Console Illumination Bulb

[ROOODBOY]

As some of you might remember, I've had my first wedge for about two weeks now, a 1989 350I. And I'm loving it!

I've treated it to a few new parts and an engine service so far, and I generally want to give it a bit of a tidy up, and one thing I want to fix is the console illumination, which isn't working.

I have jammed my head up under the dash as far as I can but I cant see where the bulb for the fibre optics (I assume it has this after reading a recent thread here) goes.
Anyone know exactly where it should be..?

Thanks,

Martin.

[mark387mw]

Have you tried the dimmer switch on the steering housing? Mine is now on or off as the dim function no longer works.

[ROOODBOY]

Is that the black knob under the dash that clicks into 2 positions..?
I've not worked out what that does!

The gauges on the dash do have illumination, just not the switches on the centre console.

Thanks.

Edited by ROOODBOY on Sunday 28th February 00:43

[Wedg1e]

It's probably behind the radio. Only the switches on the centre console are lit and the fibres are only a few inches long so it can't be far away.

[ROOODBOY]

Ok, I'll take that apart tomorrow and have a look there.

Thanks!

[hallsie]

This is what currently illuminates my dash switches.









They are very dim, and the actual 'fibers' are plastic with a plastic outer sheath which is rubbish, if you wanted to maintain the 'fiber' part you could probably use some bit of a novelty christmass tree with optical branches!!!
The bulb is old and shot too.

Ive found some white LEDs with a 3mm body and 1mm tip which will fit in to all the switch holes and Ill be investigating the dash inserts for the lights later today.

Stu

[leorest]

mark387mw said:

Have you tried the dimmer switch on the steering housing? Mine is now on or off as the dim function no longer works.

LOL. Mines got three off positions and one "too dim" setting.
It's all part of the character.

[matt-man]

Hey! Mine is just over the passenger footwell going towards the dash centre, but thats on a 400 which is a different dash layout...although every TVR seems to be different!

Welcome to the fold by the way - And see you have a Biturbo Maserati! Always had a softspot for those!

[ROOODBOY]

Thanks for the info guys, I didn't have time today but I might have a look after work tomorrow.


Matt-man, I do have a Biturbo, but it won't be going back on the road.

It was bought by a work colleague and I to take part in the first Practical Performance Car Magazine £999 Challenge at York Raceway, about two and a half years ago.

We came, I think, ninth out of sixteen and put in a 1/4 mile time of 15.6 seconds, which we thought was quite good for the £800 or so the car cost us to buy and fettle!
Anyway, it's rotten and knackered now so that might get broken for parts too, as well as my E30 BMW!

Lets hope the Wedge doesn't suffer the same fate!!!

[grahamw48]

My 400SE did 14.9 at York last year, with my tortoise-like reactions.

[Wedg1e]

mark387mw said:

Have you tried the dimmer switch on the steering housing? Mine is now on or off as the dim function no longer works.

If it's the rotary dimmer from the SD1, the worst thing you can do is to set it just-off-full brightness. The resistive track in the dimmer isn't up to passing that amount of current so the track burns out at that point. Then you get either full-on, or full-off.
Either use full brightness or less than say 60%, which puts enough resistance in series to keep things cool.

[ROOODBOY]

Well it was a blown bulb!

Thanks for posting the pics hallsie, helped me identify where to look, even though my unit looks quite different to that one!

I see what you mean about the dimness though, I think I'll look into led's too!

But at least I can just about see the switches at night now, I've only done a few hundred, mostly day time, miles so they don't fall to hand for me just yet!

[hallsie]

No problem Martin.

Ive found some white/blue led's on ebay, they are the 'lighthouse' type with a 2mm turret on the top, these turrets will go into the clear plastic surrounds that are around the switches where the fibres fit into (they may need a bit of help from a file and some silicone) and shold light them up sufficiently.
They are only 3 volts so I was planning of running 4 of them in series to the various switches and running them off of the existing feed.

Ill let you know how they turn out, I think i will have to buy 200 to get the ones I need so Ill have a 'few' spare after Ive finished that you are welcome to try.
Im in North Kent if thats close, if not ill post them to you.

Stu

[ROOODBOY]

That's very kind of you Stu, thanks!

I'm in Maidstone, but I don't need much of an excuse to go for a drive!

[hallsie]

Ive just got in from the garage having just bled the brakes and re-fitted the bonnet.

Just need to put the wheels back on and fill with some coolant, ah, and tax it of course, and Ill actually drive it this month!!

Im in Higham, so not too far away at all!

You will have to come to the next local meet, ill PM you with details nearer the time or contact member ncs on here.

Stu

[ROOODBOY]

Sounds good to me, thankyou!

My wedge isn't the tidiest one around, but I'll gladly come and look at (and listen to) some others.

[Big Daft Lad]

I didn't evem know the switchs were supposed to light up! I'm off to check that bulb.

[grahamw48]

[matt-man]

ROOODBOY said:

Sounds good to me, thankyou!

My wedge isn't the tidiest one around, but I'll gladly come and look at (and listen to) some others.

You going to Goodwood breakfast club this weekend?

[ROOODBOY]

I won't be this weekend, too much to do AND it's the missus' birthday!

I'm definately planning going on 6th June for the supercars, I've been to the last two and the turnout has been spectacular!