Do they have bulbs inside them that are replaceable or are they new switch jobbies?
Cheers
Hazard, rear defogger and folding roof switches not lighting
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Laith
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Last edited by Laith on Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:34 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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TPS
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Does the Instrument cluster light up? Obviously none of these light up, without the lights on!
1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
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Laith
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Yep, everything lights up. In fact I changed all the bulbs I could today, so the heating elements and OBC are fine. Just those three switches go into ninja mode at night. 
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TPS
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I come across a couple of times, where the brightness level was turned down, by turning the headlight switch, thinking there was a problem, when there wasn't!
1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
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Laith
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Ok tried that, still doesn't work 
I've got a funny feeling they have bulbs embedded in them? Or worse some wiring has gone somewhere.
I've got a funny feeling they have bulbs embedded in them? Or worse some wiring has gone somewhere.
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TPS
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Not an expert, but I would say theres something more going on, that just the bulbs.
1991 325i Touring Alpine White II
1994 318i Touring Sterling Silver
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Laith
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Ok tried that, still doesn't work
I've got a funny feeling they have bulbs embedded in them? Or worse some wiring has gone somewhere.
I've got a funny feeling they have bulbs embedded in them? Or worse some wiring has gone somewhere.
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Grrrmachine
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For some reason the rear demister only lights when activated - it doesn't glow with the other instrument lights.
Hazard switch should glow, but there are two types of bulb - one embedded, one removable.
No idea about the roof switch; I've never been in a cabby.
If you want to test the wiring, pull the hazard switch out of the dash, remove the switch from its plug, and put a multimeter or test bulb across pins 7 and 8 (grey/red wire and brown wire). With your interior lights on you should get a voltage there. If you do, your switch bulb is blown.
If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can get your demister switch to glow as well:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... dow_Switch
Hazard switch should glow, but there are two types of bulb - one embedded, one removable.
No idea about the roof switch; I've never been in a cabby.
If you want to test the wiring, pull the hazard switch out of the dash, remove the switch from its plug, and put a multimeter or test bulb across pins 7 and 8 (grey/red wire and brown wire). With your interior lights on you should get a voltage there. If you do, your switch bulb is blown.
If you're handy with a soldering iron, you can get your demister switch to glow as well:
http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... dow_Switch
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
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Brianmoooore
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The bulbs in the switches aren't intended to be replaceable, but they're not difficult to change if you want to. They are small wire ended 12 volt bulbs, similar in size to the OBC display ones, but with a lower light output.
CPC Farnel has suitable replacements, and the likes of RS Components probably has them as well.
I have no idea whether an electric roof switch is supposed to light up either, since I have only owned cabs. with manual roofs.
CPC Farnel has suitable replacements, and the likes of RS Components probably has them as well.
I have no idea whether an electric roof switch is supposed to light up either, since I have only owned cabs. with manual roofs.
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Laith
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Ok I might try prying them apart and having a look. Failing that, replacing them.
Cheers for the help
Cheers for the help
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Grrrmachine
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If you click the link I posted, it shows the two types of hazard switch. The one with the white circle in its base is a simple pull-out bulb.
'89 325i Touring | Touring Resto Thread | In-Dash Screen install
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Laith
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Nice one, I missed that link!
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Gert_8
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I'm not 100% sure, but I don't think the electrical roof switches light up... TBH, it's not something I've looked out for, but will check next time
PONY, 2013 - "Anyway span 360 degrees hitting the kerb and giving the old man two fingers as I was spinning like Michael Schumacher would
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Brianmoooore
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If there's a grey/red wire going to the switch base, then the chances are it's supposed to light up on the first and second positions of the light switch.
Lack of a wire doesn't prove that it doesn't light up, since it may be permanently lit when the ignition is on, like the window switches.
Lack of a wire doesn't prove that it doesn't light up, since it may be permanently lit when the ignition is on, like the window switches.