| Author |
Message |
Peter Logli (Plogli)
New member
Username: Plogli
Post Number: 29
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 30, 2003 - 10:08 am: | |
Just another quick update on this process. I helped a friend with an '89 328 by pass his switch last night and there are some differences between my '86 and his '89. On the '89, and possibly other years, the trim panel under the steering wheel was very narrow. Probably to give additional clearance for knees, legs etc. The result was all the wiring was compacted in that small area and difficult to reach through to disconnect the dimmer switch.
The simple fix was to remove the coin (or whatever) panel on the bottom left of the dash. 4 screws and it was out, the dimmer switch is just to the right and very easy to reach. |
Todd Gieger (Todd328gts)
Member
Username: Todd328gts
Post Number: 426
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 9:14 pm: | |
Very Cool...I always wondered what the deal was with dash lights at night. Thanks guys! |
Peter Logli (Plogli)
New member
Username: Plogli
Post Number: 28
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 23, 2003 - 9:41 am: | |
I have never had a problem with the instrument lights reflecting in the windshield. The binacle does glare in sunlight. The lights don't seem to be so bright as to risk burning them out and they are only getting the extra juice that was eaten up by the resistance of the dimmer switch. Greatest improvement seems to be the speedometer and the tach. Before it was hard to see the 5 mph increments and exact tach reading. We'll have to wait and see long term but it's alot easier than removing the steering wheel. I was nervous about doing that and ruining the screws or scratching things up.
Good suggestion about making an extra connector for the fans. Thanks alot, and thanks for posting the original information on the Northwest regional FCA site. Very helpful.
If anyone has blown bulbs or a bad experience please share the problem.
|
Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member
Username: Jimpo1
Post Number: 1691
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 10:19 pm: | |
Tillman, I wonder if this another manifestation of the way your head sits in the car. I remember that you can't see the top of your speedo/tach either. :-)
I have no problems with reflection in my car. Maybe Dan worked over your dash lights too? |
James H. (Jamesh)
Junior Member
Username: Jamesh
Post Number: 180
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 9:56 pm: | |
I also have the same problem Tillman has on my 328. Very annoying driving at night with that reflection. |
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 648
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 5:16 pm: | |
I have previously done the bulb upgrade on my 308 and my current 328. I just did the dimmer switch bypass and am amazed at the additional brightness. Will see tonight if this is too much of a good thing. But this is so easy to reverse compared to the bulb upgrade!
Anyway, would like to remind you all that while you are making the jumper wire, go ahead and make two. The second one is a great spare to have around if your radiator thermoswitch ever goes south. This is the one that activates your radiator fans. Granted if you need to bypass the defective switch your fans will be constantly one, but a good "limp home" mode, until you can get a replacement switch. A couple years ago, we had two 308's have their thermoswitches fail on a hot weekend while we were in Vancouver, BC visiting from Seattle...they can in handy. |
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 647
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 4:44 pm: | |
Tillman,
I have never noticed that on either my previous 308 or my current 328.
I DO notice the reflection of the binacle (speedo and tach) on the windsheild in bright sunlight, THAT is irritating. |
Tillman Strahan (Tillman)
Member
Username: Tillman
Post Number: 545
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 3:43 pm: | |
Just curious, why would you want the bulbs brighter? On my 328, the reflection from the instruments on the windshield is extremely annoying. Most of the time I have the lights dimmed to the point that I can barely see the gauges.
Does anyone else have this issue?
It is a cool tip, though. Thanks |
Ron Vallejo (Ron328)
Junior Member
Username: Ron328
Post Number: 90
Registered: 3-2003
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 3:40 pm: | |
Hi all. This is great. A brighter light would really make a nicer 328 cockpit esp. at night. I only have one question...since the dashlight will be brighter, then is there a greater chance(?) for the bulb to be busted soon...requiring relatively more frequent replacement? Thank you.
Ron
|
david handa (Davehanda)
Member
Username: Davehanda
Post Number: 643
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 1:43 pm: | |
Peter,
Thanks for the tip. I will have our webmaster update the site with your information. BTW, the site is not the FCA, but the Northwest Region FCA.
regards,
Dave |
Peter Logli (Plogli)
New member
Username: Plogli
Post Number: 27
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 12:19 pm: | |
Eric thanks. That's the correct link.
Mark: It's really easy to do and taking off the lower panel is alot easier than the steering wheel. If you have small hands or a child handy you may be able to pull the connector without taking off the panel. If you can get it off there is some extra wire attached to it so you can pull it down to plug in the bypass wire.
James: I can't imagine driving at night with a flashlight. That must have been something. A pit stop for tires, fuel and new batteries. By the way, I really enjoy the P4 pictures and updates. Thanks for sharing. |
Eric Eiland (Eric308gtsiqv)
Member
Username: Eric308gtsiqv
Post Number: 757
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 11:55 am: | |
Mark...I think Peter may have been referring to:
http://www.ferrariclub.com/faq/dashlights.html |
James Glickenhaus (Napolis)
Intermediate Member
Username: Napolis
Post Number: 1038
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 11:52 am: | |
Hey at least you have instrument lights. When I took the gauges out of my P4 for rebuilding I found out they don't have any. Driving down the Mulsanne at night at 199 must have been interesting. Alberto told me they used to strap a flashlight to the roll bar. Even though it's not original I had the rebuilder put them in.
Best
Jim
|
Mark Manzonelli (Manzonelli)
New member
Username: Manzonelli
Post Number: 3
Registered: 8-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 11:47 am: | |
Where do you find the article on the FCA website? I looked and cannot find it.
Mark Manzonelli
1986 328GTS |
Peter Logli (Plogli)
New member
Username: Plogli
Post Number: 26
Registered: 11-2002
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 22, 2003 - 10:06 am: | |
If you are like me you wish your instrument panel lights were alittle brighter at night. You may have seen the FCA website article on bypassing the dimmer switch. That article directs you to remove the steering wheel and instrument panel to access the dimmer switch. That may be necessary on the 308 but after looking at my 86 328 I noticed the small panel under the steering wheel seems to be easy to remove and the dimmer switch is located right above in easy reaching distance.
So I removed the 4 phillips screws holding the panel and reached in easily to pull the connector from the dimmer switch. Then I followed the directions on the FCA article however there was a difference. That article says there are 2 yellow wires but I found a black, a yellow, and a white.
After blowing the fuse once I discovered the proper connection is the WHITE and YELLOW wires.
Simply take a 3 inch piece of wire the same gauge and connect a male spade connectors to each end. Plug one in into the White and one into the Yellow. Leave the black connector empty. Put the 4 screws back in the panel and enjoy instrument lights about 50% brighter. This takes about 1/2 to do and you do NOT have to remove the steering wheel. |