Instrument binnacle lights

How many of the tiny filaments should illuminate a standard instrument binnacle for a very late 90's model? I can only find two above the gauges and a third near the MFA read-out but the lighting is dreadful.

Tim

Hi

You are right there is only 3 illumination bulbs for the dash binnacle. I asume you have made sure the illumination control under the head lamp switch is on max. Have you checked the condition of the bulbs if they are old the may have gone black they may benifit from replacment bulbs. they are 12 volt 2 Watt bulbs with a built in bayonet fiiting like the ones on Ebay   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VW-GOLF-JETTA-MK2-DASH-BULBS-SET-4-C116-/200527163658?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item2eb059b10a

Hope this helps

Many thanks

I bought a set

I noticed these bulbs are always sold in a set of 4, on crazyquiff and on that ebay link.  Are you sure there is only 3?

Hi

On my mk1 driver 2 light up the speedo and rev counter an 1 lights up the digital clock

same on my rivage

Hello gents,

Can anyone help me on a similar issue.
Hope I haven't highjacked the thread :redfaced:

I've bought a set of these 2w bulbs as the original 3 in the cluster had blown, but I just cant seen to get them to work????
No lights on the clocks what-so-eva !!!!
Ive fitted 2 sets now and they just won't illuminate.
Any ideas????

Thanks in advance…

silly question but have you turned the dimmer up above the switch?  expect you have..

are the other lights on on your dash?

if they are I expect there is a problem with the pcb on your clocks..

do you have an MFA? and does it work?

cheers
Tony

Yep dimmer is up!
MFA works fine.
Other lights on dash? If you mean red temp light, blue high beam light,  oil light and indicator green light - yes they all work fine.
No heather panel  illumination either???

Is there any way I can measure the voltage acroos the strip/ contacts that the little bults twist onto?

 :dontknow:

dunno much about electrics sorry, just tring to help you diagnose following the problems I had..

the bulbs would not light even thought there was voltage across the strips.  I ended up (until I got new clocks) with soldering the bulbs onto a harness clamped on the the dash illumination circuit

Sorry, I didnt mean the binnacle lights I mean the heater and cig lighter surround.  

if you put you lights on and nothing else is illuminated inside the car. It could be the switch I suppose

Could do with rubjonny jumping on the post
where are you rubjonny?
 (you could pm him?)

I cant remember now if theres a fuse for backlighting might be worth a look to see if there is any blown on the fuse panel? If none of the backlighting on your dash is working then it would make sense to be a fuse.

Other than that make sure the filiments you are fitting are definately okay with a 9v batter or something, then make sure thay are seating correctly in there holders and are making connection to the back of the panel properly.

If you still not getting any joy it sounds like a wiring fault, on either the earthing side or live feed.

Gonna have another mess with it tonight.
Thanks for the advice chaps.
I'll keep you posted on my findings…

As if by magic I have a fully illuminated dashboard  :dance:

I'll run through the sequence of events….

Clocks out again.
3 x 2w bulbs out again.
So empty dash again….
I then checked all the pin-outs on the plugs.
Gave em a good shake to release any fluff (technical)  :wink:
Checked the usual earth on the rocker cover.

Now….in the meantime I'm replacing the blower motor in the plenum.
The 2nd hand motor arrived yesterday so i was fitting that whilst it was dry.
After installation and refitting dash clocks/heater/switches, I did the checks…
Key on position 2….heater switch on…heater blowing fine.
I then turned her over and sat at idle enjoying the the fact the heater was working  8)
I tried the lights and turned up the dimmer thumb wheel and hey presto!!!!
Although a bit dim, they work !
Gawd knows what i've done !!!!!

So a fully functional heater and lights on the dash in one day - bonus !!

well done fatboyjim - I'm attempting to sort the instrument lights out on mine tomorrow - total novice at this  though, so a nice easy qurstion to kick things off with -

Do I have to take the whole dash out to get access to the bulbs, or is there a way of avoiding this?

I suppose it is possible if you know what your 'feeling' for, to take out the right hand blower vent and reach your hand around the back of the clocks and get to the three backlighting filiments that way. I've not tried it, and from what I can remember the filiment holders are a right b**stard to twist off.

If you have to take the dash to bits, then I'd advise being very gentle with all the trim panels, if it wont come off then dont force it, chances are you've missed a screw somewhere. Most of my dash is held on with bits of blue tack now, as I've had to learn the hard way where all the little hiding screws are!

I dont think thats possible..  one is on the back and 2 are on the top.  I just dont think you could get you hand above to twist.  There is a guide on here somewhere. how to get your instrument panel out

I have had mine out many times…


This is all from memory so forgive me if slightly wrong..

be gentle and flick the switch fasicas off from roung the hazard waring light and headlight switch with a small flat screw driver..  try not to dent the plastic

this with reveal two screws

Take radio out and if somebody has been kind they may have cut a hole out in your radio cage  to get to the screw otherwise you will have to take your cage out too.. to reveal the screw

look at your binnacle on the underside of the dash and I think there is one screw there too (* Edit there are 2)

pull the 3 heater sliders out and keep safe

there maybe one other screw around here some where

unscrew the revealed screws all the Dash Fasia should now come away from the dash with the switches attached. keep an eye open for any bits sticking where I may have missed a screw

Carefully remove each switch and reattach the other side of the fascia.. the hazard warning switch is a bit tricky and is live

remove the heater panel bit tricky (hopefully it will be obvious) ..

with the fasica off you can now see the binnacle screw (one either side) unscrew and the carefully pull the binnacle forward from the top

you may have to reach round the back to unplug the speedo cable and a few other bits the main plug a rubber tubing  and one other

Hope this helps..  but have a search on the forum, I am sure there are some pics somewhere

Cheers
Tony

Just as PNERivage says…..yes the clocks/binnacle must be removed to make it easy.
And I should know about the hazard warning switch connections being live !!!!
3 fuses later and mine was all back together  

Unfortunately, things didn't quite go according to plan!

As I went out one evening to fill the car up with petrol, the dashboard started smoking as soon as I put the headlights on! I think this was because I had reconnected the cigarette lighter the previous day. The light switch and wire (grey/blue) is totally fried, so I didn't get a chance to change the bulbs.

My question is this - can I just get hold of any 15amp wire to replace the fried one? I've no electrical experience, so don't want to put in an incorrect one and fry the whole lot!!

Any advice greatly appreciated