Technical Little Help Please

[portarri]

Hi Again,

Just bought a 2009 Grande Punto 1.4 Active and have 3 questions for those who are heppy to help / advise me.

1, Where can I get a copy of the owners manual / handbook?

2. I have a got a yellow warning symbol on the dashboard for majority of the time, and the digital display will sometimes say "Check Stop Light" - any idea what this is?

3. This morning whilst taking a family member to the supermarket, the power steering failed, had to pull over, and restart the car, is this a sign that something is wrong and/or something is about to happen?

Regards,
John

 

[oldmanhouse]

For a digital copy of a handbook, try the link posted here: https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto/227495-grande-owners-manual-handbook.html?p=2410852. I was able to get a PDF of my handbook by putting in my reg number.

I assume your yellow warning light is this one? https://www.drivingtesttips.biz/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/fiat-500-external-light-failure.gif. The error message are not always clear but "stop lights" has got to be the brake light bulbs? Bulbs are cheap so worth trying some new ones. They can fail intermittently before they completely fail.

When your power steering failed, did you notice any warning lights? Perhaps a red battery light, or a red steering wheel light? Grande Puntos are known to suffer from failure of the electric power steering units, but it could also be a battery/alternator issue so I wouldn't jump to replacing anything without further diagnosis.

 

[portarri]

Thanks oldmanhouse for your informative reply.

Got the manual thanks for the link.

The warning list is a yellow triangle with a exclamation marl in the middle. It comes on, stays on a while then will go off and then come back on shortly afterwards.

Power Steering - didn't notice to be honest, but will see if it happens again and will make more of than effort to look at the dashboard to see if there is any lights on.

 

[Compax]

Sounds to me like your rear lights might have some corrosion on the connector, either on the light itself, or the connector from the car.

My suggestion would be if you see the check stop light error again, then hold the break pedel down, while going to the back to see which one of them is out. The lights are super easy to work on, just two screws and you can take it off to look at it.

You might end up having to get a new rear light, or just solder a new piece of wire if it is on the car side the problem is.

Also if you do end up having to just replace one bulb, then please just replace the other bulb in the other light as well straight away, I changed one bulb, and then 5 minutes later had the other one die straight away.

Let me know what you find out, and I would love to try and help you out more!

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi John.

Battery condition is a likely issue..

Do keep an eye on it..

Charlie

 

[nikrox]

Recent cold weather does have a habit of showing up a failing battery. It may hold 12+ volts BUT the amperage could well be low. Amps provide the ommphh to turn the engine over..
My advice is ...Take it to Halfords for a free battery and alternator test...

I bought a battery for my friends 1.4 gp yesterday,Exide with 4 years warrenty,£50 from SDL in Derby.They price matched ECP.

 

[portarri]

Thanks to all that has replied.

Been out in the car again tonight and the warning has been on and off again at different periods - didn't get the check stop light message, had something different this time but didn't quite catch what it said fully - but something about "running lights"? - I may have that wrong because I was busy watching where I was going as I was travelling at 50mph and just noticed the message scrolling when I glanced at my speedo.

As a precaution I did check the lights when I got back earlier and the all seem to work fine.

I will check out the wires and report back shortly.

The power steering issue didn't reoccur thankfully but is still a concern.

I will take it to halfords for the free battery and alternator check to be on the safe side.

 

[oldmanhouse]

Thanks to all that has replied.

Been out in the car again tonight and the warning has been on and off again at different periods - didn't get the check stop light message, had something different this time but didn't quite catch what it said fully - but something about "running lights"? - I may have that wrong because I was busy watching where I was going as I was travelling at 50mph and just noticed the message scrolling when I glanced at my speedo.

As a precaution I did check the lights when I got back earlier and the all seem to work fine.

I will check out the wires and report back shortly.

The power steering issue didn't reoccur thankfully but is still a concern.

I will take it to halfords for the free battery and alternator check to be on the safe side.

Day running lights, perhaps? I've had those fail before and they're the small bulbs in the headlights (sidelights). Like these: https://www.halfords.com/motoring/b...ulb-manufacturers-standard-halfords-twin-pack

If the battery/alternator test comes back fine, it might be worth checking the earth connections - another common problem with the GP. There's a how-to here: https://www.fiatforum.com/grande-punto-guides/169204-grande-punto-engine-bay-earthing-points.html

 

[varesecrazy]

Those bulbs.. similar to tail lights

(On the later cars..its an
'oversize numberplate bulb' 5R..??)

 

[portarri]

Sorry for the lack of replies, been quote busy and not been able to do much with the car.

Going to attempt to check the connectors on the lights sometime this week, need to discover why I'm getting the warnings even though the lights appear to be working fine.

 

[Teirminator]

If I remember right there isn't daylight running lights so don't worry about that. Sometimes the car can complain if cheap bulbs are used as they draw a different current. Could also be corroded terminals increasing resistance leading to it thinking there is a fault.

 

[portarri]

Well, this morning, took a family member shopping, soon as I indicated left, the warning light appeared and the indicator light on the dashboard was flashing faster than normal, soon as I parked up I tested the left indicator and sure enough the rear left indicator wasn't working, however, the rear lights / brake lights seemed to be flashing (not at full brightness).

Been and bought some new bulbs and will try and replace them tonight and see how it goes, but myself I too think it's a connector issue ....

 

[portarri]

Well have managed to get time to look at the light issue, it would appear to be a loose connection on the left rear set, if i hold the cable in a certain position everything appears to work great, let go and the issue comes back.

Upon inspection of the the connector and connecter block, the pins looked dirty so gave them a quick clean with some sandpaper.

One of the pins in the connecter block (the white plastic block) looks slightly wider (more open) than the others, I wonder if that's the issue....

 

[Bernievarian]

Have you by chance got the number of the pin that looks larger ? We can then tell which device it is related to ...

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)

 

[portarri]

Holding the plug as you disconnect it, it's the second from the left.

After watching a video on youtube, I tried a quick fix of using some wire to try and improve the connection, whilst this stopped the brake light and rear from flashing, it stopped the left indicator from working on both the front and rear.

Anyway, I've decided rather than trying to fix it myself, I've booked it in with my usual garage for them to have a look and fix.

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice, much appreciated.

 

[Compax]

Holding the plug as you disconnect it, it's the second from the left.

After watching a video on youtube, I tried a quick fix of using some wire to try and improve the connection, whilst this stopped the brake light and rear from flashing, it stopped the left indicator from working on both the front and rear.

Anyway, I've decided rather than trying to fix it myself, I've booked it in with my usual garage for them to have a look and fix.

Thanks to everyone for your help and advice, much appreciated.

If it is a bad connection from the car then you can cut the cable and solder a new cable on to it yourself, I had a friend help me out with that. If it is on the light the poor connection is, then you can just go to any junkyard and pick up a used one for like €30

 

[varesecrazy]

A small screwdriver can be used to bend the connections back into contact..

Burnt wires will need attending to though

 

[Bernievarian]

Those connectors can be opened for curing any corrosion or even replace one pin/clamp. The tools and all kind of connectors and shells are available near our friend Ali. If you're not a fanatic of welding, you can also provision fast connectors "tube": about 1" long with a low melting point mixture in the middle. Strip the wire on both ends, slip the tube on one end and insert the other wire so their ends sit in the middle. Heat the tube (cigarette lighter): the mixture will melt and the tube will shrink !!
Remember that cars are very sensitive to resistive connecting points due to the relatively high Amps they carry, so you really want to to DIY "neat and clean" ...

BRs, Bernie

If someone here helped You fix -or better, understand- your issue, hit the thanks icon @ bottom right corner, it's free and makes us feel helpy ;-)