Club 80-90 Forums

I have no dashboard lights on my T25 1984 Caravelle, took it the garage who tried to fix it but they said NO, something to do with the circuit board ? I'm no spanner man and therefore took what they said as red. So I'm after a solution as to how I can get a small light to illuminate the speedo no so bothered about the clock, has anybody had a similar problem that can help or do i need to do a series of checks if so what to check ? Looked in Wiki and no thread for this specific problem, hope you can help.

Not any advice for fixing but just to say that the pcb may not be as irrepairable as it sounds. It's very easy to get to by lifting off the plastic cowling over the instrument panel (sorry if that sounds patronising but I only discovered it myself recently, which is a worry as that's where the brake fluid resevoir is too!)

p.s. folks like it if you introduce yourself first.

yeah get the cowling off and have a little wiggle of the wires it could be summat simples, also i'm sure you've checked it but its not the dash light dimmer switch is it ?

had the same problem with mine when i got it, take of the cover(clips off) look to the right hand side above the clock, theres a white wire with spade connecter, mine was off, if yours isnt off check the contacts on it, clean the copper back up, if that dont work your gonna have to check the PCB (the green flappy things with copper lines thru it) and check for breaks/damage.

hope that helps.. a bit

If it is the loom/plastic bit thats failed - put an add in wanted - they do come up from time to time.

Check the fuse, its hidden high up in the glove box (if your van is RHD and build from 1985 on)

What van do you have and where are you from?


and

Welcome

If my dash lights go out, I just smack the top of the dash and they come back on, so I've probably got a loose connection / dirty terminals that I really must try and resolve sometime.

Welcome to the club

Sarah

sezicoolcat wrote:If my dash lights go out, I just smack the top of the dash and they come back on,

Love it

That's always the first thing to try

Oh and welcome to the club too

As pointed out, check the fuse, bulbs, etc. The dimmer switch can sometimes fail. The membrane PCB can get damaged during bulb renewal. I would examine the PCB for breaks under the bulb that sits over the fuel/temp gauges, if it breaks here then none of the bulbs will work as the track loops off from this point to the other two bulbs. With this sort of problem your first check is to verify that you have panel light voltage to the multiconnector and if so, then remove the right most bulb and check to see if the voltage appears at the exposed copper strip that the bulb sits on.

Apologies for not introducing oneself, Im The roadster from Leeds with a T25 1984 hi top Caravelle, which bought 12 months a ago.

Thanks for the advice, the garage looked at it the other day and said it would take a miracle to fix hence why i asked if anybody had an alternative but i will, albeit, not very technically minded go through the various checks but since the garage i went to has a good repuatation i've no reason to doubt what they are saying !!! Still here goes I'll update you once i've found a soultion, which might be some time !

Other thing is I'm looking for a re-spray and got quoted £1800-00 for the outside of the van in blue and white does anybody know if thats about right to expensive or a right good deal .

Appreciate your replies

Jules

is yours the one i saw on scotthall road today having loads of work done? If you want me to take a look I'm more than happy to (i work in Leeds) No promises that I can fix it but I'm having the same problem with mine so I know what tricks I've already tried and which ones didn't work!

Hi mate welcome to the club ! u know cant remember if i did !! sorry all if i didnt ! but i have got the same problem and i didnt know about the fuse high on fuse box ! will be traceing my circuits to solve this problem and will watch this thread to see if you get it sorted and will post on this thread anything i find etc that might be helpfull ! Paul

Paul, much appreciated thanks.

No mine wasn't on Scott Hall ROad today, I've taken mine to a recognised VW Dub garage who say its a damp squid as far as the lights are concerned so i'm looking for alternative to be honest.

Any suggestions are welcome

I just fitted one of those 12v neon strips (as in PC cases) under dash cowling and over holes where lights used to be. Lights up dash fine at night and all you need to do is take a live somewhere off the lighting system when sidelights are on. Just seemed simplest route to fix what was originally an annoyance. Dims down with the dimmer too

Sorry for the late reply but the last post really does work. Bought 12v LED's from Maplins wired them into the headlight switch and fit them in the place where the 'normal' dash lights sit, mine doesn't work with the dimmer but as soon as i switch the headlights on, the speedo and clock light up.

Right result well happy, this forum Rocks.

Simple things please simple minds.

Now just for the Water Tank i'll let you know next year it will be probably take that long !!!

Roadster OUT !