My Fab 450SE

[Richybaby]

Hi all,

And a happy new year.
After some info/advice etc, quite recently (summer months) I realised a lifelong dream and purchased a 450SE, after owning a 280i for many years which I am now going to sell once I sort a few things out, anyone interested?. Anyway the 450SE, everything is spot on and runs great, but I only realised recently when the darker nights and evenings set in that the front spot lamps and the interior light don't seem to be working, I haven't had a chance to investigate either of these problems yet but as there doesn't seem to be a seperate switch for either I think that the front spots are supposed to come on with the rear fog lamps, and assume that the interior light is automatically activated by the door switches (my 280i had a separate switch for controlling the functionality of the interior lights), can anyone confirm my assumptions?
Also there is a flat round three position switch on the drivers side just under the dashboard to the right of the steering whell, I have no idea what this is for?.
I am sure I checked these things when purchasing the car, but it is quite possible that in my excitement and given that everything I checked seemed to be working perfectly that they were overlooked, either that or there is quite simple explanations for the problems, as I said I haven't had a chance to check yet, just pre-empting my faultfinding here first.

Cheers,
Rich.

[rev-erend]

Congratulations on the purchase.. 'one of the lucky few' as Vicky Butler Henderson said of the 450SE..

I believe the spot lights come on with the main beam.. the switch you describe sounds like the dash lights (off, low, high), interior light - make sure it's just not in the 'off' position.

>> Edited by rev-erend on Tuesday 3rd January 15:10

[dickymint]

Welcome aboard Rich.

Yet another Welsh Wedger

[firefox1712]

May I have it?

[grahamw48]

You lucky devil.

Having been 'brought up' on Lotus 7 type vehicles, I hadn't even thought to look for an interior light, and other such luxury items....must go and have a look now.

I've just put my pampered pet back in the garage after a quick blast, top down, followed by a wash and polish.

Roll on summer, and clean dry roads.

[jmorgan]

Interior light could just be a duff contact, overhead light or door or both.. Try not to use emery etc unless it is already scratched.

[gsx600]

Richybaby said:

I think that the front spots are supposed to come on with the rear fog lamps,

I think the front spots are supposed to come on with main beam, on bothmy 350 and 400 the earth was knackered at the connector feeding the spots - the 350 had a seperate switch to activate the spots, but I think the 400 /450 does not

Richybaby said:

and assume that the interior light is automatically activated by the door switches

Normally a 3 way switch on the light unit , doors, off ,on try all 3 first and you should get the light on one of the positions with door shut, (middle normally off) then slide to the other position open the door and wiggle the switch in the door recess and it may come on

Richybaby said:

Also there is a flat round three position switch on the drivers side just under the dashboard to the right of the steering whell, I have no idea what this is for?.

I would say this sounds like some sort of impbilser that may have previously been fitted and working, but may not still be working now.
Cheers

Paul H

[hamish400]

Rich,

The flat switch under the dash seems the same as my 400SE has - which is for dimming dashboard lighting.
My switch did not "dim" initially - only "off" or "on" worked. This was due to a defective resistor. On my car there are two ceramic resistors in the enine bay on the nearside suspension tower forming part of the dimming circuit - white blocks of the same type that used to be used as ballast resistors in ignition circuits before electronic ignition was used. The switch and resistors are not shown on any wiring diagrams I have seen.

Rgds
Hamish

[redwedge5]

Do you have airconditioning?. I have a round 3 position switch in the position you describe, but on the left of the driver. It controls the speed of the airconditioning fan.

[wedg1e]

hamish400 said:

Rich, The flat switch under the dash seems the same as my 400SE has - which is for dimming dashboard lighting. My switch did not "dim" initially - only "off" or "on" worked. This was due to a defective resistor. On my car there are two ceramic resistors in the enine bay on the nearside suspension tower forming part of the dimming circuit - white blocks of the same type that used to be used as ballast resistors in ignition circuits before electronic ignition was used. The switch and resistors are not shown on any wiring diagrams I have seen. Rgds Hamish

Positively modern. On the Tasmin (and the Esprit) it was several feet of ordinary wire, coiled up behind the dash, that was switched into circuit to add resistance and dim the lamps.
I thought the later wedges generally used the SD1 dimmer rheostat on the column?

[brummiewedge]

Mines same as Hamish.

[pwd95]

Welcome Rich congratulations on your purchase. Two 450's on a South Wales run out, now theres a prospect
Is that Mumbles on your profile pic, by the apple?
I've never known the interior light to work on either the 350 or the 400! On my to do list.
My front spots work for flash and main beam
Oh and the round flat switch is for switching the dashboard lights on and off



>> Edited by pwd95 on Wednesday 4th January 08:48

>> Edited by pwd95 on Wednesday 4th January 08:50

[acegrantura]

Richybaby, re your 280i for sale, has it been converted to unleaded, or do you have the additive balls in a net still to install?

[mikeb]

I got one of them under the dashboard switches on my 450SE, fiddled with it and it didn't seem to do anything looked under the dash and it wasen't even wired to anything.

MikeB

[Richybaby]

Thanks guys for all your feedback,

It seems the concencus of opinion is that the spots should come on with the main beems, the interior light, well that will just need investigating, and the flat round knob under the dash would seem to be for dashboard light dimming'ish, haven't had a chance to investigate any of this yet but perhaps some time on the weekend now, will certainly post my findings, if not asking for more help.

pwd95 - Certainly up for a spin, and yes that is Mumbles in the picture.

Acegrantura - Bretty Boy, nice to see you, long time no speak, hope everything is good, howz Debs, Grantura is looking good, and no I haven't done an unleaded conversion on the 280i, and no I haven't put the additive beads in the tanks yet, yet another job to get sorted before selling.

As I said, thanks guys, speak later.