Dashboard Warning Lights Very Faint, MOT failure?
Discussion
Don't worry, they are all like that. Just realised though you may not be able change the bulbs in the warning lights as they are sealed, they were on mine anyway – it was the instrument illumination bulbs I changed to 5W on mine. I remember now, I did have a hunt around for alternative warning lights but couldn’t find anything brighter. Maybe try these if you are looking for alternatives.
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/
http://www.cbsonline.co.uk/
(Not such a problem at the moment...)Numpty or what, I have not seen the dash brightness switch, where should that be hiding? Or at least a rough direction to look, the wiring on mine is like a storm in a spaghetti factory.
Thanks for the link V8s4Me, interesting and useful site!
Thanks for the link V8s4Me, interesting and useful site!
Edited by S2Mike on Tuesday 3rd July 16:36
are we talking warning lamps here or instrument lights ?Dimmer switch (if you have one) won't, or at least shouldn't, effect the warning lamps.
Ign light is a bit different and earths through alternator but most of the others quite possibly share a common earth, could be poor connection or come off completely ?
Edited by phillpot on Tuesday 3rd July 20:23
Yes we are talking warning lights, and the chances off the earth being poor, or connection off altogether is quite high, I currently have no main beam headlamps, or warning light at all, no electric windows, no interior light, no clock and as mentioned above the rest of the warning lights are very dim, or not working, so will need some work to get through MOT anyway. Thank goodness I have until October.
.At least it starts first time every time, and gets a blast round the bypass every 2 weeks or so.
.At least it starts first time every time, and gets a blast round the bypass every 2 weeks or so.
The dimmer switch on my S1 only effects the lights in the gauges, and that is correct per the wiring diagram. The warning lights are NOT effected.
My warning lights are also c--p. So bad that a good MOT tester, familiar with classic cars, said he couldn't find the indicator tell tale and shouldnt really pass it as it was.
I also got fed up with trying to see what lights were illuminated, the reds were clear enough but the rest weren't. I thought the plastic cover had perhaps become more opaque with age so I bought a new one...... sod all difference! So then I changed the indicator tell tale light unit. You are right, you cannot change the bulbs in these! And, in a wonderful bit of TVR foresight, they come out forwards, i.e. the plastic cover has to come off first.....and of course that is glued down!!!
I then bought new units with rearward removable bulbs from the wonderful Car Builder Solutions. Even with clean new units, marginally more powerful bulbs AND a new plastic cover the indicator tell tale is still bloody awful (as is the main beam warning light)...and in a bloody awful place too.
I have had enought of it now. My car is going to be driven in modern traffic for many years to come (my son now drives it a well) so sod originality we are going to change the warning light arrangements!
Incidentally, I love driving the car at night and I found the reflection of the gauge lights on the screen annoying even with the lights dimmed. I fitted orange bulbs (you can get orange and blue bulbs which directly replace the originals. 12v 5W capless W2.1X9.5D). The effect is much pleasanter, and much more in keeping with the doeskin trim and the green body colour!
My warning lights are also c--p. So bad that a good MOT tester, familiar with classic cars, said he couldn't find the indicator tell tale and shouldnt really pass it as it was.
I also got fed up with trying to see what lights were illuminated, the reds were clear enough but the rest weren't. I thought the plastic cover had perhaps become more opaque with age so I bought a new one...... sod all difference! So then I changed the indicator tell tale light unit. You are right, you cannot change the bulbs in these! And, in a wonderful bit of TVR foresight, they come out forwards, i.e. the plastic cover has to come off first.....and of course that is glued down!!!
I then bought new units with rearward removable bulbs from the wonderful Car Builder Solutions. Even with clean new units, marginally more powerful bulbs AND a new plastic cover the indicator tell tale is still bloody awful (as is the main beam warning light)...and in a bloody awful place too.
I have had enought of it now. My car is going to be driven in modern traffic for many years to come (my son now drives it a well) so sod originality we are going to change the warning light arrangements!
Incidentally, I love driving the car at night and I found the reflection of the gauge lights on the screen annoying even with the lights dimmed. I fitted orange bulbs (you can get orange and blue bulbs which directly replace the originals. 12v 5W capless W2.1X9.5D). The effect is much pleasanter, and much more in keeping with the doeskin trim and the green body colour!
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