Took baz out today, when I got back from where i'd been, switched off the ignition, and the battery and handbrake light are faintly glowing and the temp guage and fual guage are reading as if the ignition is on - ive disconnected my battery for fear of a power drain, hope it starts a 6am tomorow to get to Brooklands
Any ideas anyone - electrics baffle me !!!

Most electrical problems like this are due to bad earths. For the symptoms you describe though it may be more insidious. Try cleaning and re-seating all the earths first though, including the big strap on the engine. Sorry I can't be more help, but elecrics aren't my strong point either.

I think could be of some help.....
On the ignition barrel body - near the place where, ignition key slide into ignition barrel, there is small switch of black colour (bean shaped button). May be you push it accidently when you turn off engine and key out. If this is a case, just key in again turn the key to contact position, and key off again.....
Onto my panda this button is used to keep parking lights (and dash light and instruments - on), when you leave a vehicle and took the ignition key out with you.
Switch is on when you keep it pushed by finger during turn the key into stop position and then took the ignition key out. Switch is turned off automatically during next start - when you key in and put the barrel into contact position again.(no need to push black-bean button again during next start).
Cheers
Aca

Thanks for the suggetions peeps

Im fearing a fault with the ignition, I did check I hadn't turned on the parking lights earlier as aca suggested, its almost like the ignition isnt switching off fully - the engine stops, but the guages and dim dash warning lights remain.

I believe that other members have had similar porblems (can't remember if we have or not (have had some many different minor things over the years ))

But the good news is iirc that it is just as a result of an earthing problem (Punto's seems to have this problem alot from what I've seen when looking in the Punto section).

Just need a good clean of the earthing blocks on the inner wings. Has Baz got hedgehogs? Just I know he's a K-reg which is when they got changed

If hedgehogs, just remove all the female connectors, replace them, and clean up hedgehogs with some heavy duty sandpaper, or wire wool etc

Jon.

hedgehogs?

If its not the hedgehog it possibly could be the alternator that has gone open circuit un plug it and see if problem goes

arc said:

hedgehogs?

Click to expand...

Hedgehogs

Not on any modern Fiats, were phased out around 1992-93 iirc. Later Panda's have a different type of earthing point

Just an update for y'all (thanks for the suggestions by the way !) I dissconnected the battery, so at least no power would drain overnight before brooklands. Put the earth back on the battery, drove to brooklands, switched off the ignition - and its been fine ever since, working as it should !
So I think i've either got a self rejuvinating car or the gremlins have moved on else where
(p.s mahoosive thanks to damon a.k.a Mr. Panda sport, for bringing loads of spare bits in readiness to fix baz)

sounds similar to the fault I had with the headlights (i.e. suddenly no headlights!!!), did it a couple of times, take everything apart to look, all looks fine, doesn't happen again. At least not until you think it's gone away:bang: comedy Italian wiring eh. Fortunately just looking for the problem often cures it as the dodgy connections get disturbed.

Glad that the gremlin was sorted for Brooklands Jen - Baz must have just been having a moment - Hope he's sorted for good now