dash board illumination

[Oz2]

Went out for the first time at night in the SX and found there to be no dash illumination, I have cheacked the obvious fuse, dimmer etc. there is a random light behind the dash that lights up but is'nt connected to anything and the dimmer makes no diff to it, could be something simple earth for example anyone know where i should look 1st....also the switch for the lights...... top posision off, mid posision all lights on headlights up, bottom posision all lights on but headlights down my old 350i was p1 off, p2 pods up sidelights and bumper lights on and p3 all lights on pods up....
can anyone shead any light on this for me!

Rob did you encounter this at all, apart from the above all the electrics work but things are just a bit random.... i know its a TVR

other than that all good, always looking for a reason to drive it and if i can't think of one I'll drive it anyway.....

Cheers

Adam

[carob]

Hello Adam

Cannot not say i noticed this, mainly beacause i never drove it in the dark that i can remember, sounds like a fuse to me.

Told my Cullen about your Cullen and he was amazed.

Cheers

Rob

[GV]

These lights are a pain to sort out when they go assuming it's not the fuse. What I did in the end was to replace all bulbs with Green LEDs, take a new live feed from the light switch connection into a connector block and run the all the positives into that connection. I did the same with a new earth connection directly to the Neg side of the battery via a connector block doing the same with the earths. Result non failing lights!

[CarbonWedge]

I'm sure i've read that the earth for the dash lights is through the bonnet release cable, to the latch, which has a strap to the block! Maybe check that?

[Wedg1e]

The switches were lit by fibre-optic strands all fed froma central lamp unit that's normally behind the radio in the 350i-style dash... where they hid it on the later-style dash is anyone's guess, but the fibre-optics weren't very long so probably within 18" of the switches.

[TOPTON]

Wedg1e said:

The switches were lit by fibre-optic strands all fed froma central lamp unit that's normally behind the radio in the 350i-style dash... where they hid it on the later-style dash is anyone's guess, but the fibre-optics weren't very long so probably within 18" of the switches.

The fibre optic lamp unit still lives behind the radio on the later dash too. It is fitted with a 12v 4w bulb. Could probably do with a brighter bulb in it though.

About the switch operation, it doesn't really matter how or when the lights come on with the switch, as long as they all work. The switches have an 8 plug socket on the back of them, maybe yours was just wired up differently or someone along the years altered it to their own operation
Mine is--
Down--off
Middle--sidelights on and pods up with side lights inside unit also
Top---headlights on

Edited by TOPTON on Sunday 27th February 23:59

[Oz2]

Thankyou for that, I now know what the random bulb is, I thought it was so I could see 20+ years of whatever it is living behind the centre section of the dash I have to get it out though because there is a pound in there, mind you it won't be long before the aussie doller is worth more!
I will investigate the earth connection,are you saying the negitive earth actually runs through the bonnet cable? that would be very TVR
Still blown away by the Cullen thing Rob, how old is your Cullen
I have sent some samples over to D&C trim to get the carpets back to original and Ive nearly finished reveneering the dash with the original veneer (which made the job 1000's of times harder) will post pics as I go.....
Thanks
Adam

[Oz2]

TOPTON said:

The fibre optic lamp unit still lives behind the radio on the later dash too. It is fitted with a 12v 4w bulb. Could probably do with a brighter bulb in it though.

About the switch operation, it doesn't really matter how or when the lights come on with the switch, as long as they all work. The switches have an 8 plug socket on the back of them, maybe yours was just wired up differently or someone along the years altered it to their own operation
Mine is--
Down--off
Middle--sidelights on and pods up with side lights inside unit also
Top---headlights on

Edited by TOPTON on Sunday 27th February 23:59

Yep all done found socket for fibre optic.... could do with a brighter bulb though:-) would it cause a problem putting a higher watt bulb in?
Lights seem to have changed for some reason....
up-off
mid-sidelights (in bumper) and tail lights on with dash lights,ign off....-ign on, all lights come on.
down- same as mid

Thank you

Adam

Edited by Oz2 on Monday 28th February 10:51

[Oz2]

CarbonWedge said:

I'm sure i've read that the earth for the dash lights is through the bonnet release cable, to the latch, which has a strap to the block! Maybe check that?

You read correctly, I ran a wire from the bonnet release bracket under the dash to the neg on battery and it worked...with feet over the headrest and head on the break peddle dripping in sweat (9:45 pm and about 28 degrees)I somehow managed to get a good connection.... blackpool illuminations!!!!!

Thank you all

Adam

[TOPTON]

Oz2 said:

(9:45 pm and about 28 degrees)

Adam

You didn't really need to add that bit on though, but it must mean time.

Mine lights up the dash without the ignition on too. Doesn't pop the lights up though. I was going to fit a higher wattage bulb in mine, can't see it being a problem to go 12v 8w. Only reason I didn't is because the shop didn't have one. Oh and I had put the dash back before realising a brighter one would be better. At least its better than it was with no light at all

[dixiebabes]

Adam dont tell Rob about that pound he has been whining and moaning about it ever since he lost it. Just say it looked like a pound or i swear he will be over there knocking on your door for it back!!!!



Dix

[leorest]

Oz2 said:

... would it cause a problem putting a higher watt bulb in?...

It might get hot. Could melt the end of the fiber coupling. A new bulb might be brighter - worth a try. You could look into replacing the bulb with LEDs (brighter with less heat) or alternatively do away with the whole fiber mess and fit LEDs direct to the instruments.

[Oz2]

dixiebabes said:

Adam dont tell Rob about that pound he has been whining and moaning about it ever since he lost it. Just say it looked like a pound or i swear he will be over there knocking on your door for it back!!!!



Dix

All up I've found what "looked like" nearly 3 quid

[Oz2]

leorest said:

Oz2 said:

... would it cause a problem putting a higher watt bulb in?...

It might get hot. Could melt the end of the fiber coupling. A new bulb might be brighter - worth a try. You could look into replacing the bulb with LEDs (brighter with less heat) or alternatively do away with the whole fiber mess and fit LEDs direct to the instruments.

This sounds like a plan to me,
Thanks

Adam