Dash illumination bulbs

[Binkerment]

Hi Guys, just starting to do a bit of work on the car before it goes back on the road in April. A couple of issues I need to sort.
Firstly, the dah illumination left hand bulb was out. When I removed the dash, I noticed the bulb a has melted the orange cover lens that the bulb sits in to. I know I won't get a new bulb in. Can these orange lenses be sold seperate and what type of bulb is it. Also, is it worth replacing all the bulbs when removed?
Secondly, my brake pad warming light remains on. I'm about to check resistance between the 2 pins in the white and blue plug plus check for a short to ground. But Where's the location of the solder joint I've read that gives issues.
And lastly, my temp gauge is tempramental. A couple of taps fixes it. I've also read about a brass nut coming loose. Is this the nut that sits right at the back of the temp gauge machanism?

[BenHar]

I think the answers to all your questions are in the wiki.

Ben

[Binkerment]

I think the answers to all your questions are in the wiki.

Ben

I've searched and found quite a lot. I still can't find the bulb types or whether the orange lens cover is availible seperate.

[paultv]

IIRC these lamps are 3 watt...often mistakenly replaced with 5w which melts the orange filter cover..can't remember the bulb code but someone will.

I would guess someone will have a trashed unit but with orange plastic bits in good order...

Paul

[Binkerment]

IIRC these lamps are 3 watt...often mistakenly replaced with 5w which melts the orange filter cover..can't remember the bulb code but someone will.

I would guess someone will have a trashed unit but with orange plastic bits in good order...

Paul

That sounds like what's happened. I've bit on a cluster on ebay so fingers crossed I get it. Plenty pare parts on it that can be used

[Tzantushka]

IIRC these lamps are 3 watt...often mistakenly replaced with 5w which melts the orange filter cover..can't remember the bulb code but someone will.

Yep, common issue...
Other option if you don;t want to go down the cost of buying another cluster for an orange piece of plastic.
Remove the orange lens & buy a few amber / orange coated 3W wedge bulbs.

May need to remove both orange lenses & replace both illumination bulbs if you want a consistent hue & brightness across the cluster.
As it's a bit brighter with the lens removed.

[Binkerment]

IIRC these lamps are 3 watt...often mistakenly replaced with 5w which melts the orange filter cover..can't remember the bulb code but someone will.

Yep, common issue...
Other option if you don;t want to go down the cost of buying another cluster for an orange piece of plastic.
Remove the orange lens & buy a few amber / orange coated 3W wedge bulbs.

May need to remove both orange lenses & replace both illumination bulbs if you want a consistent hue & brightness across the cluster.
As it's a bit brighter with the lens removed.

I was thinking that but ended up getting a cheap cluster with the 2 orange lenses plus all the bulbs and holders intact at a reasonable price. I found the 2 brass nuts on each of the temp and fuel level gauges loose. Can't seem to find anything wrong with the solder for the resistor for the brake warning light. I've still to check the harness for a short or open circuit.
One more question. My car is fitted with an abs pump but the abs warning light for the cluster isn't used. Is this normal?

[martauto]

I found the 2 brass nuts on each of the temp and fuel level gauges loose.

This should sort out the gauges

Mart.

[Binkerment]

Right, so briefly started checking the harness from pin 26 of the white plug to pin 21 of the white plug I believe. I'm getting a very low resistance which is good. But I'm also getting a low resistance between pin 26 of the white plug and several other pins in the blue plug. Im also getting a low resistance to ground indicating a short to ground. I then unplugged the front brake sensor and I still get a short to ground in pin 26. So I'm thinking I have a short between the white plug and the front sensor. Is there any common okaves the harness will short out? Maybe through the bulkhead or inside the engine bay somewhere?