General Check Number Plate Light

[Troubles with 500c]

The 500c is due it’s MOT in a weeks time so I did my usual check to see if anything needed addressing.

Everything was good so we took it for a drive out to a country Pub. On the way home the ‘Check Number Plate Light’ comes on. Its been 2 years since the last time we had the boot loom done so not unexpected. However, I carry spare bulbs and to my surprise it genuinely was a blown bulb.

The moral of this boring tale is that we often expect the worst from these flawed masterpieces, but for a 12 year old car it’s incredibly reliable.

 

[Ralf S.]

I had a "Check DRS" (or similar) and I expected some random electrical fault that was going to take months to track down.... and that turned out to be just a blown bulb too..


Ralf S.

 

[Troubles with 500c]

Oh I get that too. I replaced the bulb holders, but one is going again.

Not going to change yet because it only happens when the main lights are on and is usually fixed with a firm pat with the palm of my hand.

 

[Troubles with 500c]

Can you believe a DRL bulb went the day before the MOT as well.

Hate changing DRL bulbs, always take wheel off now, yet still managed to drop bulb inside lamp when changing (Telescopic Magnet Tool if you want to retrieve it).

Needless to say the 500c sailed through another MOT.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

I changed my number plate lights to LED units a few years ago - no more blown bulbs, no error messages, no worries...

 

[decappottabile]

Did you replace the bulbs with LED's, or the whole unit?
Do you remember where you got them from?

 

[Troubles with 500c]

That’s good to know because I know switching to LED bulbs with their reduced resistance can cause issues with some cars.

 

[Piccolo Nero e Bella]

Did you replace the bulbs with LED's, or the whole unit?
Do you remember where you got them from?

Hi;
I've had them fitted for at least four years - I don't recall the exact source but this is basically the same thing;

2x Fits for Fiat 500 + Cabriolet LED License Plate Light Module Number Plate | eBay

You get here 2 - LED SMD LICENSE PLATE LIGHT MODULE - (Please carefully compare the vehicle list below) -Registration-free with E-mark Suitable for the following Fiat models: fiat 500 (all models of type 2007-2016) Fiat 500c Cabrio (all models of type 2007-2016, is not the L500) fiat 500x...

www.ebay.com.au

The dummy bulbs looked like a weak link but they've been no trouble so far. The small orange resistor heat-sinks tuck into the handle neatly.

 

[Troubles with 500c]

That explains why they work, they include a resistor.