Technical Main beams, front fog lights and reverse light

[Wallacedm]

A couple of problems, we have a fiat panda, 1.2 petrol, 2009.

driving in the dark the other day and went to put main beams on, but they didn’t come on and head lights went, switched off main beam and headlights came back on. (I assume the headlights usually switch out when the main beams are switched on?)
Front fog lights aren’t working and our reverse light isn’t working.
We have checked the fuses, relays and bulbs and all coming up fine. Any ideas? Supposed to have its MOT Tuesday but may have to cancel until we can get this sorted.

 

[koalar]

Front fog aren't needed for a MOT

If they are fitted they have to work though

Deal with them last, if we have time

Worse case we can temporarily remove them

 

[Wallacedm]

Good to know, thank you.
Any suggestions for the reverse light and the main beams?

 

[koalar]

Yep

Just trying to think of the easiest way to proceed

I guess the first check is a visual inspection on the body computer

See if I can find a photograph

 

[koalar]

Above the accelerator pedal

Hard to see

I take it you have a multimeter

And don't have any bidirectional software such a MultiECUscan, it nice to eliminate the stalked by activating the lights via software

 

[Wallacedm]

Ok, thank you for that, I will see if anyone I know has the equipment to borrow tomorrow.

 

[koalar]

Home Page

aftersales.fiat.com

Home Page

aftersales.fiat.com

 

[koalar]

Reversing

On the front of the gearbox, under the battery tray

There's a reversing switch, although rare it's not unknown for the wire to get damaged


F31 supplies the reversing bulb, if it's gone I would expect a few other things not to be working


Is the the cigarette lighter socket and heaters controls both illuminated when the headlights are on

 

[Wallacedm]

The heater controls are illuminated, I don’t believe our cigarette lighter ever has been, however I haven’t ever taken much notice of it. The heater controls lights go off sometimes. I also have to change the heater blower resistor as that has gone and we had only the fan working on #4 but now doesn’t work at all. Seemed to stop when the lights stopped working.

 

[koalar]

Blower
Heater lights
Reversing lights

All go through F31

To the right of the steering column, behind a plastic cover

5th one down including any blank spaces

5A

If it needs replacing switch the fans off first

A good place to start first

 

[koalar]

How are you getting on

 

[Wallacedm]

Just checking it now, not sure it we checked that one yesterday.

 

[Wallacedm]

Except for needing to change the resistor so the fan works on 1,2.3 Everything is working as it should. Honestly don’t know how we missed that one fuse. Thank you so much for your help!

 

[koalar]

Okay

How's the main beam

 

[koalar]

Except for needing to change the resistor so the fan works on 1,2.3 Everything is working as it should. Honestly don’t know how we missed that one fuse. Thank you so much for your help!

Look at my old posts, I will look it up when you come to do it, if you haven't found it

With a Flexi drive and a piece of string it's easy to change 5 minutes, nothing else needs to come out

Otherwise you have mess around upside down, swearing a lot

Found it, here's what I used

I believe it's 5.5 mm if I remember correctly

 

[Wallacedm]

Okay

How's the main beam

Working! Thank you

 

[Wallacedm]

Look at my old posts, I will look it up when you come to do it, if you haven't found it

With a Flexi drive and a piece of string it's easy to change 5 minutes, nothing else needs to come out

Otherwise you have mess around upside down, swearing a lot

Found it, here's what I used

I believe it's 5.5 mm if I remember correctly

View attachment 456998

Hey!!! Thank you for all your help with the fuse and everything!

So we have tried this and are having no luck whatsoever to change the resistor. Even our mechanic had a go. We get the socket on then it just slips off as soon as we try to turn it.

 

[koalar]

Hey!!! Thank you for all your help with the fuse and everything!

So we have tried this and are having no luck whatsoever to change the resistor. Even our mechanic had a go. We get the socket on then it just slips off as soon as we try to turn it.

Are you using a 5.5mmm socket

 

[Wallacedm]

We are yes and I have checked it with another bolt to make sure it’s the same size.

 

[koalar]

Is it fully reaching the nut

Needs to be long reach socket or have a through hole as it's on a long stud

I don't have any 5.5 long reach, I used a 7/32" I believe, but it's been a few years