Early this morning the offside front indicator started flashing randomly on it's own. Then goes off for a couple of minutes then starts again.
The car was locked at the time.Started engine ,all ok, but returned flashing on it's own again. A new battery was fitted last month. Any idea's ?
the car is a 2012 (late) Panda with 12,000 miles on the clock

Likely to be indicator stalk issue on steering column, but like all things these days, indicators are CANBUS controlled, so not easy to fix. Might benefit from a full disconnect of battery to force reset, but ultimately might need a part replaced. Has been discussed on here before, so use the exc Ellen SEARCH facility to have a looksee.

Sounds like water in the works somewhere.

R1NGA said:

Has been discussed on here before, so use the exc Ellen SEARCH facility to have a looksee.

Click to expand...

Ellen is not the Executive...

I'm reading that as:

Use the forums Excellent SEARCH

snitrats

I Had a fusebox full of water on an older FIAT.. headlights flashed as if they were the hazards

DO CHECK YOUR DUCKBILLS

Charlie

Hi.
Id actually like to get my hands on one of these switches and dismantle one. As I've been in electronics since a kid and doing it as a job I'd like to see if they use a rotary encoder, optical sensor or even a wiper and potentiometer for the various switch positions. In my Doblo the wipers intermittently came on and I was told the switch was faulty. The issue was the tiny amount of current that is needed to operate the system and the contact grease had become slightly conductive and gave false starts. So after cleaning out the grease and re-lubricating the contacts all was well. So if anyone has a scrap switch I'd be happy to pay post and have a look to see if they can be repaired.

Given that, if I read the original post correctly, only the front indicator, not the side or rear ones, is flashing, suspect it’s not the switch. When I said ‘water in somewhere’ I was thinking ‘in the computer’ - (which is attached to the fuse box behind the glove box)

Herts Hillhopper said:

Given that, if I read the original post correctly, only the front indicator, not the side or rear ones, is flashing, suspect it’s not the switch. When I said ‘water in somewhere’ I was thinking ‘in the computer’ - (which is attached to the fuse box behind the glove box)

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Good point. I certainly didn't twig to that.
I think you could well be right about the water contamination.
If its in the body computer it could be save able but don't wait too long as it may fail. You'd need to cure the water ingress, no doubt the duck bills, then the battery should be disconnected and the body computer removed and opened up. Any signs of corrosion needs to be cleaned off with IPA and a stiff brush. Make sure is dried out using a hair dryer and give it a light spray with WD40 & reassemble. Reconnect and lastly connect the battery. If this cures the issue you've won a watch. If not then you may need a refurbished or new body computer and it will need to be coded to the car. This is all assuming its got flooded..

murphyv310 said:

Hi.
Id actually like to get my hands on one of these switches and dismantle one. As I've been in electronics since a kid and doing it as a job I'd like to see if they use a rotary encoder, optical sensor or even a wiper and potentiometer for the various switch positions. In my Doblo the wipers intermittently came on and I was told the switch was faulty. The issue was the tiny amount of current that is needed to operate the system and the contact grease had become slightly conductive and gave false starts. So after cleaning out the grease and re-lubricating the contacts all was well. So if anyone has a scrap switch I'd be happy to pay post and have a look to see if they can be repaired.

Click to expand...

I've atken a couple of Fiat ones apart to repair. They are typically contacts and interconnections formed from stamped and pressed metal strips. Mor complex functions use the contacts to select different fixed resistors. I've not seen rotary encoders or potentiometers in stalks. Encoders may be used in things like heating / AC controls.


Robert G8RPI.

g8rpi said:

I've atken a couple of Fiat ones apart to repair. They are typically contacts and interconnections formed from stamped and pressed metal strips. Mor complex functions use the contacts to select different fixed resistors. I've not seen rotary encoders or potentiometers in stalks. Encoders may be used in things like heating / AC controls.


Robert G8RPI.

Click to expand...

Hi Robert.
Thanks for the info.
So mostly like the one in my 2002 Doblo then.
If the Panda one is like that why does the dealer say they have to be coded in?
I wonder if its another money making rouse from Fiat.

73