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Dashboard lights

gonzosquidgy

gonzosquidgy

New member
Having had problems in the past (see past posts) with my wife's dashboard lights, I replaced the light switch as per instructions. All seemed okay until recently she now tells me there are no lights on the dashboard clocks and when you open the driver's door after leaving lights on, there is no alarm. My 911 does, like most cars, give an audible warning when the headlights are left on, my wife's doesn't. I've checked the dimmer switch in case this had been turned down but to no avail, there are no clock lights on. The digital speedo, temp etc. is on okay but no lights. Headlights are all okay. Couldn't be a faulty switch could it ?? John
 
Are the rear number plate lights working? They are on the same fuse as the dash lights (Fuse A5), so I would check that first.
 
Thanks Richard. Finally got round to checking number plate bulbs. Both have blown so replaced with exactly same bulbs (12v 5w) but they only seem to glow very dimly and not actually light up. replaced with 2 other bulbs exactly same happens - the filament faintly glows but doesn't light. I've checked the fuse and thats ok. She also tells me that the dashboard lights come on intermittently. Looks like not enough power getting to the bulbs. Any ideas?
 
Looked all around boot area and still can't find the earth lead for the number plate bulbs ???!!! Help anyone??
 
The earth return is a cable within the loom, there is no seperate strap from the lights to an earth position so you will not see a cable as you expected, but just where the cable in the loom goes to earth i dont know. However, try taking the carpet out of the boot and the verticle carpet on the bulkhead - you will find a control module here and it is likely this is where you will find an earth lead. Alternatively, to check to see if the issue is indeed an earth problem (and i agree with Richard this is most likely) you can identify the live (positive) lead that goes to the number plate lights and run a cable to earth on the car from the other side of the bulb - this will effectively earth the lights and you will be able to see immediately if the lights glow to their proper intensity - if it does then that will prove its an earth issue, you then have a choice - establish the proper earth lead and make good the earth connection or simply run a new lead to earth within the boot area and connect up with the lights
 
Sorry for missing this... There is a brown wire from the light going to ground point 8, shown on the diagram. By the looks of it, it should be somewhere near the DME, behind the panel at the front of the rear boot. It is a 6mm (10mm hex) nut, and will have a few brown wires connected to it.
3E5BA34AFA3E4215959A8504010645C5.jpg
 
Found 2 sets of earth leads. Took them both off and cleaned/filed the surfaces but still same problem. Looks like I'll have to take into PC With winter coming and dark nights, the lights can't be seen Thanks all
 
Thanks Richard. Done what you suggested The bulbs are very very dim and when I run an earth to the brown side of the bulb nothing happens but when I put the earth onto the blue wire, the bulb goes out !!
 
It sounds like the earth is OK then. I haven't got the wiring diagram to hand - is the blue wire the other connection on the lamp holder? If so, it should have blown the fuse when you connected the earth wire to it. If it didn't blow a fuse, it would indicate a weak feed to the lights. Having replaced the light switch, I'm at a bit of a loss as to what to suggest. I expect it is something simple, but might need some professional help to track it down.
 
Thanks for that Richard I am having an auto electrician visit my wife at work to look at the car this week Just hope it's nothing expensive!! Cheers
 
Well, finally fixed! Auto-electrician traced the fault back to pin 58 on headlight switch. I purchased a new/second hand switch off ebay for £24 and fitted it yesterday... perfect. If only I'd done that before, but then I didn't understand the wiring anyway. Thanks to you guys who helped.
 
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