Any electrical experts in London area?

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NIX
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:39 pm

My interior lights haven't been working for ages now. Both the instrument cluster and console lights do not come on when I turn my lights on, only the hazard light switch and electric windows switches are illuminated. Would quite like to get it sorted especially - when coming up to a speed camera in the dark and having to hold a lighter up to the speedo to make sure I'm not over the speed limit! Also on unlit roads, not being able to see my hands on the steering wheel is a bit weird 8O :mad:

Does feel like im driving in stealth mode tho :D :roll:

Have checked the fuses and changed the instrument cluster and its not a made a difference.

Anyone not too far away from fancy taking a look at some point? Will pay obviously if it takes up a lot of time to fix.

Cheers,

Nick
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fowler
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:45 pm

quite a few of use PM ian332i or brianmoore they will tel you straight away :D
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Chris-W
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:55 pm

Chances are your headlight switch is to blame - the rheostat / dimmer control can fail.
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NIX
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 1:57 pm

Thanks mate. How do I go about checking the headlight switch? I'm not all that buffed up on my mechanics knowledge as you may be able to tell.
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Chris-W
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 5:26 pm

Whip it out and have a look for a break or melted section.
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NIX
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:40 pm

You mean take the actual pull lever out?
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Chris-W
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 7:49 pm

The little panel with the pull switch & fog switch on.

Remove the under dash knee panel for access, then reach up and get the 8mm nuts holding it into the dash.
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NIX
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 8:13 pm

Nice one! Cheers mate, I'll have a look.
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Brianmoooore
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:21 pm

NIX wrote:You mean take the actual pull lever out?
Lot easier way than that!
Pull out the rear ashtray and then unclip then lampholder and pull it out on it's leads. Switch on the dash lights, then short the brown/white wire on the lampholder to bodywork earth.
If the panel lights up, then the dimmer is duff.
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Onz
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Post Mon Sep 18, 2006 11:55 pm

or you could try wiring up 9v battery with a small bulb to the dimmer switch if the bulb lights it could be a melted/shorted wire somewhere else.

PS. Does this mean you have a spare instrument panel? Wanna sell it? Mines a bit duff
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Brianmoooore
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Post Tue Sep 19, 2006 12:16 am

_Slyder_ wrote:or you could try wiring up 9v battery with a small bulb to the dimmer switch if the bulb lights it could be a melted/shorted wire somewhere else.
Pulling out the ashtray is a lot easier than dismantling the dashboard!
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NIX
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Post Tue Sep 19, 2006 9:52 pm

Thanks guys for the pointers! Really appreciate all your input.

Haven't got round to doing it yet. Probably on the weekend.

Cheers,

Nick
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NIX
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Post Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:06 pm

Right.

Finally got round to doing it Brians's way. And yes, the lights did come on, so my dimmer switch is busted.

So is it something in the dimmer switch I have to replace or the whole dimmer unit?

Cheers,

Nick
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andyp
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Post Sat Oct 07, 2006 7:50 pm

just change the whole switch, ive got a few knocking around if you need one.
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NIX
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Post Sun Oct 08, 2006 1:44 pm

andyp wrote:just change the whole switch, ive got a few knocking around if you need one.
Hi mate,

That would be ideal!

Whereabouts in London are you?

Cheers!

Nick
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Brianmoooore
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Post Sun Oct 08, 2006 4:18 pm

I think I've seen some instructions for repairing the dimmer somewhere, but it would be much better to replace the whole switch. There's one on every E30, so it's not a rare part.
Alternative is to permanently earth the brown/white and live without the dimmer.
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