Dash and reverse light issues

Good Evening everyone,

I’m having some issues with my dashboard lights and reverse lights, I decided to take the Mk1 to work at 2:30am switched the lights on to find my dash in darkness, so I set off anyway as I needed to get to work. I went over a speed bump and the dash lights came on then went back off, all the way through the journey they jumped on and off. They worked perfectly fine last week when I was out in it. Also my reverse lights have decided to stop working too, all the other rear lights work perfectly fine. I’ve checked the bulbs and all the fuses in the box look fine too.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.


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Dash lights check reostat, lightswitch connection  reverse switch connects may have become corroded.

Is it just the clock lights not working or is it your switch lights as well? If it's just the clocks, I would check the connector to the clocks as this is a common problem on mk1s.

Thanks for the replies I decided to strip the clocks and switches out last night to that the light switch connector had melted looks like it’s been like that for a while. The full dash including switches are in darkness when I put the lights until I drive over a bump and it jumps on them goes back off . I checked the reverse switch too it all seems fine but I’m going to replace that and see how I get on hopefully a cheap fix.




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New switch and relay kit for your headlights should stop it melting as the relay takes away most of the current from the switch.

Maybe remove those sotchlocks on those wires as they can cause problems.

I’ve ordered new switches both for the headlights and reverse lights just waiting for them to to be delivered then hopefully these should solve the problem. Does anybody have any idea on the price of a new loom and updated loom if that’s even possible?

Thanks


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No, but installing headlight relays takes the Hi-Amperage off the switch and the shortened run ov wire makes your headlights brighter. as in from 11.5V to 13.78-14V.

I have a how to in the archive section on making your own, or you can buy a kit off the internet.

Best cheapest upgrade you can do.

Perfect thank you I’ve ordered one of those too


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Note with the reverse lights there is a connector that connects the mini-loom from the gearbox switch to the main-loom. This is in an exposed area and can corrode, make sure the its all shiney and tight fitting.

I’ve will be replacing that with a new when it arrives it should be here in a couple of days. Picked a Febi one up cheap



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Update:

Fitted new headlight switch and it’s still not fixed the problem, also replaced the reverse switch on the gearbox and they still don’t work. Does anyone have any ideas on what could be causing this?

Thanks


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Do the reverse lights work if you short the connector on the loom? Using a multimeter is one of the wires +12v with ign on? Follow the wires to the connector near the GB that links to the main loom, is that making a good connection?

Sorry for the slow replace, no the lights don’t work I looped a a piece of wire to the connector and nothing happened. The only thing I can think of is a faulty earth somewhere but where I do not know, it’s driving me crazy.


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Dazrogers91 said

Update:

Fitted new headlight switch and it’s still not fixed the problem, also replaced the reverse switch on the gearbox and they still don’t work. Does anyone have any ideas on what could be causing this?

Thanks


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Did you replace the connector as seen melted in pic 4? If not then there's no assurance you're making a good electrical connection. Also when you replace it, you'll need to clean up the (green) crusty stuff from the metal parts. The wires/connector terminals will come out if you depress the little tag which holds them in, although with it melted like that it might not be possible and you'll need to destroy the old one to remove it. And possibly re-make the terminal connections, or even cut the wire back and completely replace them. All the bits are available.

I believe instrument illumination is something like a blue/grey wire, it will have a varying voltage on it depending on the rheostat, when the lights are on. It will illuminate other bits of the dash as well as the cluster, eg the ashtray.

Since you have removed the cluster, did you check the connection at T14/1? And the bulbs and their bulb holders and connections etc?

Regarding the faulty earth, if other stuff on the cluster works (eg the oil pressure warning light….coolant temp gauge, rev counter, fuel gauge etc) then it can't be a bad earth since they share it.

Regarding the reverse lights, its a simple circuit but I am not sure what you've checked or whether you're just guessing at parts?

did you check the loom connector, a bit further down from the switch? Short that one and see if reverse light work (with ign on)

Dazrogers91 said

Sorry for the slow replace, no the lights don’t work I looped a a piece of wire to the connector and nothing happened. The only thing I can think of is a faulty earth somewhere but where I do not know, it’s driving me crazy.


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I drove to work this morning with my lights on and all the dash lights was working fine I just need to sort the reverse lights out. I’ve checked the loom for it and everything seems fine I need to get myself a multimeter and go from there see if that helps


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