Foton Reviews

It sounds very much like the vehicle thinks it has an issue with the key. Modern ignition keys send a coded, electronic message to the car’s computer telling it’s okay to start the engine. Without this communication, it’s possible the car won’t start. The background to this is to prevent the car being hotwired and stolen without the key.

The problem could be as simple as a flat battery on the ignition key. Again, a flat battery means no message to the computer and no start. If the battery is not the problem, then you need to dig deeper to see if the car’s body computer is controlling the security system correctly.

If you’re referring to the lower flog lights on the Foton, access can be gained from behind the bumper. Follow the wiring to where it disappears inside the light mount and remove the globes from there.

For the actual headlights, the globes can be replaced, but it’s a bit fiddlier. You need to remove the plastic twist-lock covers at the back of each headlight to gain access to the globes, but to do that you need to remove the battery on one side and the air-box on the other.

Don’t forget, when changing globes, not to touch the glass part with your fingers. This can leave an oily residue (from your skin) on the glass which forms a hot-spot and can lead to the globe failing prematurely.

The indicator lights on the dashboard are blinking fast because there’s not the usual load on the indicator circuit from the exterior globes. This is a great way to know if you have a blown indicator globe, as the light on the dashboard will flash faster on the side of the failed globe.

So you need to look downstream to figure out why none of the indicator lights are getting power to them. This could be a broken wire, a body-computer problem, a poor earth or some other electrical gremlin that is robbing the lights of their power source and signal. An auto electrician would be a good place to tackle the problem.