Dash board light issues

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Hyperion
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:27 am

hi guys
My dash board lights, ashtray light and right dipped beam light are not coming on.
1) i have checked the fuses, and made sure fuse 23 is working.
2) i tested the dipped beam globe by putting it into the left hand side one and it worked, so the blub is fine.
3) i tested the cig lighter and that works
4) all other lights work fine, driving lights, fog lights (front and rear), brake lights, rear lights, indicators, bright lights.

When i pull the light switch out to position 1, which should put on the dipped beams, and interior lights, my OBC light goes off and there are no lights on the dash (where the speedo, rev etc. is)
Off the light switch and the OBC lights up again.
any ideas?
thanks
bigun
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:38 am

sounds like tee little bulbs to me mate i did all mine :wink:
Hyperion
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:47 am

was thinking that, but i really think it is a short or connection issue....
Hyperion
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 1:18 pm

another Q, what voltage should those little lights be, the one in the ashtrays etc?
Hyperion
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:01 pm

no stress guys, i did a search and i think i found out what the problem could be.
PS Thanks Smithy...if this works :wink:
smithy318i wrote:Congratulations. You have fried the dimmer on your headlight switch.

You can pull it to bits and attempt to repair this bit...

Image

or you can buy a new switch.

Sorry for the sarcasm! :wink:

Check out this link
http://www.e30zone.co.uk/modules.php?na ... highlight=
mrLEE30
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:01 pm

should all be 12V, use a multimeter and check if you have voltage there at the bulb holder., the only odd voltage lights in an E30 are the lights for the OBC which i think are 6 volts, hence when they blow both go out

main culprit for these faults if no voltage at bulb holder is the dimmer resistor on the light switch

as for headlight check fuse 14 which is for right dipped beam (or 13 if our lefts and rights are mixed up). fuse 1 and 2 are for the high beams. all should be 7.5 amp

if that dont work check the relay next to fuses 13,14,15 that is the low beam relay test with voltmeter pin 86 and ground IGN on should get 12V.

reckon your interior lights couls either be blown (they dont last long) or as you say a short but that is hard to diagnose.

mrlee
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:39 pm

Do your eleccy window buttons light up when youopen the drivers door?
Globulator
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Post Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:32 pm

Hyperion wrote:When i pull the light switch out to position 1, which should put on the dipped beams, and interior lights, my OBC light goes off and there are no lights on the dash (where the speedo, rev etc. is)
Off the light switch and the OBC lights up again.
any ideas?
thanks
Sounds like a connection fault: the dipped beam is dragging everything to ground or the 'ground' up to +12v. A multimeter on the dipped beam will tell you which.
Whatever it is - the dipped beam is acting like a short because one of the supply wires or ground has gone high impedance.

Added: It could even be the main body supply wire or the battery itself is dead.
Hyperion
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Post Thu Apr 13, 2006 7:15 am

Thanks for the advice guys.
I will first check the light switch if that is fine, then i will try out the fuses again and volts (as per Mrlee), and check the ground on the dipped beam (as per Globulator) oh and my eleccy window buttons do come on blatantarrogance.
thanks again :wink:
mrLEE30
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Post Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:58 am

electric window switches are totally different circuit from lights/dashboard. thay are on all the time if ignition on or doors open.

mrlee
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Brianmoooore
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Post Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:29 pm

Only had a quick look through this, but check the smaller wires where they connect to the battery + terminal.
Hyperion
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Post Tue Apr 25, 2006 2:38 pm

UPDATE: took apart the light switch and was right, blew the resistor. Tried to do some soldering but failed like the amateur i am :( . Now i am on the look out for another light switch.
Thanks