Fiat Ducato 2017 Main Beam problem

Alshymer

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Hi
My Ducato is booked in for it’s Contrôle Technique here in France and on checking it over, find the passenger side head lamp is not working on main beam.
I have replaced the bulb but still no joy.
Google tells me the main beams are fused independently and the fuse F15 is in the engine bay.
I have also been given other fuse numbers so am not quite sure.
The engine bay fuse board looks a little daunting to me. Is it easy to access? How?
Do I need to disconnect the battery first?
Does anyone have any experience that I could benefit from?
Thanks in advance.
Regards
 
If all you are doing is changing a fuse there is no need to disconnect the battery.

Just take your time and deal with one fuse at a time. Remove it / check it / replace it.

You could take the opportunity to replace each fuse with one of the new fangled ones that light up when they fail, a lot easier to deal with future problems.
About 50p a fuse.
 
Alshymer said:
Thanks for that but do you know how to access the under bonnet fuse board?
Click to expand...


Errr Open the bonnet and then open the fuse box?

If you mean the under dash fuse box there are videos on YT that explain that and list the fuses.
e.g.

Do you have a handbook if not there shouild be one on line..
 
r4dent said:
Errr Open the bonnet and then open the fuse box?

If you mean the under dash fuse box there are videos on YT that explain that and list the fuses.
e.g.

Do you have a handbook if not there shouild be one on line..
Click to expand...
I haven’t mentioned the dash fuse board. Obviously I know where that is!
Have you ever opened the engine fuse box?
I am only seeking help to get this open without break the lid as it seems somewhat difficult.
 
You might find it easier to actually remove the headlight to access that fuse/relay box? It is not essential but it can simplify access and removing the headlight just takes a couple of minutes.

(just be greatful you are not accessing a VW T5 engine fuse/relay box - that lives UNDER the starter battery!)
 
Hi
Thanks for your reply. I do have both the head lights removed but don’t know where the relay box is or that there was one!!😂😂
Is the culprit in there then?
Regards
 
Alshymer said:
Hi
Thanks for your reply. I do have both the head lights removed but don’t know where the relay box is or that there was one!!😂😂
Is the culprit in there then?
Regards
Click to expand...
this video will show you

I see it is in the same place as the X250 (2006-2012) model, so definately easiest with headlamp out the way.
 
Alshymer said:
I haven’t mentioned the dash fuse board. Obviously I know where that is!
Click to expand...

On Many Ducatos the headlight fuses are in the dash Fuse Box.

Have you checked the handbook ?
fuse1.jpg
 
Hi
I think that the problem was that in the under dash fuse board. Some of the fuses didn’t seem to bite too well.
I tried with a tiny screw driver to tighten the contacts a little and this has seemed to work.
I have placed some rubber between the board and the cover to try to secure them better.
No fuse had actually blown and the bulbs were ok so it is working ok at the moment but i shall keep my eye on it.
Thanks for your help.
 
Alshymer said:
Hi
I think that the problem was that in the under dash fuse board. Some of the fuses didn’t seem to bite too well.
I tried with a tiny screw driver to tighten the contacts a little and this has seemed to work.
I have placed some rubber between the board and the cover to try to secure them better.
No fuse had actually blown and the bulbs were ok so it is working ok at the moment but i shall keep my eye on it.
Thanks for your help.
Click to expand...
It should be noted that not all fuses are created equal.
Some fuses are thinner than others so they don't get grabbed as well, and work lose or generate heat and melt due to a poor connection.
Some fuses are so thick - and I have had this mainly with the mini-spade fuses - that they will not actually go into the fuse holder.
Some tend to attract a corrosion reaction layer that stops a good connection and again creates a intermittant problem or overheating issue.
The tricky thing is finding the decent spade fuses! the big packs you see listed on ebay or Amazon that work out to something like not far off a penny a fuse are going to be the lowest quality you can find. On the other extreme, you can buy ATO (spade) fuses at places like RS Online and pay a few quid a fuse! Finding the right medium ground is the key.

Littelfuse is a premier brand (and I think from memory the originator/inventor of the ATO fuse?) and would be the fuse of choice. If you were sending a probe into space and needed a spade fuse for the fusebox, you would use a littelfuse :),
But if say you decided to replace all the fuses in your ducato with Littelfuses, it would cost probably well over £100! Or spend a fiver for an ebay multipack!
Maybe the way to go is the middle ground and get a pack from a recognised and trusted automotive brand, such as Bosch? This 10 fuse set here - https://amzn.to/4wkRQ7V - works out to be around 40p/fuse but you would expect they are a decent quality.
 
Thanks so much again for your posting.
As previously i will take you up on your advice.
Best wishes
 
I have ordered the Bosch but also a pack of 7.5amp Littelfuse for the head lights and also for the cabling I did inside the Control Panel that You were so helpful with.
Thanks again
 
Hi.
I have replaced the fuses but they are still loose in the holder.
Do you think that I need to replace the fuse holder?😩😩
I think that might be a little expensive!!
I have tried to move the contacts but it doesn’t seem to make much difference.
I might just wedge them with a bit of foam and some gaffa tape???
 
Alshymer said:
Hi.
I have replaced the fuses but they are still loose in the holder.
Do you think that I need to replace the fuse holder?😩😩
I think that might be a little expensive!!
I have tried to move the contacts but it doesn’t seem to make much difference.
I might just wedge them with a bit of foam and some gaffa tape???
Click to expand...
what you could try if you have a soldering iron is a smear of solder on the fuse leg?
Try this on one of the old cheap fuses first .. heat up with the iron and then apply some solder and then smooth it so you are adding just a little bit of thickness to the fuse and see what difference that makes and if it helps.
 
I will try that. The Bosch fuse is certainly thicker than the previous ones.
The thing that worries me though is that looking at the contacts I can only see the top contacts unless the bottom contacts are different.
I would have thought them both the same i.e two pin sticking out to grab the fuse.
 
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