Is there an easy place to access the instrument lighting circuit? | FerrariChat
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Is there an easy place to access the instrument lighting circuit?

Discussion in '308/328' started by GeoMetry, Sep 7, 2008.

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  1. GeoMetry

    GeoMetry Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2008
    471
    Virginia
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #1 GeoMetry, Sep 7, 2008
    Ferrari provided the most basic wiring for the radio in my 308. Speaker wires and a single unswitched 12V+. A modern car stereo uses the unswitched 12V+ to maintain the memory for the preset stations. Accessory power is generally the primary power source for a car stereo. On my 1985 308 it is quite easy to access accessory power; just use any available connection on fuses D or E on the left hand use block. In addition a modern car stereo needs to be hooked into the wiring for the dashboard (instrument cluster) lighting so that it will be properly illuminated at night.

    My question is: Is there an easy place to access the instrument lighting circuit? I would prefer not to remove the instrument cluster. I am hoping one of you can point out an easy place to access that circuit. I was thinking I could tap into circuit somewhere along the run down to the clock and oil temperature gauge in the center console.
     
  2. jon s

    jon s Formula Junior

    Mar 9, 2005
    509
    pocasset ma
    Full Name:
    jon shoukimas MD
    #2 jon s, Sep 7, 2008
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2008
    richard: on my 81 308 the black and yellow wires to the clock and oil temp guages in the center console are the lights. black is ground. don't know if it's the same for the 85 but i'll bet it is. easy to check. hope this helps. at worst you can find the bulb socket in the back of one of those instruments. a volt meter will tell you which wire is +12 volts. jon s.
     
  3. irondogmike

    irondogmike F1 Rookie

    Sep 8, 2006
    2,532
    San Diego area
    Full Name:
    Michael Tucker
    #3 irondogmike, Sep 7, 2008
    hey,richard I would like to see some pic's of your qv,l also have a 85qv
     
  4. GeoMetry

    GeoMetry Formula Junior

    Apr 14, 2008
    471
    Virginia
    Full Name:
    Richard
    #4 GeoMetry, Sep 7, 2008
    Last edited: Sep 7, 2008
    I removed the little coin holder or what ever it is next to the drivers door and moved a wire harness out of the way. I was then able to pull the connector off the back of the dimmer. I made a jumper to bypass the dimmer since several people have reported that it has a positive effect on the brightness of the instrument lighting. I then just tapped in to that jumper and ran a lead from there to my radio for the illumination input to the radio.

    You know it seems a bit odd to me but I have never taken a picture of my car. I used to have a 308 GTSi that was Rosso Dino (Orange) and black below the line that I loved to take pictures of but my current QV is just like every other beautiful Red QV and it seems kind of pointless to take pictures of it. I have taken a few pictures of pieces of my car to post here as they relate to some question I had. I did take my car to a local Ferrari BBQ recently and it was the only 308 there.

    Here is a post that had some pictures of my car

    Here are a bunch of pictures from the BBQ that's my car in the 5th picture in post #6
     

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