Technical Headlights stopped working

[YouKnowWho]

Hello, I am hoping someone can help. I have spent some time searching this forum but can not find anyone with the same issue.

I have a 2008 1.2 Petrol Fiat 500. I have Daylight Running Lights enabled. So this morning when I got in the car I turned on the headlights and realised that they were not coming. This is both dipped beam headlights not working.

The full beam lights and side lights seemed to be working fine. I tried starting the car a few times with no change

I am thinking Fuse and gonna start looking through the manual for which fuses are affected but was wondering if anything else has any tips or pointers.

Update: The manual seems to suggest there are 2 fuses - one for each headlight - which makes me think that is less likely. Hmmm.

Would be much appreciated.

 

[306maxi]

stalks fail quite often on Panda's could be the stalks.

 

[YouKnowWho]

stalks fail quite often on Panda's could be the stalks.

I had not considered that. However the Day light running lights do dip when turning the headlight to (what would be the) on position so think stalks may be ok?

 

[alexGS]

Headlights are computer-controlled, as witnessed by how after switching the engine off, turning the headlight switch off and back on turns on the parking lights. Clearly the switch doesn't have any single fixed function, so I reckon (this is just a guess) if turning the headlight switch does anything, it's probably not the stalk assembly at fault (unless it has the computer built into it). I think the body computer controls the lights and that's built into the fuse box.

The first thing I would check is that the battery has sufficient voltage (should be 12.3 - 12.6 volts, even after turning on the ignition - measure the voltage across the battery terminals with a multimeter). Then disconnect the battery, recharge it if necessary, and reconnect after at least an hour. That should reset the body computer.

Any other symptoms, such as a flashing mileage reading? Electric window problems? If so, a trip to a FIAT dealer for a proxy alignment (simple electronic procedure) might be the next step.

-Alex

 

[alexGS]

Oh and - do try replacing one of the headlight bulbs. They are a single filament bulb for dipped beam and I have seen more than one car over the year where BOTH bulbs had blown at the same time or within a short time of each other - believe it or not! (They are likely to be both the same age after all).

The funniest of this type was an old FIAT Croma where both front and rear sidelights were not working AND number plate lights also not working, though the light on the dash worked. Turned out five bulbs were blown and one had a poor connection. After replacing bulbs, I got all lights working but automatic transmission overheating light came on and washers no longer worked - pretty much par for the course on an 80s FIAT, especially as it was a manual transmission The speedometer failed the next day and once I'd fixed that, the engine ran a big end during the test drive - customer was very understanding and I replaced the clutch while I had the engine out at my expense. The gearbox input shaft bearing only failed after that.

FIATs have come a long way since then, but, I think it's still worth changing the bulb first... before digging any deeper

-Alex

 

[Andy Monty]

what area are you in? Might be a member close with fes /ecu scan who can test the switching of the body computer once you eliminate the bulbs

 

[YouKnowWho]

whoah - starting go get more scary now lol

In order of testing - I am going to:

1. Check all other lights and bits and peices are working
2. Check fuses
3. Replace headlights (they were from the same batch)
4. cry

I am in Peterborough actually the car is there - but I am no where near!

 

[YouKnowWho]

All fixed up now

Both Headlights had blown at the same time

Thanks for everyone who offered some advice