or something like that).
So took I it in, and a day and a half later they rang and said it's working OK now, no new body computer needed. Apparently they may have programmed the body computer wrong the first time they replaced the stalk unit.
And offered a ~£100 goodwill gesture, so final cost to me of ~£100.
Don't know if I'm better off by £300 or worse off by £100.

Lesson 1: make sure they don't program the body computer with fat fingers and enter the wrong codes.
Lesson 2: don't take "£400 to fix a dodgy switch" for an answer. You might expect that for a prestige/luxury car, but over 10% of the car's current value to fix a stuck headlight is just ridiculous.

Thanks for listening, and thanks for all the info on this forum, which is where I found out about the recall.
Chris.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

o9jools
headlights
Replies
2
Views
212
o9jools
o9jools
J
1986 Bertone x1/9 headlight motor
Replies
1
Views
353
Neil Robertson Keay
N
S
Headlight Recall
Replies
6
Views
1K
MaxHeadroom
MaxHeadroom
F
Tipo Front headlight removal
Replies
7
Views
5K
varesecrazy
V
R
Cinquecento Drivers Side Headlight
Replies
9
Views
1K
HughJarsse
HughJarsse
Back
Top