Technical Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

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Technical Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

Paul C

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Hi there

I mentioned this briefly in the chat room the other night, but thought I would just ask on here to see if anyone can help me: I have a Punto, 1.2 16v ELX 'W' (2000 Reg) - Now, the other day, I noticed, albeit very briefly that an amber warning light flashed on the dashboard, displaying an icon of a lightbulb. It didn't stay on for very long and I haven't seen it since. I read up in the handbook which says this icon means that a 'bulb check' is in progress and could mean that a bulb has burnt out, incorrect power or electrical circuit problem with the a) side/tail lights b)brake lights (with the exception of the third breaklight) and c) rear fog light. . . Checked all my bulbs mentioned here and they were all fine - the only thing I did discover (I have only just purchased the car) is the fact there was no bulb in the boot light. I went to put a bulb in and it blew a fuse which meant that the radio/cassette did not work nor did the celing lights (everything else all ok) - Had an electrician out today who fixed the problem - he didn't know exactly what happened but he sorted out the bootlight and put a new fuse in... So, has anyone else ever seen this amber dashboard warning light come up ? If so, do you think it could have been because of the lack of bootlight bulb? (It didn't mention this light in the handbook) Also: Could it be normal for this warning to periodically flash up quickly and be meaningless?! If a real problem was present would it stay on ? Any help anyone can give me would be really appreciated.

Cheers

Paul C
 
The contacts on the bulbs, bulb connectors and light connectors become tarnished pretty quickly, any poor connection will result in the bulb check light illuminating. The fact it went out means that the bulb hadn't actually blown.
Its best that every year you own the car you change all the lights except the headlights, while you do it you can clean the bulb connectors with contact cleaner or WD40.
 
I've seen the warning light on my 2000 W Elx 8v, only ever when braking. I believe it's activated by a current sensor for the lights that you mentioned, which means that if the current passing through the bulbs is not within an expected tollerance the dashboard lamp will light up. Since I usually take my foot off the brake (and see the light goes away), and then re-apply, the light never comes back on for me. So I think mine has a usual ammount of current flowing that's near the tollerance and sometimes (I only see it a couple of times a year) the car computer decides there's a blown bulb.]

None of my bulbs have been changed since new, but I do carry a set in a nice small Fiat pouch. I needed them as I took it to Norway on business, so I didn't pay. Since I was there for 6 months, and it's the law to have dipped beams at all times, and with a preference to run with sidelights on morning and evening, the lights have been well used over the 38000 miles. And yes I do check them (handy mirrored glass at work - another great reason for high level rear lights!)

Punto Mk2 ELX
 
I have the same prob very occassionally and it is only when I am pressing the brake pedal VERY lightly, I can almost simulate it now. If you just rest ur feet on the pedal very lightly, the amber light will flicker. I don't think it is anything to wry about and may jest be case of the brake being pressed hard enough to set off the bulb senor but not being pressed hard enough for ur brake lights to actually come on. I'm probably wrong and it's only a hunch.

:)



-- When I Met Her I Was Seated Beneath A Rialto Satelite --
 
Hi

I also have a 2000 W ELX 8V and I have noticed the amber light flashing on for a moment again its usually when I brake but goes off straight away. Have checked my bulbs and they to where ok.

Probably a another characturistic of the Punto

My I ask you when you pull away in 1st gear have you noticed if you car judders at all. Mine does from time to time its worse in heavy traffic and get realy annoying but my dealer and Fiat say it a characturistic. One dealer has sold me its to do with the engine management computer and only a few cars have this problem if more had a problem then Fiat will probable rectify it.

Let me know

Thanx
 
<font face="Comic Sans MS"></font id="Comic Sans MS">I have the same problem with the light coming on but i put it down to the fact that i changed the front side light bulbs for LED bulbs which are probable tons less powerful than the original bulbs hence the warning light. I go along with the theory of checking each bulb for clean contacts as this was a problem on my last Punto.[^]

2000 ELX , (1998 60S got mashed)
 
LEDs side lights will set off the light because the cathode and the annode are not joined physically in the way that the bulb filament joins the two prongs.
Therefore a return signal is not present and the warning light appears.
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

Hi, i'm new to this forum and have a kind of 'dashboard light' related query. I've just bought a Fiat Bravo and yesterday a red light came on that my husband seems to think is a fuel injector light? kind of looks a bit like a shower??? Does anyone have any ideas what this could be as we can't see anything in the handbook to explain it.

Thanks (y)
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

does sound like the injector light dobby. has it gone off ?


as for the amber light mine comes on laods its useless lol well i have a wierd elec prob witrh my drivers side. side light when i turn them on half the time this bulb dont work untill i pull away, once i drive off the bulb comes on and teh warning light goes out then the light will stau working perfectly fine untill its left over night again. wierd been like this for 3 years :D
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

Hi there, I also have a punto ELX 16v 2000 and have the orange bulb come on. It only comes on while braking so guessing its a wiring/connection issue at the back. Least of my worries at the moment since the car won't start cus of immobilser and don't even know the key code!:bang:
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

i had this problem with my punot mk2 wen pressing the brake lightly the brakes seemed fine! all were on! but press hard on the brake and 1 bulb was not working! new bulb for 59p and all was fine :)
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

Hi guys
My amber light bulb switch on the dash stays on constantly, what could the problems be?
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

momomo said:
Hi guys
My amber light bulb switch on the dash stays on constantly, what could the problems be?


I am having the same problem - my bulbcheck light is also permanently lit up - even though all bulbs are working - anyone any ideas?
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

Bionic Punto said:
I am having the same problem - my bulbcheck light is also permanently lit up - even though all bulbs are working - anyone any ideas?


The missus's 1.2 8v ELX 2001(Xreg) is doing the same!!,its on constantly and all the bulbs are fine,at least i think they are,i checkaed and all are working!
heres a pic of the light,is this the same as you guys?
 

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Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

That light in the photo is isdeed the blue check light.
My plan of action in order would be:

1) Check all blubs are working, this includes reverse lights, both indicators, fog lights, spot lights, boot light, reg light, break lights, dip lights and head beam.

2) Light still on? Take out all blubs and make sure the socket for each blub is clean and so is the connections free from rust, also make sure blubs are in fully and tight.

Replace and really old worn out doggy dull looking blubs even if they work okay.

3) Still on? Go to fiat and get the earthing and wiring checked.

4) Open up the dash and put some black sticky tape over the warning light .so ya cant see it :D
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

I also get this every now and again, whilst braking. I know that one of the connections on my nearside rear light cluster was corroded a few months ago, the tin plating on one of the connector lugs was completely corroded away. I cleaned up the connection and applied some contact cleaner and corrosion inhibitor to the dodgy connection. I think that it is probably a case that the connction has high resistance which will limit the current to the brake light, once the brake has been applied a couple of times the corrosion/oxide probably gets flashed off this dodgy connection and normal service resumes until the oxide layer builds up again. It only happens once or twice per month at the moment , I know that all my lights work so i'll investigate further ( clean the dodgy connection again) when it becomes more regular.
 
Re: Punto "Bulbcheck" Amber warning light on dashboard

Hi folks,
I have Punto Mk2 2000 and similiar problem. It started few weeks ago with the warning light on the dashboard, which I kind of ignored. Now the rear direction indicator bulb burned out so I replaced it. But the problem still persists and the direction indicator light isn't working properly. When the brake is not pressed it's working OK, but when I press the brake and the right direction indicator is on, it starts flashing other 2 direction indicators twice as fast and the rear indicator is off, the brake light is flashing instead. All accompanied with the warning light on the dashboard.

Any thoughts would be appreciated before I go to see my local garage.

Cheers,
Michal
 
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