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Dash light fiasco

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roofman

roofman

Jedi Knight
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Well..... maybe not a fiasco. Took my 6 out for an evening ride tonight and had no dash light for volt and temp guage, then all the dash lights went out. Nothing changes when turning dimmer switch. Am I right to start with dimmer switch?
Is this one of those "car burns in garage because of Lucas wiring" potentials? I disabled the battery in case.
 
No chance of "burning in the garage", the power to the dimmer is killed when you turn off the light switch.

Sounds to me more like there is a short near the volt/temp gauges, which then burned out the dimmer. I'd still start with the dimmer, but if it's bad, be sure to check how much load it sees before trying a new one.

Because of the variable resistance, they are basically impossible to protect against a short. The "normal" load of ~2 amps will burn them up if you get that much current through the maximum resistance. Someday I hope to work out a solid-state circuit without that problem.
 
Pedro stop in SC on his way to DNK's in Seattle?

Possible bad ground? Did you try jumping a ground from one of the gauges to a good clean ground?

It's worth a try just to know if anything changes.
 
The bulb holder to my oil pressure gauge popped its spring and shorted out my rheostat switch. I'm still waiting for new bulb holders from Rimmer Bros before I install my new used dimmer.
 
TR3driver said:
No chance of "burning in the garage", the power to the dimmer is killed when you turn off the light switch.
Click to expand...

Randall- You still have power to one side don't you?
So I would think anything can happen
Though, the Rheo and car electrics is still not my strong suit.
 
Checked out the fusebox this morning and the bottom fuse was blown. Popped in a new one but still no dash lights.
if I am going to go through the trouble of pulling the dash to get to the reostat, I would just a well junk it. What was the proper reostat bypass wiring?
 
If it is that simple, I will just eliminate the reostat.
Thanks.
 
I replaced mine with a GM light switch I installed. It has it built in.
 
So, we can install a Toyota transmission, GM or Ford alternator, Nissan differential, Ford PDWA switch, disc brakes from different other vehicles, and many other borrowed parts, and now a GM light switch! Sounds like a Johnny Cash car! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif

Just kidding around!
 
Tom- that looks like my shopping list I have been working on!
 
And a rheostat from a Honda Accord. One from 79 through 92 should work.
 
tomshobby said:
So, we can install a Toyota transmission, GM or Ford alternator, Nissan differential, Ford PDWA switch, disc brakes from different other vehicles, and many other borrowed parts, and now a GM light switch! Sounds like a Johnny Cash car! /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/jester.gif /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/crazy.gif

Just kidding around!
Click to expand...


RonMacPherson said:
And a rheostat from a Honda Accord. One from 79 through 92 should work.
Click to expand...


Hold on a minute, I'm getting a message from someone that is afraid to join this forum but wants me to pass this along.
He says "Si Seniors, those parts all work well on your cars." He says he used all of them plus many more on a TR6 he sold in Puerto Rico so your all set.

But he wont reveal his name. Who the heck could that message be from?
 
I did the rheostat bypass.What I found is that the switch had 4 spades. One for red and 3 for R/W. I made a jumper to plug into the Red with 3 legs for the R/W wires.
Removed the knob and ferrel nut, ash tray and glove box. Thru the glove box opening,removed the dimmer and passed it up thru the ash tray opening and made the connections with the jumper.Then a dab of silicone on the knob and put it back in the dash hole. Sold the rheostat on eBay...Just kidding. That thing really does get hot.
Don't forget to at least disconnect the battery ground during this process though.
 
Just bypass the switch. I did...why would you want to make the TR's dash lights dimmer than they already are?
 
Usually the dash light fuse also is the tail light fuse (so you'll know if the tail light fuse blows). See if something is up with the tail lights.
 
No tail light are fine. I will do the switch bypass. Thanks for the help.
 
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