Technical Turn signals flashing fast inside the car but normal outside

[jaimonfifi]

Hi I have a fiat 500 1.2 pop 2010.
The problem is the turn signals flashing fast inside the car but normal outside the car bring up a amber warning on the dash.
I've been told to try changing the bulbs as onesy have a fault in it or check to see if last owner fitted led bulbs as that would result in the problem but it also could be the flasher relay in the fuse box which is wired in to the fuse box. Please help I'm desperate for MOT
Thanks for reading and helping

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Hi I have a fiat 500 1.2 pop 2010.
The problem is the turn signals flashing fast inside the car but normal outside the car bring up a amber warning on the dash.
I've been told to try changing the bulbs as onesy have a fault in it or check to see if last owner fitted led bulbs as that would result in the problem but it also could be the flasher relay in the fuse box which is wired in to the fuse box. Please help I'm desperate for MOT
Thanks for reading and helping

I'm tempted to say it's likely to be bulbs too as I've seen this many times in my working life, but does it do it for both left and right operation? Also what happens when you initiate the emergency Flashers?

 

[yann]

I'm tempted to say it's likely to be bulbs too as I've seen this many times in my working life, but does it do it for both left and right operation? Also what happens when you initiate the emergency Flashers?

It does seem to suggest bulbs.....not sure sorry but mot wise it's fine

 

[jaimonfifi]

I'm tempted to say it's likely to be bulbs too as I've seen this many times in my working life, but does it do it for both left and right operation? Also what happens when you initiate the emergency Flashers?

Does both left and right and does it with the hazards on. Wasn't mentioned in last MOT. I brought the car after 2nd day of last MOT and been like it ever since. Will it effect the MOT will it still pass like it. I try bulbs first I buy a set and change them all just in case. I've also been told it could be the flasher relay but it's wired in to the fuse box would have to buy complete unit.

 

[Pugglt Auld Jock]

Does both left and right and does it with the hazards on. Wasn't mentioned in last MOT. I brought the car after 2nd day of last MOT and been like it ever since. Will it effect the MOT will it still pass like it. I try bulbs first I buy a set and change them all just in case. I've also been told it could be the flasher relay but it's wired in to the fuse box would have to buy complete unit.

Ah. Does it in any of the three situations mentioned does it? very unlikely to be just one bulb then. The typical scenario for this is that one of the main flasher bulbs - so either a front or rear on one side - will be blown or maybe a bulb of the wrong wattage. This affects the current draw in that circuit which forces the flasher unit to "blink" faster. But this would be immediately obvious in that one of the flashers on that side wouldn't be flashing. It's just possible that bulbs of the wrong wattage may have been fitted - normally 21 watts - so you need to take all bulbs out and check the wattage, which is usually stamped into the metal of the bayonet filling just under the glass of the bulb. Has someone tried to do an LED bulb conversion? there's lots about troubles if you try to do this.

I don't know the 500 as well as I know the older Pandas but I believe the flasher unit is an integral part of the unit and is soldered directly into the printed circuit board. If you need to replace this I'd be very wary about buying a "cheap" option. Again, I don't know about your particular car, but older flasher units were current dependent for their speed of flashing so bulb problems caused variable flashing rates. Quite some years ago some manufacturers started producing flasher units which were electronically controlled for speed of flashing and this type was not dependent on current draw - as far as I know - so, with this type, the bulbs didn't affect flashing speed. With yours being an integral part of the circuit board, ie not a plug in, I wouldn't be surprised to find it's one of these.

As it's by far the easiest thing to do, I'd start by checking out all the flasher bulbs for correct wattage. Incidentally, the wee repeaters on the wings are quite low current consumers so usually have minimal impact on this sort of problem. In other words are unlikely to be a problem re passing an MOT?

Providing the outside bulbs are flashing at the right rate (I seem to remember between one and two flashes per second?) I don't think the dashboard repeater comes into it - unless it's triggering the check engine light to illuminate?

 

[jaimonfifi]

Ah. Does it in any of the three situations mentioned does it? very unlikely to be just one bulb then. The typical scenario for this is that one of the main flasher bulbs - so either a front or rear on one side - will be blown or maybe a bulb of the wrong wattage. This affects the current draw in that circuit which forces the flasher unit to "blink" faster. But this would be immediately obvious in that one of the flashers on that side wouldn't be flashing. It's just possible that bulbs of the wrong wattage may have been fitted - normally 21 watts - so you need to take all bulbs out and check the wattage, which is usually stamped into the metal of the bayonet filling just under the glass of the bulb. Has someone tried to do an LED bulb conversion? there's lots about troubles if you try to do this.

I don't know the 500 as well as I know the older Pandas but I believe the flasher unit is an integral part of the unit and is soldered directly into the printed circuit board. If you need to replace this I'd be very wary about buying a "cheap" option. Again, I don't know about your particular car, but older flasher units were current dependent for their speed of flashing so bulb problems caused variable flashing rates. Quite some years ago some manufacturers started producing flasher units which were electronically controlled for speed of flashing and this type was not dependent on current draw - as far as I know - so, with this type, the bulbs didn't affect flashing speed. With yours being an integral part of the circuit board, ie not a plug in, I wouldn't be surprised to find it's one of these.

As it's by far the easiest thing to do, I'd start by checking out all the flasher bulbs for correct wattage. Incidentally, the wee repeaters on the wings are quite low current consumers so usually have minimal impact on this sort of problem. In other words are unlikely to be a problem re passing an MOT?

Providing the outside bulbs are flashing at the right rate (I seem to remember between one and two flashes per second?) I don't think the dashboard repeater comes into it - unless it's triggering the check engine light to illuminate?

I'm hoping when I take the side repeaters out the old owner has replaced them with led bulbs and not put the resister in. I've managed to buy a full set of bulbs won't hurt to change them all just incase was only £16 so start with the cheapest option first. Yes did find out that the flasher relays soldiered in to the motherboard do go wrong so could be that. I've seen one on eBay £39 but I'm going to ring fiats tomorrow to see how much they are new before I buy one. I'm changing the lower earth strap aswell as been told they break inside and you get faults on the dash which I have a power steering light that's intermittently comes on. Do you reckon that maybe the problem aswell. Thanks for all your help. I may ask fiats tomorrow see if they have ever come across that indicator problem before I can't just be the only one.