Dash illumination setting

[peter m]

The rotary switch (S2) controlling the dash lights on my car does not work on the middle setting. I have traced the fault to the resistor used to dim the lights. This is faulty and so I get no illumination on the mid setting. If I short across the resistor, the lights come on, so the wiring and switch are OK.

This resistor is a bit of a pig to get to, being mounted on the engine side of the bulkhead down towards the gearbox.

Before I remove it, does anyone know what value I should replace it with? The part fitted consists of 2 ceramic resistors in series, mounted on a bracket to the bulkhead. They look like high wattage parts.

Thanks

[Rozza!!!]

I know the bits you mean. I don't know the values but they should be written on them once they have been removed. They dont use the fancy coloured band method for notifying the value, they sould just have a number value and the ohm symbol.

I need to replace mine too but as the bolt is such a to get to behind the dash I haven't got round to doing mine yet.

Roy.

[andyf007]

Might be worth cutting the wires and bringing them inside the car. Leave the old bit where it is and fit a new resistor behind the dash somewhere.

Andy

[Podie]

You guys actually USE the illumination setting...

1) poor
2) even worse
3) off.

[Rozza!!!]

andyf007 said:

Might be worth cutting the wires and bringing them inside the car. Leave the old bit where it is and fit a new resistor behind the dash somewhere. Andy

Not really a good idea. The resistors are where they are because the type of resistor used gets VERY hot. Putting them inside the dash may damage something that touches it.

Roy.

[Rozza!!!]

Podie said:

You guys actually USE the illumination setting... 1) poor 2) even worse 3) off.

My normal setting is actually pretty bright - much brighter than in our Rover.

Roy.

[keirangrogan]

I used to have three settings of

1) OK
2) Off
3) Off

At present I have

1) Off
2) Off
3) Off

I didn't know about the resistors, will check them out

[WildfireS3]

Mine is:

Ok
Bad
Off

Don't really see the point of the middle setting as you can never see it.

[andyf007]

Rozza!!! said:

andyf007 said: Might be worth cutting the wires and bringing them inside the car. Leave the old bit where it is and fit a new resistor behind the dash somewhere. Andy Not really a good idea. The resistors are where they are because the type of resistor used gets VERY hot. Putting them inside the dash may damage something that touches it. Roy.

Something in the cabin that gives off heat!! Whatever next.

I did expect that it would need careful siting. Alternatively, just use a dimmer from a modern eurobox.

[Rozza!!!]

andyf007 said:

Something in the cabin that gives off heat!! Whatever next. I did expect that it would need careful siting. Alternatively, just use a dimmer from a modern eurobox.

Or..... use a torch!

Roy.

[andyf007]

Rozza!!! said:

andyf007 said: Something in the cabin that gives off heat!! Whatever next. I did expect that it would need careful siting. Alternatively, just use a dimmer from a modern eurobox. Or..... use a torch! Roy.

Actually, one of these would also sort out the crap headlight problem at the same time

[keirangrogan]

WildfireS3 said:

Mine is: Ok Bad Off Don't really see the point of the middle setting as you can never see it.

When mine worked, if travelling at night on the motorway the instuments would sometimes reflect in the windscreen, it was useful to turn them off then.

[Rozza!!!]

andyf007 said:

Actually, one of these would also sort out the crap headlight problem at the same time

Roy.

[GreenV8S]

I got round the heads-up-display problem in my S2 by putting a small cowl over the main dials. Just a small curved piece of plastic cut from a drink bottle pushed into the gap between the dial and the dashboard was enough to block out the light.

[peter m]

Cheers for the tips. I actually think that the dash illumination in the S is very good, compared to my ageing Fiesta where you can hardly see the dials at night, but I would be nice if the heater controls were also lit up.
All I have to do now it wait for some nice weather to do the job, which could be a while.

[Podie]

peter m said:

...would be nice if the heater controls were also lit up.

[bridgdav]

Same for the Driving lamp switches.....

How many times have you hit the Fogs on with somebody following, when you meant to flick the Driving lamps on..??

[RichardR]

Podie said:

peter m said: ...would be nice if the heater controls were also lit up.

The later S3s and the V8S have illuminated controls...

bridgdav said:

Same for the Driving lamp switches.....

They are illuminated by a highly ineffectual fibre optic arrangement - if you manage to find a very very dark place, you might just see a faint glow coming off them!

[S2 Giles]

My S2 dial illumination is similar to most, either too dim or too bright, when its on the bright setting i can read the dials really well but no idea where the needle is ! as nobody thought to use dials with lit up needles !!!!!!!!!!

[lordb]

peter m said:

but I would be nice if the heater controls were also lit up..

mmmmm. that implies that even if you could see them they would be of some use