Dashboard illumination lights

[AlBundy]

Drove the van at night for the first time in a while, and everything worked, except the dashboard illumination lights. They both used to work, now neither do, so hoping the issue isn't hidden under the dash as I would prefer to leave that alone.

Could this be a simple fuse issue, in which case does anyone know which fuse it would be?

Any ideas welcome.

Note that the other led's all work, so no issue with other dashboard lights, seems to just be the illumination lights.

Al

1986 LHD diesel.

[Smiffo]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but the dimmer isn’t turned down is it?

 

[AlBundy]

Ha, thank you, no problem, I did try that first, no light at all.

[Smiffo]

If it was working, then not, and all lights fail to light up, then give the white 14 pin connector a little wiggle.

looking up from under the dash if you were kneeling on the floor peering in from the driver door ( in a right hand drive ) you will see it plugged onto the back / bottom of the dash pod. 

Pin 1 on the late vans is the one that should have 12v on it when lights are on. If wiggling doesn’t fix it, pop connector off, make sure it’s clean, and check voltage on pin 1.

[Robsey]

The fuse for the dash and instrument illumination is one of the standalone fuses on top centre of the fusebox
The one with grey/white and or grey/blue wires coming from it.

It is not any of the 22 fuses on the bottom row of the fusebox.

[Che]

Had a similar sort of issue, all I did was tap the top of the dash where the lights are and everything worked, so I guessed just a loose connection!

[Smiffo]

Had a similar sort of issue, all I did was tap the top of the dash where the lights are and everything worked, so I guessed just a loose connection!

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[AlBundy]

Thank you for the help and suggestions. This is my fuseboard, it's a LHD so by the driver door. I have checked the 4 fuses across the top and are all fine, the 4 boxes all fit ok, have wiggled but they don't move much at all, and no change in the lights.

Gave it a thump, no joy there either .

Might need to send it in for a fix.

[Smiffo]

Do you have 12v across pin 1 of the white connector and earth, when the van lights are on?

[AlBundy]

I don't know that i did this correctly, but...

I wiggled the white connector out a bit, and tested the volts between each of the blades that went into the fuse box. 3 of the pins showed 12v. The top one did not show any volts at all.

Does that answer the question?

[Smiffo]

Unsure.

Just to clarify, if you unplug the white connector, it has 14 positions in it.

Position number 1 is the 12v supply for dash lights. When you turn on your headlights, you should get 12v on pin 1 of the white connector.

Use a meter with positive on pin 1 and negative to earth.


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[AlBundy]

Thank you, I was doing it wrong, although the only white connector is too far down behind the console to reach, i will need to remove the whole console to do that.

Can do if needed but want to make sure.

Picture of the white connector, is that the correct one?

[Smiffo]

Yep, that’s the one down underneath.
Lean in through driver door as if you were knelt on the drveway, look up under dashboard, and you can reach it that way.

[AlBundy]

Thank you, had to unscrew the dashboard to get access in the end, as it's LHD that bit wasn't accessible from underneath.

Tested it and it got 11.3 volts at pin 1.

Suggests the issue is either the lights, or a connection to the lights. That bit looks tricky, can it be fixed?

[Smiffo]

Next step is to take out a bulb and be sure ( however unlikely it is that 2 failed together ) that the bulbs are good.

If they are then it is the blue plastic ribbon that’s the issue.

A few options are available if the bulbs are good.

1. Ask in wanted section for a spare one. Will need to specify late van, and say whether it has a rev counter or clock etc.

2. Bodge some wiring in yourself

3. Search on here for blue ribbon threads.
A few people have made their own ( I tried and made a right mess of it )

4. Buy an alternate solution - some are expensive though.

5. Live with it


Start with making sure your bulbs are good though. They probably are, but best to check


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