Technical More tail light woes

[puntodad19]

Site will not allow prefix, a technical thread...

Hi Ben, it's working now...

I have the lads Punto for the weekend as there is a similar problem with the near side rear light unit, an intermitant suspected bad earth.

Again, just like the o/s/r light unit, there is an intermitant bad earth. This time, the narrow earth track has been drilled dead centre for the plastic hot rivet method of securing the earth track in place.

An extra earth wire soldered to the Light units main earth track at a suitable place, a bullet type connection for ease of light unit removal with the extra earth wire eyelet using the oe earthing point behind the trim panel.

If this fault " dash warning, check running lights" is happening to the lads Punto, 2010 Evo 1.2 8 valve, it is also happening to other punto's of a similar age.

If your rear lights are misbehaving with the odd symptoms of a bad earth, then consider an extra earth wire.

The near side light unit earth track is a particularly "bad design".....

 

[Mike1alike]

Hi Ben, it's working now...

I think it works better if you tag @Ben.
Works better him seeing the message, not the site...

 

[puntodad19]

Thanks mike, I messaged him about the problem then tried again. He must have been on the case very quickly....

 

[Mike1alike]

All good, otherwise...?!
What have you been up to, lately?

 

[AnthonyH]

On my list of things to do is to change the connectors on the Punto tail lights. I have little doubt it'll solve my intermittent rear bulb problem. Its just not urgent, the clutch needs replacing, then the timing belt before i get around to changing the wiring. All systems go with that car at the end of this month. I'd suggest you look at the connector below on the tail lights to see if it has problems.

 

[Mike1alike]

@AnthonyH... you went kind of quiet lately. Shell I get you did the clutch job?! Or what have you been up to...?!

 

[AnthonyH]

@AnthonyH... you went kind of quiet lately. Shell I get you did the clutch job?! Or what have you been up to...?!

I'm starting the clutch March 21, the day after my son sits his driving test in that car.

I'm expecting the car to engage in guerilla warfare with me so i'm saving up to buy the ammunition and explosives. I'll be posting regular updates on the battle

 

[puntodad19]

Different connector but similar...

The problem is the earth track between earth pin, and after the plastic heat rivet, that holds the earth track in place, particularly on the poor design in the n/s/rear light unit.

Led side lights with 21w bulbs for inds and brake lights.

As you know the earth carries the heaviest current when sides, inds and brake lights are all on at the same time.

The n /s earth track has a less wide width as it morphs into the led earth pin and main earth pin, as it connects with the car loom plug. Also, in the reduced width section, fiat has decided to drill a hole in the earth track centraly, for the black plastic rivet pin to pass, being heat deformed, to be piened over and hold the track in place, at that location.

Anyways, an extra dedicated earth wire has cured the o/s lamp unit, and the n/s unit.

I dread to think how much a pair of new light units are each. We researched new bulb holder units but drew a blank with them.

Ps to self, check if mafco or similar do them...

Sadly mafco will not supply private individuals but I have seen mafco stuff advertised on eBay.

 

[AnthonyH]

Led side lights with 21w bulbs for inds and brake lights

Puntos weren't designed for LED bulbs. They weren't even designed properly for regular bulbs.

I'm sure the manufacturer says the LEDs work in a Punto but I wouldn't believe them.

 

[varesecrazy]

Puntos weren't designed for LED bulbs. They weren't even designed properly for regular bulbs.

I'm sure the manufacturer says the LEDs work in a Punto but I wouldn't believe them.

The "boomerang" of RED LED Strip is factory from @2011

My Twinair has only been apart ONCE in the 14 years, 1st MOT (where it's had its test since @2017) the Indicator bulbs had lost their Yellow coat, so we're swapped

That's it..

No warnings, no bulbs out

I've had 3 x GP multijets, 2007/8/9

They have ALL needed some attention at the 4 gang plug
(normally related to Brake lights not getting power)

A common niggle, people have run bypass cables there also, seen it all posted on here over the years

 

[AnthonyH]

The "boomerang" of RED LED Strip is factory from @2011

My Twinair has only been apart ONCE in the 14 years, 1st MOT (where it's had its test since @2017) the Indicator bulbs had lost their Yellow coat, so we're swapped

That's it..

No warnings, no bulbs out

I've had 3 x GP multijets, 2007/8/9

I'll bear this in mind.

They have ALL needed some attention at the 4 gang plug
(normally related to Brake lights not getting power)

A common niggle, people have run bypass cables there also, seen it all posted on here over the years

Yes, the word "ALL" is correctly capitalised, mine will be getting changed this summer.

 

[puntodad19]

The lads Punto has 5 pin plug which can only be fitted one way. Reg says 2010 but defo has led side light strips, two strips per unit we reckon. Both systems and units work fine now.

Will check light units for a date, oe as far as we know.

Car was an old ladies shopping trolley up to 2018 ish and some 40 k miles ish.

 

[varesecrazy]

If its an EVO then it's stock light unit

 

[Mike1alike]

I'm starting the clutch March 21, the day after my son sits his driving test in that car.

I'm expecting the car to engage in guerilla warfare with me so i'm saving up to buy the ammunition and explosives. I'll be posting regular updates on the battle

So... it will be the Clutch of Spring. Or Spring of Clutch...

 

[AnthonyH]

So... it will be the Clutch of Spring. Or Spring of Clutch...

I'll be springing into action before long

 

[puntodad19]

Yep, Evo...

 

[AnthonyH]

The "Evo" part of Punto Evo comes from Evolution. I never could see much evolution, the rear brake lights are a bit better in an Evo than a Grande Punto, but not by much

I'm now thinking about putting LEDs into the rear clusters when i put the new connectors on. Its a pain changing those bulbs.

 

[Mike1alike]

The "Evo" part of Punto Evo comes from Evolution. I never could see much evolution

Don't tell them that or they'll send you to buy yourself glasses...

 

[AnthonyH]

I could do with these anti dazzle glasses, what with the amount of bright LED lights on the roads these days;

 

[varesecrazy]

The "Evo" part of Punto Evo comes from Evolution. I never could see much evolution, the rear brake lights are a bit better in an Evo than a Grande Punto, but not by much

I'm now thinking about putting LEDs into the rear clusters when i put the new connectors on. Its a pain changing those bulbs.

Next generation Dashboard,

DRLs and LED

These items lasted until 2017