Inetrior Switch Illumination Issue. | FerrariChat
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Inetrior Switch Illumination Issue.

Discussion in '348/355' started by lemon355, Jun 5, 2024.

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  1. lemon355

    lemon355 Karting

    Aug 8, 2009
    218
    Melbourne Australia
    Full Name:
    Peter Kay
    #1 lemon355, Jun 5, 2024
    I seem to be a bit confused as to what is the proper workings of the switch illumination in our vehicles as I am seeing things that do not make sense to me.

    I will explain my findings


    While sitting in the car, doors closed and ignition key OUT.. No switches Illuminate, and opening the drivers door illuminates both the pass/drivers window switches (that go off again when I close the doors) and nothing else illuminates.


    While sitting in the car, doors closed and ignition key ON Both drivers window switches illuminate.,
    all three rear missile switches (pass/dr seat and roof switch) and the remote mirror switch illuminates.? and activating the interior illumination column switch activates the following..

    The 4 Round Centre console switches,
    The 5 upper centre column missile switches,
    The Instrunebt ckuster and the HVAC unit .

    Dimmer function is retained for only the HVAC and the Instrument cluster,..


    Is this normal..?


    PS i forgot to mention that the roof dome switch is not inserted while all this is happening, but the roof rocker switch works as per normal.. .. if that makes any difference..
     
  2. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    Feb 20, 2015
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    Ian Riddell
    #2 Qavion, Jun 5, 2024
    Just checked on my Spider. The only difference between my car and yours is that my HVAC STOP and Recirc buttons illuminate with the key On.

    And in typical fashion, every time I start playing with my car, something breaks... Now my dimmer switch is acting up and my Park switch sticks down.
     
  3. lemon355

    lemon355 Karting

    Aug 8, 2009
    218
    Melbourne Australia
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    Peter Kay
    #3 lemon355, Jun 6, 2024
    Oh..Qavion.. Aint it that the truth!!

    Same thing happened to me when I was passing jumper leads from the dome plug to the parker switch..lol:)

    Thanks again for taking the trouble for putting my mind at ease as regards the illumination issue..you realy saved me a lot of heartaches and stress..
    I would have been there for days scratching my head for nothing.. Thank God for this Forum..

    Funny isnt it, that we only notice these quirky OEM 'nuances' as out of place only when something goes wrong..!! lol

    Now as regards the HVAC panel.. My STOP/RECIRC dont illuminate as they have 3mm ( grain of wheat) LED inserted with a resistor on one leg.
    It would be great to retain that OEM function as during the day I can see if the buttons are depressed or not.. , (whether you can actually tell this during the day is pretty difficult anyway)..

    Any thoughts why the 3mm LED would cause this to happen, and any fixes you can suggest..?
     
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  4. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    Ian Riddell
    #4 Qavion, Jun 6, 2024
    Are you saying they don't illuminate at all? Or only illuminate with the exterior lights on?

    The STOP and Recirc buttons would get their illumination power on pin 6. Panel backlighting power is on pin 2.

    Image Unavailable, Please Login

    I don't know if there are variations between panels on 5.2 cars.

    Did you check the polarity of the LEDs?

    I'm wondering what my panel would do if it didn't get power on pin 6. Would the power on pin 2 take over the STOP and Recirc button illumination function? Seems unlikely.
     
  5. lemon355

    lemon355 Karting

    Aug 8, 2009
    218
    Melbourne Australia
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    Peter Kay
    #5 lemon355, Jun 6, 2024
    My stop/recirc buttons dont light up with the key ON.
    But they do light up together with the HVAC back panel lights when the parkers are turned on... and then both the stop/recirc and the HVAC backlighting dims with the dimmer function switch.
     
  6. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    #6 Qavion, Jun 6, 2024
    We need to carry out a survey to see what is normal. As I said…


    I think my car is an early~mid ‘98 model.
     
  7. JSBMD

    JSBMD Formula Junior

    Mar 17, 2007
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    John
    #7 JSBMD, Jun 6, 2024
    I never noticed the window switches light up when the driver door is opened, even with the key out of the ignition. But that makes sense, as the windows operate for 2 mins after the driver's door is open. I use this to close the windows after I park, after I exit the car, while the door is still open.

    The rest of these things I haven't noticed, but then I haven't looked either. I just figure these cars are full of little surprises like the windows/door trick.
     
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  8. Qavion

    Qavion F1 World Champ
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    #8 Qavion, Jun 7, 2024
    Actually, pin 6 is not entirely correct:

    I forgot about this post by @BLUESL :

    https://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/posts/149416968/

    I don't fully understand it, but...

    "I've had the chance to trace out the schematic of the HVAC Controller.

    The circuit is divided into two - the two switches and the three rotary controls.

    The two push buttons return a voltage of around 4v via pins 4 and 6 to the ECU when NOT pressed. When pressed, the voltage is zero and the switch is then used to illuminate the small bulbs in the switches or increase their brightness if the panel illumination is on. The ECU will use the presence or absence of the voltage on the two lines to switch the AirCon on and off and to open/close the recirculation flap. The PTC varistor is used solely to slow the switch on of the light bulbs to prolong their life. The diodes and 33 ohm (org org black) resistors is used to dim the small switch bulbs. If the resistor has burned out (as in the pictures here), the problem is the small bulb has shorted out.    "
     

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