Instrument panel illumination's gone

Post by **futurecut** » 15 Feb 2006, 13:03

It's just the two bulbs, not the rest of the panels LEDs etc so the plastic flexible pcb thing(who's idea was that?!) is still getting voltage, though none accross either bulb terminal.

It was flickering a bit but a quick clout usually sorted it out. Until it didn't.

Removing the plastic pcb looks a pain in the A without knowing what the prob might be as i suspect my options to repair the pcb would be limited?

No individual fuses for these bulbs?

Post by **Mocki** » 15 Feb 2006, 13:18

no, not fused on their own, and repairing the pcb is almost impossible, have you checked the dimmer in the headlight switch?

Post by **tobzman** » 15 Feb 2006, 13:20

Have you also lost the illumination on the heater control panel???
If so I would suspect the dimmer wheel on the headlamp switch as they are notorious for causing problems. Wiggle the little wheel about a bit and roll it back and forth quite aggresively and see if the lights come back on or at least flicker. Mine has been playing up for quite a while, I remedied it for a while using contact cleaner but it playing up again, time for a new switch.

Alternatively it could just be the contacts between the bulb holders and the pcb film. I had one bulb that would go out until you whacked the dash console. I took the bulb out and cleaned the contacts and it has been fine since (until the headlamp switch started it's games of course)

Toby

Post by **tobzman** » 15 Feb 2006, 13:21

Damn ya beat me to it mocki

Post by **Mocki** » 15 Feb 2006, 13:28

fast as a fast thing in a fast contest i tell ya!

Post by **futurecut** » 15 Feb 2006, 13:49

jeez lads that was pretty quick.....will nip out and do as told. Suppose i could just join the dimmer terminals together OR i've a wee LED replacement idea coming on that i think will be easier than putting an LED in the bulb holders....

cheers

Post by **futurecut** » 15 Feb 2006, 14:47

well managed to get the wrong readings from the multi and looks like both bulbs gone.... what a daftie!

Even better is that i managed to lock the keys inside when i was leaving....

for once i'd left a window on the sliding door open 'cos i had the heater on. Phew!

Off to led the bulbs now.

Ta

Post by **futurecut** » 15 Feb 2006, 15:37

Ok Put LEDS in both bulbs but still didn't work!

However searched other posts and discovered there actually is a fuse for the dash lamps- a 7.5 in my case above the relays and the rest of the fuses.

Working now.

Post by **ROBS T25** » 15 Feb 2006, 20:25

i got a similar problem wen my ignition is of my interiore lights work ie.. heater controls and centre of dash were battery light is but wen ignition is switched on they go off i sorted my clock lights out by wiring some LEDs to a sperate switch but would like to get all workin any ideas???

Post by **NOT ANOTHER LEAK** » 15 Feb 2006, 20:31

heater control panel lights do all vans have these,if so mine have never worked since ive had the van,i just thought they didnt have any

Post by **ROBS T25** » 16 Feb 2006, 06:47

hi richard maybe your blub has gone

Post by **tonytech** » 16 Feb 2006, 08:51

LEDs have to be wired the right way around.
If you look at them against a light you can see a bowl shape connected to one lead. The bowl must go to -ve.

LEDs generaly work off low voltage ie 2V. Do you have a resistor in series or are the ones you bought 'for car use'?
T