Tail-Light + Numberplate-Light >>> FAILURE

[Karsten]

The infocenter showed an error-message. I am pretty sure the message was:

"Electrical Connection Failure"

Couldn't understand what it was all about. Everything seemed to work. Engine sounded just fine and all lights were working... that is until I walked around the rear end of the car... "Oh My ...!!!" There was total darkness (it was late evening). No lights at all here.
Luckily the brake lights work and seems like direction indicators work aswell. I can also "pop the trunk" with the button in the glove compartment and the light in the trunk works!
Mysterious enough I can't seem to find the right fuse for tail lights and/or numberplate lights... hmm I hope that's where the problem is. Can someone help?

Its just below freezing temperatures here in Denmark and everyone knows that Italians don't like that too much

[Karsten]

Forgot to mention that the Kappa 20VT is from 1999... but that shouldn't really make any difference with a problem like this...

[Karsten]

Oh no... the fog lights does not work either (both front and rear). This must be one of the larger connectors that has simply lost connection?

[Lindsay]

I don't know! Sure it isnt a related fuse?

[Angle Grinder]

Hi Karsten,

I'm not an expert on Kappas, but a multiple failure like this suggests to me that the earth point has been disturbed. If the Kappa uses the same wiring design philosophy as the Thema, you should find that the rear lights all earth at a point located beside the spare wheel. You may just find that this earth has become unbolted somehow.

Don't listen to Lindsay he's clueless : )

[Lindsay]

Oi! Kappas use nothing like the antiquated Thema set up. Don't listen to this man. He was only let out of the home for mentally unstable yesterday....

[Duarte]

Hello,

Bad luck my friend. If that is what I'm thinking , prepare a lot of money to fix it.

1 Year ago I was driving in a hi-way at night when I saw several messages been shown on the computer screen, They were all similar "fuse failure", "xxx light failure" and so on. But I still had light - so I thought. When I stoped, I reallized that there was no rear lights and front fog lights. Later, I also realized that there was no heating system on the outside mirrors or on the rear window.
All of this was been caused by a failure on a small electronic box under the driving wheel.
Had to be replaced and it costed me arround 400 euros.

I can send you the a schematic of the part and where it is located. Send me an e-mail.

[Karsten]

Our (unofficial) Lancia Dealership found the error and fixed it after about 1 hour.
It was (as Duarte mentioned) an electronic box besides the fuses under the steering wheel. The price close to around 400 euros sounds quite similar.
I have to agree with Lindsay on the Thema/Kappa matter... the only reason that Thema still drive around out there is because people tend to have feelings for their Lancia (and pay for it). You don't see many old Fiat Croma do you?

[Angle Grinder]

Ah yes, but I think so many Themas are still on the road because they don't use unreliable little black boxes costing 400 euros to do the same job as can be achieved with a simple on/off switch and few metres of wire.

You could always buy a Thema for 400 Euros as a back up for when the Kappa goes wonky!

KISS - Keep It Simple Succeeds!

P.S. please don't take offence, I'm just having a laugh...

[Karsten]

Weeeeell sometimes its true about keepings things simple (Kappa vs. Thema)... but.....

Imagine living in a country where moist weather (rain/snow + cold weather so the water don't disapper very fast (Denmark)... I think I prefer the Kappa cause the Thema would be slowly disappearing out there in front of the house if I didn't spend a fortune on rust-repairs.
Imagine spending more money on repairs almost every year than the car is worth... Sounds like Thema to me?
Imagine being in the middle of a major carcrash... I think I prefer the Kappa.

Imagine simply driving on the highway, byway, any way... I think I prefer the Kappa.

P.S. No offence...