Another dashboard lights out!

Fri May 27, 2011 5:30 pm

Can someone help me out on this one.....

I was swapping out my centre console pieces for another set when one connector on the Electric Windows disabling switch touched the bolt that comes up from the transmission tunnel - it sparked out and blew fuse 23 i think it was.

The dashboard lights heater panel, speedo backlights all went out - so I changed the fuse thinking they'd come back on.

They didn't....

The fuse is still OK so im assuming ive blown the bulbs....

Could that be a likely?

Sat May 28, 2011 1:51 am

I had fuse 23 problems a week or two back,only problem I could find was a blown cluster internal illumination light.

But in my case,the fuse kept blowing,until I isolated the cluster.

Sat May 28, 2011 3:37 am

Hmmmm the cluster lights are also out - so maybe the short circuits blown a few bulbs in there - ill check fuse 23 again but last time i checked it was fine.

A different problem im also having is the washer bottle motor isnt working....checked the connections - its getting its switched earth (from the wiper stalk) but looks to be getting a weak +ve signal. The motor works with +ve and -ve direct from the battery on the right connectors - just not with the power from its original connectors. Is there some kind of relay somewhere?

Sat May 28, 2011 11:17 am

The long black relay in the fusebox is the wiper one...

Fuse 23 also feeds o/s sidelights,these working OK?

Sat May 28, 2011 4:17 pm

I assumed one of the relays did as I could here a clicking from the fuse box location. The long black one seems fine....even with the plastic cover off it - no rust etc.

All sidelights working fine, im really beginning to think ive blown the bulbs.......

Sat May 28, 2011 4:22 pm

I think you probably have. It's best to disconnect a cable from you battery prior to doing any work since it's sooo easy to short out something you don't want to. Hindsight etc, but we all live and learn

Sat May 28, 2011 4:23 pm

With the sidelights on,have you voltage to the rear ashtray internal light?
(this is the easiest to get at!)

Sat May 28, 2011 6:35 pm

Short the brown/white wire at the rear ashtray bulb to a good earth and see if the lights work then.
You can't blow bulbs by shorting a wire to earth.
No relays involved anywhere in the washer circuit. The feed to the washer motor is a purple/black wire, and comes from the 1st ignition switch position (purple wire) via fuse 5.
The washer pump is switched on by the column switch earthing the brown/black wire from it. This brown/black wire is also connected to the wash/wipe module (as is the purple/black), but its only function is to trigger the wipers when the washers are used. The module has no control over the washers.

Sun May 29, 2011 5:57 pm

Thanks for the help guys!

I haven't got a voltmeter on hand so can't test the voltage to the rear ashtray light, however shorting the wire as said by brianmoooore doesn't turn on any lights?

As for the washer pump - the +ve on the water pump is very low (light very dim when connected using a tester), if I connect a +ve from the battery to the pump and pull the washer/wiper stalk - the pump and wipers work.....

Sun May 29, 2011 6:18 pm

Correction the ashtray light does come on when shorted, forgot to turn sidelights on (idiot!)

Sun May 29, 2011 8:59 pm

You did rotate the headlight knob to the full bright postion, correct? You will not blow dash light bulbs with them being turned off number 1 and to blow a bulb the voltage would have to exceed 14 volts.

Sun May 29, 2011 9:37 pm

Yep I made sure the headlight knob was all the way clockwise.

The dash lights come on when the rear ashtray light is earthed. So that confirms the bulbs aren't blown.

Sun May 29, 2011 10:05 pm

GovR wrote: So that confirms the bulbs aren't blown.

It confirms that the dimmer section of the lighting switch is though.

Sun May 29, 2011 10:09 pm

As for the washer pump - the +ve on the water pump is very low (light very dim when connected using a tester), if I connect a +ve from the battery to the pump and pull the washer/wiper stalk - the pump and wipers work.....

Do the wipers work OK without the link in place?

Mon May 30, 2011 1:16 am

Brianmoooore wrote:
GovR wrote: So that confirms the bulbs aren't blown.
It confirms that the dimmer section of the lighting switch is though.

Does that mean I need a new rotary headlight switch unit?

Brianmoooore wrote:
As for the washer pump - the +ve on the water pump is very low (light very dim when connected using a tester), if I connect a +ve from the battery to the pump and pull the washer/wiper stalk - the pump and wipers work.....
Do the wipers work OK without the link in place?

I thought it worked with this link - however it turns out it only works when it is earthed directly to the -ve on the motor - Bad earth? Faulty Wiper Stalk?

The wipers work fine.....just not the washer jet motor.

Mon May 30, 2011 10:05 am

You either need a new main lighting switch, or you can permanently earth the brown/white wire, if you're happy to live without the dimming function.
Are you saying that the washer motor DOES have power OK at the purple/black wire after all, and only works when you earth the brown/black? If so, then the problem is most likely to be at the steering column end of things.

Mon May 30, 2011 9:28 pm

I may as-well get a new lighting switch to keep everything original.

Thats correct (sorry for the confusion). The power is fine, once ground is applied by touching to the body - the motor works. Would it be a best bet to replace the wiper stalk?

Really appreciate the help!