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Dashboard lighting

Discussion in '206/246' started by Salmon&permit, Aug 11, 2012.

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  1. Salmon&permit

    Salmon&permit Karting

    Apr 6, 2012
    59
    London, UK
    #1 Salmon&permit, Aug 11, 2012
    I am a relative newcomer to the Dino scene and have now clocked up about 500 miles over the past month......utterly delighted with the new toy. Just looks better and better everytime I see it and the driving experience is, to be frank, rather better than I had imagined. It's a little quicker and easier to drive than I think I had thought it might be.

    My only current niggle is that the backlighting for the dashboard / instruments is very poor, and then packed all together last night. A bit of a concern as I was doing a three hour trip out of town and at first, I thought the headlights had failed to come on and I might end up driving in the dark with no illumination. Anyway, turns out it's just the backlighting for the instruments.

    I've checked the fuses - all fine. Is this an easy fix, or will it involve taking the whole instrument binacle / dashboard off? Can one get bulbs that are a little stronger/brighter than the originals.....anyone else had this problem?

    I suspect most Dino are driven mostly on sunny days, but I will often do weekend trips out of London that will involve arriving somewhere in the dark, even if I leave in glorious sunshine....not that we are seeing much of that this year in the UK. The A303 was bliss yesterday heading down to Dorset.

    Thoughts welcome, thanks.
     
  2. TonyL

    TonyL F1 Rookie

    Sep 27, 2007
    4,203
    Norfolk - UK
    Full Name:
    Tony
    #2 TonyL, Aug 11, 2012
    Sounds like a earthing problem. Try looking from underneath to locate the earth strap, the binnacle is mounted on a fibreglass pod so needs a separate earth

    Do your lights have a rheostat.?

    Tony
     
  3. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
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    Scott
    #3 synchro, Aug 11, 2012
    Common problem, it is not just your Dino
    a few suggestions:

    1) bypass the rheostat with a jumper wire to eliminate rheostat resistance losses
    2) upgrade light bulbs to higher wattage
    3) carry a flashlight
    4) drive faster or not a night

    Scott
     
  4. alhbln

    alhbln Formula 3
    Consultant Owner

    Mar 4, 2008
    1,749
    Berlin, Germany
    Full Name:
    Adrian
    #4 alhbln, Aug 13, 2012
    Try this one first, rheostat contact problems are quite common. A higher wattage could potentially melt the plastic guides in the Veglias, so stay below 4 Watts if you do this. I think the factory bulbs were 2.2W so 3W would be a good choice.

    Cleaning the spade connectors at the instrument and wiring loom, and at the white plastic TYCO terminal connectors behind the instruments with contact cleaner spray is also quite effective and easy to do.
     
  5. Crawler

    Crawler F1 Veteran

    Jul 2, 2006
    5,018
    #5 Crawler, Aug 13, 2012
    Last edited by a moderator: Aug 13, 2012
    Another thing that I remember from my car is that the rheostat became progressively hotter as the lights were dimmed. It was almost cooking itself unless the lights were set to full on. Another reason to bypass it, which is what I did.
     
  6. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 20, 2004
    40,524
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    Clifford Gunboat
    #6 UroTrash, Aug 13, 2012
    the instrument panel is very easy to remove so no fear if you need to fiddle with the bulbs.
     
  7. racerboy9

    racerboy9 F1 Rookie
    Silver Subscribed

    Nov 3, 2003
    2,651
    #7 racerboy9, Aug 13, 2012
    Corbani has a good write up on his fix for the rheostat.
     
  8. UroTrash

    UroTrash Four Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Owner

    Jan 20, 2004
    40,524
    Purgatory
    Full Name:
    Clifford Gunboat
    #8 UroTrash, Aug 13, 2012
  9. Salmon&permit

    Salmon&permit Karting

    Apr 6, 2012
    59
    London, UK
    #9 Salmon&permit, Aug 13, 2012
    Brilliant - thanks for thoughts and links - will post whether I succeed or otherwise.
     
  10. synchro

    synchro F1 Veteran

    Feb 14, 2005
    9,294
    CHNDLR
    Full Name:
    Scott
    #10 synchro, Aug 13, 2012
    Not surprising, the basic coil and sliding contact look like a toaster element, albeit Italian style
     

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