Technical Dashboard lights turned off

[nvrton]

Fiat Panda Cross 0.9 2020 UK
Engine Fuse Box

Hello! First technical post. On my dashboard I have four climate control dials, from left to right they are: temp control, fan speed (press in for A/C), external air or recirculate and then finally which vent control.

The orange backlight that comes on when I turn on my headlights has stopped coming on for one and two, temp and fan control. (A/C light still works). All other dashboard lights work. They didn’t fade out, just stopped working.

I’ve checked the manual and can’t tell which fuse they’d be but also don’t think it would be a fuse as then I assume the rest would be broken.

This leads me to believe the two bulbs have broken, or there’s an issue with the circuit that powers those two bulbs specifically (maybe they’re on the same board that is broken?).

Anyone had this issue and knows how to fix?

Alternatively, anyone know how to get that front panel off so I can get to the bulbs to try a diagnose?

 

[Panda IIs]

Fiat Panda Cross 0.9 2020 UK
Engine Fuse Box

Hello! First technical post. On my dashboard I have four climate control dials, from left to right they are: temp control, fan speed (press in for A/C), external air or recirculate and then finally which vent control.

The orange backlight that comes on when I turn on my headlights has stopped coming on for one and two, temp and fan control. (A/C light still works). All other dashboard lights work. They didn’t fade out, just stopped working.

I’ve checked the manual and can’t tell which fuse they’d be but also don’t think it would be a fuse as then I assume the rest would be broken.

This leads me to believe the two bulbs have broken, or there’s an issue with the circuit that powers those two bulbs specifically (maybe they’re on the same board that is broken?).

Anyone had this issue and knows how to fix?

Alternatively, anyone know how to get that front panel off so I can get to the bulbs to try a diagnose?

I seem to recall a couple of previous posts on here (here's one https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/dash-board-lights.441237/ ) but it's not the one I recall which included some pictures maybe its in "guides"?

 

[nvrton]

I seem to recall a couple of previous posts on here (here's one https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/dash-board-lights.441237/ ) but it's not the one I recall which included some pictures maybe its in "guides"?

Thank you! I had tried searching around but wasn’t getting the right keywords.

Your link has a comment that takes me to this guide: https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/how-to-replace-panda-heater-control-lights.298058/

This has info about the process and comments about bulb type but isn’t quite right for the later models (for example, my 2020 is different)

Next comment down from that link says this: Update: I think for the newer model, the knobs cannot be pulled off separately - but if you carefully work a thin blade under the edge of the outer black bezel to tease a gap and then pull hard, that comes away and brings the control dials with it. You will need to take care to not damage the painted trim of the dash though.

Which seems like what mine is. I’ll try tomorrow and update here for anyone who comes across this in the future!

Thanks for the help

 

[Panda IIs]

Thank you! I had tried searching around but wasn’t getting the right keywords.

Your link has a comment that takes me to this guide: https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/how-to-replace-panda-heater-control-lights.298058/

This has info about the process and comments about bulb type but isn’t quite right for the later models (for example, my 2020 is different)

Next comment down from that link says this: Update: I think for the newer model, the knobs cannot be pulled off separately - but if you carefully work a thin blade under the edge of the outer black bezel to tease a gap and then pull hard, that comes away and brings the control dials with it. You will need to take care to not damage the painted trim of the dash though.

Which seems like what mine is. I’ll try tomorrow and update here for anyone who comes across this in the future!

Thanks for the help

I think that comment was from @Herts Hillhopper who may be can elaborate. Mine is a 2013 car so also may not be relevant(?)

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

I think that comment was from @Herts Hillhopper who may be can elaborate. Mine is a 2013 car so also may not be relevant(?)

Yup, the guide and subsequent update are from me. There’s one bulb for the left pair of controls (temperature and fan speed). Using a blunt tool (a plastic trim ‘pry’ tool is best but a blunt knife will do!) lever the bottom-most part of the black plastic surround and pull the heater knob at the same time. There are some strong metal spring clips holding the trim but they do release and don’t break. The bulb sits between the two controls.

See here for photos of the newer panda
Post in thread 'Changing HVAC backlights on a RHD Panda?'
https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/changing-hvac-backlights-on-a-rhd-panda.487444/post-4596951

 

[Panda IIs]

See here for photos of the newer panda
Post in thread 'Changing HVAC backlights on a RHD Panda?'
https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/changing-hvac-backlights-on-a-rhd-panda.487444/post-4596951

That's the one! Thanks, the search tool on here is good this user just doesn't always think outside the box

 

[nvrton]

Yup, the guide and subsequent update are from me. There’s one bulb for the left pair of controls (temperature and fan speed). Using a blunt tool (a plastic trim ‘pry’ tool is best but a blunt knife will do!) lever the bottom-most part of the black plastic surround and pull the heater knob at the same time. There are some strong metal spring clips holding the trim but they do release and don’t break. The bulb sits between the two controls.

See here for photos of the newer panda
Post in thread 'Changing HVAC backlights on a RHD Panda?'
https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/changing-hvac-backlights-on-a-rhd-panda.487444/post-4596951

Ahh this is great, thank you very much

 

[nvrton]

That's the one! Thanks, the search tool on here is good this user just doesn't always think outside the box

Hey I’m still learning! HVAC definitely wasn’t in my list of tries though…

 

[The Panda Nut]

50101/20 - HEATER/AIR CON

FIAT NUOVA PANDA (2012-....)

eper.fiatforum.com

 

[Panda IIs]

Hey I’m still learning! HVAC definitely wasn’t in my list of tries though…

@nvrton I meant myself! Absolutely no offence intended.

 

[nvrton]

@nvrton I meant myself! Absolutely no offence intended.

Hahahah ohhh!! None taken though - sorry for the mixup!

 

[nvrton]

Fiat Panda Cross 0.9 2020 UK
Engine Fuse Box

Hello! First technical post. On my dashboard I have four climate control dials, from left to right they are: temp control, fan speed (press in for A/C), external air or recirculate and then finally which vent control.

The orange backlight that comes on when I turn on my headlights has stopped coming on for one and two, temp and fan control. (A/C light still works). All other dashboard lights work. They didn’t fade out, just stopped working.

I’ve checked the manual and can’t tell which fuse they’d be but also don’t think it would be a fuse as then I assume the rest would be broken.

This leads me to believe the two bulbs have broken, or there’s an issue with the circuit that powers those two bulbs specifically (maybe they’re on the same board that is broken?).

Anyone had this issue and knows how to fix?

Alternatively, anyone know how to get that front panel off so I can get to the bulbs to try a diagnose?

For anyone watching this thread, I have done it!

Following along the advice in this thread and other linked ones this is how I ended up doing it.

I have a “tray” on my passenger side, and behind the bottom lip of it are two plastic covers that I pried off with a plastic tool. This uncovers two 3mm Allen key screws that come up relatively easy.

I pushed all knobs to the far left and just started pulling. I started with the bottom lip of the shelf where I just took the screws off which came quite easy.

I also pried off the left two dials as much as I could with a cloth covered flathead but they didn’t come fully off.

Then with some downwards and outwards force I worked my way towards the dials pulling the plastic off slowly.

I tried teasing away the trip by the steering wheel but it would not come at all.

I covered a flat head screwdriver in a cloth and wedged that inbetween the black and grey trim below the radio and pulled that out as much as I could too.

In the end though, just really yanking it was what did it. It feels like it’s not going to come but it does. I had some rubber fingered gloves on which helped with grip.

Once I had it off I could pull it back quite far. The bulb just pulls out on its own (don’t try and remove the gray housing with it). Again, the rubber fingered gloves helped.

I tried the other bulb in the hole of the broken one to make sure it was the bulb that broke and it worked fine so drove to Euro Car Parts, showed the guy the bulb and he knew exactly what it was.

Put the new one in and all is working

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

For anyone watching this thread, I have done it!

Following along the advice in this thread and other linked ones this is how I ended up doing it.

I have a “tray” on my passenger side, and behind the bottom lip of it are two plastic covers that I pried off with a plastic tool. This uncovers two 3mm Allen key screws that come up relatively easy.

I pushed all knobs to the far left and just started pulling. I started with the bottom lip of the shelf where I just took the screws off which came quite easy.

I also pried off the left two dials as much as I could with a cloth covered flathead but they didn’t come fully off.

Then with some downwards and outwards force I worked my way towards the dials pulling the plastic off slowly.

I tried teasing away the trip by the steering wheel but it would not come at all.

I covered a flat head screwdriver in a cloth and wedged that inbetween the black and grey trim below the radio and pulled that out as much as I could too.

In the end though, just really yanking it was what did it. It feels like it’s not going to come but it does. I had some rubber fingered gloves on which helped with grip.

Once I had it off I could pull it back quite far. The bulb just pulls out on its own (don’t try and remove the gray housing with it). Again, the rubber fingered gloves helped.

I tried the other bulb in the hole of the broken one to make sure it was the bulb that broke and it worked fine so drove to Euro Car Parts, showed the guy the bulb and he knew exactly what it was.

Put the new one in and all is working

Good that you got it done, but you should have been able to just pull away the small black frames around the heater controls and not need to remove the bigger silver panel, as described here https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/changing-hvac-backlights-on-a-rhd-panda.487444/post-4596951

 

[nvrton]

Good that you got it done, but you should have been able to just pull away the small black frames around the heater controls and not need to remove the bigger silver panel, as described here https://www.fiatforum.com/threads/changing-hvac-backlights-on-a-rhd-panda.487444/post-4596951

I spent a while trying and couldn’t hack it! I broke two plastic pry tools and was either damaging the trim or killing my fingers. One of the tutorials did pull away that plastic so I was quick to move onto that when trying, but I’m sure more persistence would’ve done it