Advice please - my ring isn't red when I push the button

[im]

As described but not as saucy.

Fog light LED on the button doesn't come on when the button is depressed but the Fog light itself DOES come on.

Took it to Carl Baker who thought it was the switch itself so I bought one and he fitted it but still no 'show' or 'tell' light.

Swapped ribbon cables about but still no joy so now I'm thinking its the switch box itself - located indside the radio part of the dashboard which is at the other end of the ribbon cable.

Carl thinks this is probably the cause but agrees its rarer than rockin' horse do-do for this to be the fault.

What comes after the switch box in the circuit, which from what I can see is:

Dashboard Switch - Ribbon Cable - Switches Box - Wires - ????

Surely the LED on the button doesn't have its own circuit (although Carl says some of TVR's wiring is weird).

All other (Main Lights and Hazard switches) which also connect up to this box work and the Hazards 'show' light is working as well.

So, before I buy one of these boxes (£60) does anybody have any other suggestions please?

All suggestions gratefully received.

im

Edited to add, I've been told I'll fail the MOT if this bloody little light doesn't come on.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:42

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

im said:

Edited to add, I've been told I'll fail the MOT if this bloody little light doesn't come on.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:42

That's unlikely I'd think.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

I mean, unlikely to be picked up. (I had non transparent plates on my M reg Chimaera for years!)

[im]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

im said:

Edited to add, I've been told I'll fail the MOT if this bloody little light doesn't come on.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:42

That's unlikely I'd think.

It's an MOT tester who told me - apparently they do check as all light switches with 'tells' must work or no certificate...technically.

He did say that most (but not all) MOT testers can actually 'see' the light working if the rest of the car passes with no problems as they would think it harsh to fail it on this point.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:57

[The AJP Griff]

im said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

im said:

Edited to add, I've been told I'll fail the MOT if this bloody little light doesn't come on.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:42

That's unlikely I'd think.

It's an MOT tester who told me - apparently they do check as all light switches with 'tells' must work or no certificate...technically...he did say that most (but not all) MOT testers will 'see' the light working if the rest of the car passes with no probs though.

Very true that the 'tell tale' light must work to pass an MOT.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

im said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

im said:

Edited to add, I've been told I'll fail the MOT if this bloody little light doesn't come on.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:42

That's unlikely I'd think.

It's an MOT tester who told me - apparently they do check as all light switches with 'tells' must work or no certificate...technically.

He did say that most (but not all) MOT testers can actually 'see' the light working if the rest of the car passes with no problems as they would think it harsh to fail it on this point.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:57

Where I take mine to I'm the "extra man". Thus the bloke outside shouts "lights" "beam" etc & is never inside during the process.

[im]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

im said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

im said:

Edited to add, I've been told I'll fail the MOT if this bloody little light doesn't come on.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:42

That's unlikely I'd think.

It's an MOT tester who told me - apparently they do check as all light switches with 'tells' must work or no certificate...technically.

He did say that most (but not all) MOT testers can actually 'see' the light working if the rest of the car passes with no problems as they would think it harsh to fail it on this point.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:57

Where I take mine to I'm the "extra man". Thus the bloke outside shouts "lights" "beam" etc & is never inside during the process.

Yeah, I'm the extra man too but he always asks me to jump out at a certain point whilst he jumps in and checks stuff.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

im said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

im said:

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

im said:

Edited to add, I've been told I'll fail the MOT if this bloody little light doesn't come on.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:42

That's unlikely I'd think.

It's an MOT tester who told me - apparently they do check as all light switches with 'tells' must work or no certificate...technically.

He did say that most (but not all) MOT testers can actually 'see' the light working if the rest of the car passes with no problems as they would think it harsh to fail it on this point.

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 20:57

Where I take mine to I'm the "extra man". Thus the bloke outside shouts "lights" "beam" etc & is never inside during the process.

Yeah, I'm the extra man too but he always asks me to jump out at a certain point whilst he jumps in and checks stuff.

You probably want it working right anyway!

[im]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

You probably want it working right anyway!

...any ideas...?



ps...you must give that caps lock key a pounding every time you sign in to PH...

Edited by im on Saturday 22 March 21:14

[MrE]

I have noticed with mine that the dash light for the fogs does not work if the main lights are on beam. It works fine if the headlights are dipped.

Not sure if that helps at all.

[im]

MrE said:

I have noticed with mine that the dash light for the fogs does not work if the main lights are on beam. It works fine if the headlights are dipped.

Not sure if that helps at all.

Thanks Matt.

Unfortunately the dash light doesn't work full stop. Nor on the replacement switch I bought.

[bigdods]

My tell tales work ok for fogs and hazards but the backlight doesnt come on when the headlights are on. Rest of the dash lights up fine, I wonder if I am having a similar problem. Next time I have the dash out I will have a look for this magic box !

[im]

bigdods said:

My tell tales work ok for fogs and hazards but the backlight doesnt come on when the headlights are on. Rest of the dash lights up fine, I wonder if I am having a similar problem. Next time I have the dash out I will have a look for this magic box!

For the record or future searches:

Details for 'Magic Box' aka Chimaera Switches Unit

Colour
Black

Size
Rectangular, say 3" wide by 4.5" long by 1.5" tall

Location
Behind your Hi-Fi (unfortunately)

You Need To...
Remove Hi-Fi
Remove Hi-Fi Cage
Unscrew 4 cross-head screws securing Hi-Fi (wood-veneer?) facia panel and allow veneer panel to drop down
Use a torch if need be to locate 'Switches Unit'

Writing On Side of Unit
'Dashboard Switches Unit, TVR part number ME0228'

Connections On Box
(1) Rectangular socket at one end to accomodate plus with many wires leading to it - probably from the loom.
(2) 3 x 4 male pin connectors for connecting to 3 ribbon cables.

Description above each of the 3 pin connectors
Left-to-Right:
(1) Hazards
(2) Fog
(3) Headlamps

Replacement Cost
£40 plus VAT & plus Postage from Bell Hill Garage.


Notes
Ribbon cable goes from behind each switch to the (said) Rectangular switches unit box. From there I am unsure where the wires leading away from the unit go but assume it is the loom. Clearly this is where the current for the switches comes from but I'm no auto-sparks.

So, sequence is:

Switch - Ribbon Cable - Switches Unit Box - Various Wires - ?????

More Info Here

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...

HTH someone in the future.

Edited by im on Monday 24th March 17:23

[AlRaven]

I've got the same problem but mine is the older dash with a seperate (non-working)indicator lamp for the (working) fog light - would this just be a bulb problem and if so what type are they and how easy to fit?

[im]

Sorry I've no idea...mine is the LED ring around the switch you depress to turn the fog lights on. I'm sure somebody out there will be along to help though...