Dashboard/Controls Light

[80sRich]

Hi Guys,
Took my 144 out to pick up the other half last night, I was rather suprised to find that I had no console lights. I found the little knob for them but it didn't seem to do anything.
I was wondering if there were any common problems I should look for? Blown bulbs, dirty earth, dodgy switch?
This was the first time I have taken her out at night so I have no idea how long these lights have not been working.

Thanks,
Rich

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by 80sRich

Hi Guys,
Took my 144 out to pick up the other half last night, I was rather suprised to find that I had no console lights. I found the little knob for them but it didn't seem to do anything.
I was wondering if there were any common problems I should look for? Blown bulbs, dirty earth, dodgy switch?
This was the first time I have taken her out at night so I have no idea how long these lights have not been working.

Thanks,
Rich

Hi
Poss the reostate has gone if it has you can by pass it by shorting out the two end conections out , you cant damage anything , all you do is bypass the reostate.
Regards
Mike B

[80sRich]

Well we looked under the dash today and I couldn't see any wires going to the Reostate at all. I have attached some pictures of this below.

Now I do have three mystery wires that are unconnected to anything else in the drivers footwell. One is green, one is white and one is grey. The green and the white one seem to relate to a clock and clock lights these two wires have had masking tape wrapped around them, also the centre console clock must have been removed at some point. Therefore I have one untaped grey wire.

So do you guys think the mystery grey wire should be connected up to the terminal, next to the Reostate, shown in the picture?

[80sRich]

Ok, so took the dash board out today to have a look at the problem. The back of the reostate had some pretty corroded connections on it, so we sanded them down and added a couple of blobs of solder on to ends to help the connection. And it works. Not completely, the lights flicker and go out if the reostate is in certain positions, but it is better than a completely dark dashboard!
Not too bothered as I am planning to stick a GT dash in there soon.

[Mike B]

Originally Posted by 80sRich

Ok, so took the dash board out today to have a look at the problem. The back of the reostate had some pretty corroded connections on it, so we sanded them down and added a couple of blobs of solder on to ends to help the connection. And it works. Not completely, the lights flicker and go out if the reostate is in certain positions, but it is better than a completely dark dashboard!
Not too bothered as I am planning to stick a GT dash in there soon.

Hi
Give the reostate a good squirt of WD40 and it should make it would work better.
Regards
Mike B