RADIO PANEL lights in pre-facelift Chimaera 400

[kim_400]

Hello all

Here's a photo of the right-hand bank of lights from behind the radio panel in my 1995 Chimaera.





Does anyone know, off the top of their head, how you're supposed to remove spent bulbs from their holders and where you get replacements? I've had a poke around but can't see how you do it without two pairs of hands and without knackering anything. Surely there's an easy way. Are they little screw-cap bulbs?

While I'm here, where is the nearest earthing point to the headlights?

Many thanks

[smb]

from memory the bulb holders are a push fit into the back of nthe plastic tube ( coloured red/amber), bulbs are then accessible.

[kim_400]

Thanks to smb's reply, I returned to my lights. But, I thought, before I go ripping-out bulbs, I'll quickly run the voltmeter over the wires to make sure it is the bulbs that are broke.

Well, waddya know! It ain't the bulbs at all: there's barely a volt across the points so there ain't enough punch to light the darn things!

That was the headlight bulb. I got similar results from the parking brake and brake fluid level lights. Either they've been wired-up wrong since the car was assembled or that's just the way they are. Or perhaps it's Voodoo. I guess only TVR - and the great almighty - knows.

Reckon this is an electrical fault or is this 'normal'?

>> Edited by kim_400 on Monday 6th September 20:17

[smb]

OK, having been thru a painfull electrical problem on mine recently, i know these can be annoying.

Given you say you have no voltage across any of the connectors, have u checked the earth? Connect one end of your voltmeter to the battery negative terminal and the other to the bulb +ive connector and turn it on.

[kim_400]

smb said:

OK, having been thru a painfull electrical problem on mine recently, i know these can be annoying. Given you say you have no voltage across any of the connectors, have u checked the earth? Connect one end of your voltmeter to the battery negative terminal and the other to the bulb +ive connector and turn it on.

Hello SMB

Thanks very much for your help so far.

Well, this is the funny thing... My side-light and fog-light indicators work fine but none of the others do. I get a few tenths of a volt across the dodgy bulbs. I've heard that some of the lights on the top row (e.g. the IML light) aren't always 'connected'.

I'll try the voltmeter as suggested and then get back to you. I'm alright to use my voltmeter this way, aren't I - there isn't a massive current, is there? Just checking - it's only a fifteen quid jobby, not some sooper dooper engineers doofer!

I can sort of understand not connecting the head-light indicator bulb, but not the parking brake light!

Since you've had probs with your electrics, do you know where all the earth points are - I think I may have an earth problem with some of the lights at the front.

Be back later...

[smb]

from memory,
earth points are either side of the transmission tunnel ( on top , just under the carpet right at the front of the tunnel, one for the lights is inside the front grill , and is a bolt that goes into the chassis I think.

all the dash lights should work, if you have so many bulbs not working, i'd still check the earth first. All these are low voltage low current.