Punto (Mk2/2b) The Basics of the Bulb Malfunction Light

[homeward]

This is brilliant (sorry) -- and means we at last have somewhere to point people.... Thank you! :worship:

 

[s and b]

To add to this, yesterday i had a mk2b that caused the front offside sidelight to faintly glow when brake pedal pushed, this put the light on on the dash.
I eventually located it as rear brake bulb, offside, resistence issue in the bulb holder to bulb (earthing side not pip on bulb) ,this took a lot of deduction as only by disconnecting various lights bulbs etc did i finally find it at the 3rd attempt of bulb holder so please use my knowledge rather than lose your hair if you ever get this problem,everything was clean as a whistle beforehand no rust ,white corrosion etc etc either

 

[scimitargtc]

DAUGHTERS 1.2 16v has lamp illuminated for weeks - no bulbs 'out' - doing wipers temporary fix & I saw the nearside headlamp wasn't on - gave it a slap and on it came but light on dash still on so at least I know where to start

 

[Stewarty]

I changed my sidelight bulbs to LEDs and now whenever I switch on my sidelights, the bulb light pops up on dash. 1.2 8v

 

[Ziggy122]

I changed my sidelight bulbs to LEDs and now whenever I switch on my sidelights, the bulb light pops up on dash. 1.2 8v

Yes it will do
the LED's are not pulling enough current (amperage) as a result the car thinks there not working
So the "bulb malfunction light" is on

Fix - simple buy an Ebay LED resistor light fix
Alot of plug and play out and about that should cure it
if it dont - then you need to contact the seller

Ziggy

 

[jopo50]

my seatbelt light comes on (its red) and a little orange light comes on the dashboard as well. any ideas please??

 

[mickmike]

So you keep getting that persky light on the dashboard when driving?
Its the Bulb Malfunction

The punto has a system that can detect if there is a malfunction within the certain lighting circuits

So what does it mean?
Well it a malfunction of a light somewhere - its upto you to find out which or where

The system covers
​

Sidelights - Front and Rear
Brake Lights - 2 rear in clusters
Indicators - Front, Rear and Side
Fog light - Rear, (at time my 2004 Active sport warns of fog light malfunction)
Reverse light - This is an assumption here, since my 2004 has fog warning, why not the reverse light too!

What isn't covered?
​

Front Headlights - but that's obvious as people flash you and you wonder why the hell you cant see at night
Front fogs - Not Yet tested this theory, but i don't recall these been covered
High beam - you probably wont know till MOT time, or weekly checks
Numberplate light - Mines popped, no light
High level brake light - If 1 of the many pops, i do believe no light activation

Usual culprits

Blown bulbs

- Lights pop, its a handy way to tell if 1 has let go -


Wrong Wattage bulb fitted

- This is common for people who fit LED lights, they draw such little current, the car thinks its blown, and puts the light on.
The other mistake is the fast fitters who stick a 5w bulb where a 10w should be, again, to little of a current drawn it picks this up -


Earthing Fault / Bulb interference
This is common the punto's rear light clusters. Have you ever seen a car who's indicating but his brake light flashes with the indicator or the whole lights just seem to be dim or a portable disco is going on?

Wrong Bulb Altogether
Some idiot has gone and stuck in Sidelight/brake light combined bulb in say a fog light for example, this will cause stupid behavior, possibly pop fuses too!

Diagnosis

Start by using a family / friend to operate the lights and observe function
Do all your lights, you may find 2 bulb faults!
So start at the front
Sidelights - dipped - Full - Indicators - Fogs (If applicable)
Then all together - does anything odd happen
Check Side indicators are happy too!

Then the rear
Side - Brake - Indicator and stop there, these 3 are the usual culprits
Does any of them interfere with the others?
What happens if you do all of them together? Disco? dull?
Then add in the Reverse and Fog

Found a blown bulb - Simple, replace with the correct bulb and test again
See the Correct Bulbs section if your unsure

You've got disco lights? Start with the Removal of the rear light clusters

Replacing bulbs

So you've got a blown bulb, the fronts are doable without removing the cluster
But some are tight!, if you struggle consult an expert like halfords (but pay way to much for bulb and fitting), your local mechanic, or a friend who's got small hands!

The rears, is easy
In the spare boot kit you should have this
View attachment 131300

No tools in boot? No problem a 17mm socket and posi screwdriver is all it is!

Locate the 2 stud fixings Top and bottom
View attachment 131303 View attachment 131302

Using the spare boot tools - work the nuts free like so
View attachment 131301

2 nuts removed pull the cluster carefully away from the car, to expose your connectionView attachment 131305

Then using the screwdriver - remove the 4 screws on the back
3 are located around the connection seal
1 is located just below the top stud
View attachment 131304

Pull back off - twist and pull defective bulb out
Refit new bulb - push and twist
Refit back cover - refit screws - refit connection - reseat lights - Fit nuts finger tight - tighten with tool - Test!

**REMEMBER THE REAR SIDELIGHTS ARE 10W NOT 5W!**

I've got Disco lights

Following the rear bulb replacement section, get the affected light cluster out the car
With the electrical connection removed, do 2 things
Locate your black wire, this is the EARTHING wire, but look at the connection inside
View attachment 131307
View attachment 131306
My connecter is looking a little loose on the black wire, the gaps a tiny bit bigger
You may be able to make the gap smaller to ensure a tight connection again, but mostly its the cluster at fault

So where the black wire connects - locate that pin
View attachment 131308
Mine in this example is the far Left pin

Is it dull, black, missing, white, furry, covered in plastic, brown or anything that isn't as shown in picture?
Clean it up, Both sides
Sand paper, wire wool, a small needle file, anything to remove the corrosion or defectant thats causing a resistive path, till its shiny and clean
Solvent cleaner might work, but i've had little success personally

So its now clean and looking much better
Great, refit connector and test away
And you should now be fault free!

If 1 cluster has faltered with an earthing fault, the other side may be at fault too
so while your out doing this - tackle the other side

People who have the Fiat 100W subwoofer in the boot, you will need to remove the subwoofer to gain access to bottom stud nut

What Bulbs are needed and where?

The Front Sidelights, Side indicators (on wings) and numberplate light, Bulbs in the high level (3rd) brake light
You require a 12v 5w Push fit bulb - known as the w5w or Halfords 501
(image taken from google)

Your Brake lights, Reverse light, Fog lights and Indicators**
are P21W bulbs (12volt 21watt) or Halfords HBU382
(Image from Google)

*** Note Indicators may need to be yellow or chrome to give off the correct colour, please ensure you purchase to meet your law requirements in your country ***


Rear Sidelights are R10W - 12v 10W or halfords HBU254S
Ensure its a 10w, not a 5w!
(Image taken from google)

Front Fog Lights - Please inspect before purchasing, my manual stated h3, but unsure for a mk2 version where the fog lights are in the clusters

Front Headlights - Are known to be either h1 or h7, please check before purchasing a replacement

Front High beam - Manual States h1, but please check your fitment before purchasing!

Fiat did swap fitments around due to stock on production, so some have 1 or the other

Disclaimer

this is a guide to provide you with the basic information, about this topic
The information was posted using the fiat manual provided with my vehicle
please ensure you check your manual, or consult an expert

I or Fiatforum will not be responsible for you fitting/purchasing an incorrect bulb
You are responsible for any damage, injury or loss that comes as a result of incorrect fitment

If you are unsure, please consult an expert
Halfords do have a fitting service, so that way you are covered if anything goes wrong

Any incorrect information noted will be changed by a moderator, or posted in the comments section below
​

Hello

Ive got the issue with my bulbwatch light comining on when I turn lights on , Ive checked and replaced all bulbs , the only thing thats not working is the boot light despite changing the bulb , could that cause the bulbwatch light illuminating ???

 

[s and b]

no

for the record these 10 watt bayonet fitting bulbs are not so easy to procur i had to order them 3 times last week before factor sent right ones
must remember to see the number of them and post it on here

 

[mickmike]

Just as I thought , was hoping I was wrong though , ill keep checking wiring for faults.

thanks

 

[mickmike]

All sorted now - Boot light was down to the light switch which is contained in the boot lock mechanism , replaced boot lock , all working fine now, boot lock £30.00 including VAT from Fiat Dealer .
My bulb check light was a result that, i didnt realise there was a stand alone position lamp in the rear cluster (centre bulb) DOH , I thought the only position lamp was the one with the brakelight , in my defence though ive been using my garage wall as a means of seeing what lights are on. two 12v 10amp bulbs replaced at cost of £3.49 from h/fords .

 

[alan01256]

This dash light had been on ever since I picked up a 54 plate Punto for my niece. I replaced all the bulbs & still the dash light was on.

Turns out the previous owner had replaced the tail light bulbs with 5W instead of 10W bulbs.


Changed them over & the out went the dash light.


Result

 

[nerodjin]

Just bought my punto. They were dumping the car due to small, easy and fixable things. I did most of them and also found some very classic ones on my journey like a leaking valve cover gasket and the bonnet cable snapped.

But this yellow light was driving me crazy, I checked the error codes for the can bus and turns out that it is sidelights. Fine. All of them are alight. :bang:
Well after reading this thread and on a non related blower fan resistor change i noticed that the interior was a bit messy at the back right rear light accesss bolts. The entire lamp fixture was loose. And also in there at the top, below the stamped R10W mark a 5 w bulb. Change the bulb to a R10W and voilá light goes out.

Thank you very much for this guide!