General Turn signal on side mirrors keeps melting

[lycopersicum]

As in the title. One of my side mirror turn signals keeps failing. When I go to change the bulb, I find the amber plastic has melted and fused to the bulb (which might be the cause of the failure, as then any movement / vibration is transmitted to the glass). I change the turn signal insert and the bulb and it happens again after a month!

W16W are the ones I think I should be using and they blow.

W5W don't burn out but they cause the fault light to come on. Looks plenty bright to me though so that's my backup. It's kind of nice having a different sound for a left or right turn

What's going on there?

 

[Greasytrucker]

Indicator error | FIAT Motorhomes / Campervans

Hi Folks I recently had my right hand side mirror taken out by a speeding motorhome who did not stop. I replaced it with one from Poland via fleabay. €99 inc postage. Quality is fine and it works great except the dash is telling me to check the right side turn signal bulb. The indicator lights...

www.fiatforum.com

Have a read of that

 

[lycopersicum]

Thanks, this could be it. I'll try to source some amber bulbs and get rid of the amber plastic.

 

[Greasytrucker]

Thanks, this could be it. I'll try to source some amber bulbs and get rid of the amber plastic.

Looking at it I think it should solve your problem. Good luck

 

[HughJampton]

Further to my contribution in the two threads referenced above, I can confirm that current production vehicles (mine is now a '25 model) seem to have the clear reflector and amber bulbs.

Replacement indicator units are not particularly expensive (particularly aftermarket ones), nor are they difficult to fit as a replacement. Some people do seem to be having issues with mounting 16W amber bulbs in the clear lens version however.

Coastal Motorhomes rather more expensive OE clear reflector stock, whilst being listed as W5W are clearly marked as WY16W on the rear (or at least the associated picture is). I think if I were considering buying a replacement, I would want one thus marked (many are simply marked W5W).

For example, this Ebay listing shows a unit marked WY16W (you can just make it out by hovering on the picture of the reverse side).

Pardon our interruption...

...and if one can obtain at that sort of price it's probably worth a try.

 

[lycopersicum]

I think I will just Dremel the amber bits out. The clear outside plastic and the reflector are undamaged. It's just the inner bulb cap that's melted.

When I last replaced this part I made a point of buying one that had "16W" in the listing title, in the hope that it wouldn't be made of fondue cheese. Alas.