328:Question about night lit switch. | FerrariChat

328:Question about night lit switch.

Discussion in '308/328' started by F1Ace, Aug 20, 2004.

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  1. F1Ace

    F1Ace F1 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2004
    2,980
    Full Name:
    Wes
    Sorry for the pettyness of this question, but I am wondering if one of my switches is acting up. It's just that I haven't had the car long enough to know this.

    When I put the lights on and the switches light up, the rear defrost switch appears overly bright. Is this how it's supposed to look when it's ON? Is there something wrong with it if it's always that way?

    Thanks!
    Wes
     
  2. Ron328

    Ron328 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Mar 10, 2003
    2,627
    Willamette Valley, Oregon
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    Ron
    Wes, FWIW, I have not observed such in mine.
     
  3. BigTex

    BigTex Seven Time F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    Dec 6, 2002
    79,380
    Houston, Texas
    Full Name:
    Bubba
    The rocker switch itself for the Defog lights when its ON.

    You are saying it appears to glow when the headlights or on, but Defog is OFF?

    Must be a light leak from the console items, IMO.
     
  4. F1Ace

    F1Ace F1 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2004
    2,980
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    Wes
    No, it's not a light leak from other items.

    As you say, it's supposed to light up when it's on, and I would expect it's most bright then. When parking lights are only on I would expect it to be dimly lit. My problem is it's too bright when the parking lights are on, so I expect it's either not wired properly or broken.

    So am I right? It's dimly lit when parking lights are on, and brightly lit when activated? I would really appreciate some more comments.

    Best!
    Wes
     
  5. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,044
    USA
    Wes,
    I cannot say what is "correct", but on my 87 328 GTS, all the switches are dimly lit when the headlights are on. When you activate any of the switches, they remain dim.....The notification that any of them are activated (other than the antenna) is via a corresponding indicator lamp in the dash binnacle.

    BTW, bulbs will often times burn very brightly when they are on the way out....seen it before.

    Dave
     
  6. DBR328&330

    DBR328&330 Formula Junior

    May 31, 2001
    605
    Winchester, VA
    Full Name:
    Daniel Reese
    I dont know to what degree the differential in brightness you are describing but on my car, when the lights are on, the four rocker switches each have their own level of brightness, but its not extremely different.

    Dan
     
  7. F1Ace

    F1Ace F1 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2004
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    Wes
    I'll see if I can capture the difference on camera and post a pic.

    Dave, good point, perhaps it's either a light on it's way out, or, as my mechanic speculated, the switch is from a different year which is brighter. Still, it is awfully bright......

    Does anyone know whether this switch can be disassembled?

    Best!
    Wes
     
  8. f355spider

    f355spider F1 World Champ
    Owner Rossa Subscribed

    May 29, 2001
    18,044
    USA
    I'm sure you can take it apart....they cannot be that different than the window switches, and I have had those apart to clean the contacts. Have at it!
     
  9. F1Ace

    F1Ace F1 Rookie

    Mar 15, 2004
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    Wes
    #9 F1Ace, Sep 20, 2004
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Well I pulled it out this weekend and got it apart (by accident at first!) and nothing seemed out of order, but it definately burns brighter than the others. I couldn't find anything particularily wrong with it, and while I was on the verge of just buying another one, I thought I'd hook it up and smack it around a bit and lo and behold, it's better! Who knows, it'll probably go back to bright after the first bump, but till then, here's some before and after pics.

    Thanks for the help guys!
    Wes
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