General Front and Rear Headlights switch on and off, after engine is switched off

[imps500]

Hi Guys,

I am new here. I tried searching for similar threads, and although I find issues with front headlights staying on after the car is switched on, its not quite the same issue as I have, so hoping someone can help me.

I have a 2008 Fiat POP, recently when I switch the engine off, a few minutes after, both the front and rear headlights switch on. They then either stay on, or switch off and then come back on, draining the battery (I currently have to hook/unhook the battery everytime I take the car out). I changed the battery previously before I knew about this issue so know this is not the problem.

I had a look at the rear hatch wiring, but the grommet and factory tape are in good condition (although I do notice when I push-pull the rubber grommet back into the tailgate hole that it then locks/unlocks the rear boot. Also if I switch the engine off, but leave one of the doors open then the issue does not occur. I've read on other forums that this may be caused by a whole host of issues including failed BCM's and relays. However, I was hoping someone had a specific remedy for this issue.

Regards

Alex

 

[jrkitching]

although I do notice when I push-pull the rubber grommet back into the tailgate hole that it then locks/unlocks the rear boot.

Then you definitely have an insulation failure, which I'd suggest you rectify before worse happens.

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi Guys,

I am new here. I tried searching for similar threads, and although I find issues with front headlights staying on after the car is switched on, its not quite the same issue as I have, so hoping someone can help me.

I have a 2008 Fiat POP, recently when I switch the engine off, a few minutes after, both the front and rear headlights switch on. They then either stay on, or switch off and then come back on, draining the battery (I currently have to hook/unhook the battery everytime I take the car out). I changed the battery previously before I knew about this issue so know this is not the problem.

I had a look at the rear hatch wiring, but the grommet and factory tape are in good condition (although I do notice when I push-pull the rubber grommet back into the tailgate hole that it then locks/unlocks the rear boot. Also if I switch the engine off, but leave one of the doors open then the issue does not occur. I've read on other forums that this may be caused by a whole host of issues including failed BCM's and relays. However, I was hoping someone had a specific remedy for this issue.

Regards

Alex

Somebody posted that..
Potentially a 2012 panda...

 

[imps500]

Somebody posted that..
Potentially a 2012 panda...

Thanks, let me try and search on this. ANy other help is much appreciated.

 

[imps500]

Then you definitely have an insulation failure, which I'd suggest you rectify before worse happens.

Thanks, I'll have a nother look at this.

 

[imps500]

Hi Guys,

I am new here. I tried searching for similar threads, and although I find issues with front headlights staying on after the car is switched on, its not quite the same issue as I have, so hoping someone can help me.

I have a 2008 Fiat POP, recently when I switch the engine off, a few minutes after, both the front and rear headlights switch on. They then either stay on, or switch off and then come back on, draining the battery (I currently have to hook/unhook the battery everytime I take the car out). I changed the battery previously before I knew about this issue so know this is not the problem.

I had a look at the rear hatch wiring, but the grommet and factory tape are in good condition (although I do notice when I push-pull the rubber grommet back into the tailgate hole that it then locks/unlocks the rear boot. Also if I switch the engine off, but leave one of the doors open then the issue does not occur. I've read on other forums that this may be caused by a whole host of issues including failed BCM's and relays. However, I was hoping someone had a specific remedy for this issue.

Regards

Alex

@typecastboy - I understand that you may have some knowledge on this and everything else Fiat 500 related

 

[typecastboy]

The headlight issue, so I've been led to believe is likely to be relays which are circuits on the BCM and would need to be replaced. It's possible that the hatch wiring is the culprit though especially with the other symptoms you are describing. Best to get that sorted first and go from there. If it's the BCM it could either be repaired or sometimes it's easier just to get a complete key set and change the engine eco/bcm, locks and ignition. That would also be cheaper than a repair I suspect.

 

[imps500]

Thanks for the help.

By the way of an update yesterday the speedometer cluster just stopped working, so all lights and the speedo itself are unresponsive. Unsure if this is part of the original issue, or just another issue that has just started. I cant see why the speedo or the instrument control panel would be related to a rear wiring loom issue?

Is this more symptomatic of a general BCM failure? Also do you know anywhere who supplies the BCM with coded key fobs, along with install? Happy to travel around the M25 to get this done.

Cheers

 

[Djscorchio]

I bought a 500 a little while ago and it had no clocks (they came on when you open the door but went off when the engine started) the seller was going to replace the clocks, but after a google search I discovered that the culprit was the boot wiring and was outside at 3am patching it up (my partner was in hospital about to have our baby, but I wasn't allowed on the maternity ward at night, so was waiting for her to be moved to the delivery room where I could go on)

Turns out the clocks are on the same fuse as the brake lights, the brake lights had shorted out and blown the fuse. A bit of tape and a new fuse and it was sorted.

 

[jrkitching]

It's possible that the hatch wiring is the culprit though especially with the other symptoms you are describing. Best to get that sorted first and go from there.

That.

With the hatch wiring fault, a stray live feed can affect pretty much any electronic module on the car. It's possible that this could cause the BCM to fail; we've also had reports of it taking out the airbag ECU.

Whatever, there's no point in trying to diagnose or repair anything until you're sure the wiring is sound. If you put a new BCM in and there is a wiring fault in the hatch, the new BCM could be ruined as soon as it's installed.

 

[imps500]

Thanks all.

I'm pulling the rear loom today, to get a better look and get repairs ready. I noticed that a number of fuses on the dashboard and engine fusebox had blown - so once I sort out the rear loom, I'll replace these and then do a bit more of a thorough diagnosis, then if its still playing up - I'll look at the BCM.

I'll keep you notified.

 

[jrkitching]

I'm pulling the rear loom today, to get a better look and get repairs ready.

If you can post pictures of what you find, it will help others in the future.

Several folks have reported finding significant damage that only became evident after stripping back outer insulation. Also on a older car, there is the possibility that it may have been repaired in the past; look out for signs of any non-original wiring, as it may have been spliced behind a trim panel and failed at the splice.

We're getting reports now of cars that have had multiple repairs to the rear hatch wiring.

 

[John202020]

I personally think that not fixing the rear hatch wiring issue the moment it appears it can then lead to a catalogue of further failures often far more expensive to fix like speedo cluster abs module you name it?