Technical Auto Headlights Remain ON

[Rich]

I've got a problem with my Auto Headlights on my Dynamic - they stay on. If the light conditions require them to come on, they will, but will usually stick on. For example, if I go into a tunnel, they'll come on. If there's bright sunshine on the exit, they'll remain on. If i then (stationary obviously!) turn the engine off and immediately back on, they won't be off.

Any ideas / solutions? The sensor was replaced a few months ago as the Auto Wipers weren't all that good.

 

[barbarian]

Any ideas / solutions? The sensor was replaced a few months ago as the Auto Wipers weren't all that good.

Have you tinkered with the sensitivity settings? They have about four settings, neither of which appear to be particularily good, but if it is set to maximum then it may account for them staying on.

 

[Rich]

Hi Barbarian.

This occurs with the lights set with all 3 Sensitivities. Its like the Computer forgets they're on; even if they come on with the ignition on, if you turn it all off then back on again (i.e. same light conditions), they'll usually go off. (obviously not if dark enough)

 

[FiatFamily]

I have had the same issue on occassions. The lights go off after coming out of a tunnel if the sun is high enough not to cast shadows. Each morning I go through a tunnel and the lights come on. At the other side the sun is still low in the sky and behind me, so not shining directly onto the light sensor. Under these conditions the lights never go off. If I come out of the tunnel in the middle of the day with the sun overhead and shining on the light sensor then they go off. I have had it back to the dealer who could find no fault. Changing the light sensitivity makes no difference.

I think I read some previous posts on this in the last month

 

[the collector]

I've got a problem with my Auto Headlights on my Dynamic - they stay on. If the light conditions require them to come on, they will, but will usually stick on. For example, if I go into a tunnel, they'll come on. If there's bright sunshine on the exit, they'll remain on. If i then (stationary obviously!) turn the engine off and immediately back on, they won't be off.

Any ideas / solutions? The sensor was replaced a few months ago as the Auto Wipers weren't all that good.

Hi rroop

Had this Problem a couple of months ago Try with engine running,Switch from auti to lights on And then back to auto very quickly ,this poss resets the sensor as it cured my problem ,also it seams to set the auto feature to come on at the light level thats present when you do the fast switching

 

[Rich]

Thanks collector, i'll try that. I have turned AUTO off then back on to do what you suggest, but they usually come back on. However, i haven't done the AUTO, Lights On, AUTO sequence really quickly yet.

When you say lights on, do you mean side lights or dipped headlights? Thanks

 

[FiatFamily]

I tried the tip of turning the headlights to "on" and then quickly back to auto. They would still not turn off. I pulled over to the side of the road, turn the key off and then restarted the car. The highlights then stayed off. So far I have found the only way to reset the lights when they stick on is to turn off the key. Not very convienient!

 

[Rich]

One week at FIAT, guess what . . .

Well my Stilo has been at my local FIAT dealer for a whole week to look at all the problems I've had. I asked for a bigger car (family going out to celebrate my A-Level success) so they gave me a 5dr 04 Alfa Romeo 1.9JTD Lusso. Nice engine, but all i got was 25mpg!!!!!!!

After the whole week, practically nothing was done. I got the usual "We've recalibrated everything" but it seems to have made no difference.

Where next?

I think it's the Body Computer; taking out the fuse / disconnecting the wiring to the rain/light sensor makes it go into "safe mode", which throws the dipped lights on when in AUTO, and makes the wipers use standard intermittent timings. These are EXACTLY the problems I get.

 

[Rich]

Success!!! (well, on the road to it anyway)

Was I right or was I right?

About a week before I left for Uni, my local dealer sent out a technician to my house (I refused to do the 50-mile round trip again after they'd had it for a week) and he connected the examiner to the Body Computer and found 7 errors relating to the headlights. This meant that the car "played it safe" and kept the lights on.

Also whilst he was there, I told him about the window and IT ACTUALLY STOPPED WHILST HE WAS THERE!!! (It has an annoying problem of stopping after a few seconds whilst in one-touch mode).

It's now in at the dealer being checked; i won't hold my hopes up, as the warranty guy Dan always puts "To be checked" on the job card meaning nothing gets done! Also, if they do put a new Body Computer in, i expect it'll come back without the lights flashing.

Will update when car gets back.

 

[Rich]

Re: Success!!! (well, on the road to it anyway)

Car's back: Drivers Door Node replaced (i assume this is for the window fault).

As for the body computer, they reprogrammed it, AND NOT REPLACED IT; it was apparantly a software fault. Am I being fobbed off here???

Update: Next day (i.e. today), my mum phoned to say that the lights were still on in the blazing sunshine. Obviously their reprogramming didnt help at all! She's phoning the service manager now and giving him what for!