Dash light - which bulb please?
Discussion
Hi - I've just looked through the archives and the Bible but can't find any mention of what bulb I need to get to replace the one that shows I have my lights on in the window bit between the speedo and rev thingy. That bulb is a singularly useless thing that was jotted down as a fail on my MOT recently. I think I can tell I have my lights on. 
It's not the main beam one - it's the sidelight one.
Also, can anyone confirm that I just unbolt the steering column and let it the wheel rest on the seat and then I should be able to get to the bulb?
Also, is it a pretty standard part or do I need to go to a specialist? I'm hoping I can get it at a local motor factors as I want to get the MOT done as soon as possible.
(It's a V8S)
Oh another thing - headlights. They're too low. I'm going to adjust them but having read some of the posts on here there appears to be bulbs that might be brighter, but there's differing opinions on what's best. Can anyone clarify. I don't want to get the modwise kit just yet. That can be a winter job.
The other thing I failed on... well, the major thing... was a buckled nearside rear alloy. Hopefully that is going to be repaired tomorrow or saturday by a local alloy bloke.
>> Edited by GI on Thursday 13th October 22:55
It's not the main beam one - it's the sidelight one.
Also, can anyone confirm that I just unbolt the steering column and let it the wheel rest on the seat and then I should be able to get to the bulb?
Also, is it a pretty standard part or do I need to go to a specialist? I'm hoping I can get it at a local motor factors as I want to get the MOT done as soon as possible.
(It's a V8S)
Oh another thing - headlights. They're too low. I'm going to adjust them but having read some of the posts on here there appears to be bulbs that might be brighter, but there's differing opinions on what's best. Can anyone clarify. I don't want to get the modwise kit just yet. That can be a winter job.
The other thing I failed on... well, the major thing... was a buckled nearside rear alloy. Hopefully that is going to be repaired tomorrow or saturday by a local alloy bloke.
>> Edited by GI on Thursday 13th October 22:55
Sorry to hear that the V8S failed the MOT Graham.
Speak to Jons_S3 (you met him on our June run) about the bulbs as he recently replaced his with LED's I believe.
Headlight adjustment is simple, assuming you can remove the chrome surround ring (just 1 screw). When that's off you will find 2 adjusters, one for vertical and one for sideways. I recently adjusted mine - it helps if you can stand the car on a level surface facing a wall about 3 mtrs away.
Good luck.
Speak to Jons_S3 (you met him on our June run) about the bulbs as he recently replaced his with LED's I believe.
Headlight adjustment is simple, assuming you can remove the chrome surround ring (just 1 screw). When that's off you will find 2 adjusters, one for vertical and one for sideways. I recently adjusted mine - it helps if you can stand the car on a level surface facing a wall about 3 mtrs away.
Good luck.
Hi Graham,
I replaced mine recently. I couldn't get hold of the original filament warning lamps, but found some LEDs in RS that do the job (they're brighter too so you can actually see them!). Look on the RS website (part no 1981000251500). I got mine using their mail order service and they dispatched them to me pretty quickly. The fitting is identical, but you'll need to crimp/solder some blade connectors to the end of the wires.
You're correct on the steering column lowering - just remove the two bolts and the whole column drops down. It's easier to get to the bolts if you remove the cowling around the indicator stalks. I propped the steering wheel up slightly to avoid stressing the steering column, not sure if this is necessary though.
Getting to the bulb is slightly more difficult than just dropping the column unfortunately. There is a mounting plate behind the dash which houses the speedo, rev counter and warning lamps. The warning lamps press in from the front (as you're facing the dash) so to get them out you first have to detach the mounting plate from the dash (it's held in by 4 nuts). This may be possible without taking the whole dash out, but it may be easier to just remove the dash so you can see what you're doing.
Good luck!
I replaced mine recently. I couldn't get hold of the original filament warning lamps, but found some LEDs in RS that do the job (they're brighter too so you can actually see them!). Look on the RS website (part no 1981000251500). I got mine using their mail order service and they dispatched them to me pretty quickly. The fitting is identical, but you'll need to crimp/solder some blade connectors to the end of the wires.
You're correct on the steering column lowering - just remove the two bolts and the whole column drops down. It's easier to get to the bolts if you remove the cowling around the indicator stalks. I propped the steering wheel up slightly to avoid stressing the steering column, not sure if this is necessary though.
Getting to the bulb is slightly more difficult than just dropping the column unfortunately. There is a mounting plate behind the dash which houses the speedo, rev counter and warning lamps. The warning lamps press in from the front (as you're facing the dash) so to get them out you first have to detach the mounting plate from the dash (it's held in by 4 nuts). This may be possible without taking the whole dash out, but it may be easier to just remove the dash so you can see what you're doing.
Good luck!
Hi chaps - thanks for your comments.
Jon - nice to see you again at S Club. I thought I was behind you on the hoon but turned out it was someone else... unfortunately I had to disappoint him as I didn't see any flames from his exhaust.
Thanks for the part number - I put it into the RS website but the part that came up is a red LED. Am I missing something (like a brain?). The light I need is yellow I think.
Did you buy a selection of colours? Can those LEDs not be bought anywhere else?
Thanks for the info too! Most helpful.
Mike - I'm not sure what you are suggesting numbnuts do? Fix the wheel? It's already at the alloy place and should (hopefully!) be done either today or tomorrow. That's if it doesn't crack.
Luckily the wheel we took off the front when we put on new tyres all round has only a tiny buckle that hardly registers on a balancing machine (cheers Rapid Fit!) so I will put that one on for the MOT.
Would be interested to know what halogens you used, and whether the standard wiring can take it.
Andrew - my brother will probably adjust the lights at the MOT place before it goes in. Sorry I haven't been very communicative - my emails have been going to the PC downstairs instead of the laptop, and I haven't seen them. Should be all sorted now.
CHEERS AGAIN!
Jon - nice to see you again at S Club. I thought I was behind you on the hoon but turned out it was someone else... unfortunately I had to disappoint him as I didn't see any flames from his exhaust.
Thanks for the part number - I put it into the RS website but the part that came up is a red LED. Am I missing something (like a brain?). The light I need is yellow I think.
Did you buy a selection of colours? Can those LEDs not be bought anywhere else?
Thanks for the info too! Most helpful.
Mike - I'm not sure what you are suggesting numbnuts do? Fix the wheel? It's already at the alloy place and should (hopefully!) be done either today or tomorrow. That's if it doesn't crack.
Luckily the wheel we took off the front when we put on new tyres all round has only a tiny buckle that hardly registers on a balancing machine (cheers Rapid Fit!) so I will put that one on for the MOT.
Would be interested to know what halogens you used, and whether the standard wiring can take it.
Andrew - my brother will probably adjust the lights at the MOT place before it goes in. Sorry I haven't been very communicative - my emails have been going to the PC downstairs instead of the laptop, and I haven't seen them. Should be all sorted now.
CHEERS AGAIN!
GI said:
Andrew - ..... Sorry I haven't been very communicative - my emails have been going to the PC downstairs instead of the laptop, and I haven't seen them. Should be all sorted now.
CHEERS AGAIN!
I could never make my mind up whether to send to GI@thePCdownstairs or GI@theLaptop.
GI said:
Thanks for the part number - I put it into the RS website but the part that came up is a red LED. Am I missing something (like a brain?). The light I need is yellow I think.
Did you buy a selection of colours? Can those LEDs not be bought anywhere else?
The picture they show is of a red one, but the part number is for the green 12V lamp (which should be the right colour for the headlight indicator lamp). I suspect you can get them from elsewhere, RS was the easiest for me though!
I replaced all of mine using the red, green and yellow LEDs (except the battery warning and indicator lamps - these need to be filament lamps)
I ordered from RS and they arrived next day - nicely done. Got two of each colour. Getting some spade connectors on the end should be simple.
Good news on the wheel - apparently it's completely fixed. [End of headless chicken moment]
Have to pick it up tomorrow - £30.
Cheers again chaps.
Good news on the wheel - apparently it's completely fixed. [End of headless chicken moment]
Have to pick it up tomorrow - £30.
Cheers again chaps.
Jon - was there a resistor on the wire that goes to the sidelight dash light on your car?
We've got a resistor. And the bulb DOES light up - it is very dim in daylight and not a great deal better in darkness, but it works.
The LED on a 12v feed isn't THAT bright it seems. Certainly brighter than the bulb though.
It's bloody tight work under that damn dash isn't it? I'm taking the seat out to make it easier... but ... my car has had seat mount strengthening work and the bolt that comes down through from the seat interferes (well, the washer does) with one of the bolts of the strengthening structure. Dunno HOW they got it on, because you can't get the other bolt off without taking the seat.... oh crap, I've just realised how to do it... lift the bloody seat up to raise the whole bolt!!! DOH!
We've got a resistor. And the bulb DOES light up - it is very dim in daylight and not a great deal better in darkness, but it works.
The LED on a 12v feed isn't THAT bright it seems. Certainly brighter than the bulb though.
It's bloody tight work under that damn dash isn't it? I'm taking the seat out to make it easier... but ... my car has had seat mount strengthening work and the bolt that comes down through from the seat interferes (well, the washer does) with one of the bolts of the strengthening structure. Dunno HOW they got it on, because you can't get the other bolt off without taking the seat.... oh crap, I've just realised how to do it... lift the bloody seat up to raise the whole bolt!!! DOH!
I believe the ones I ordered had an integral resistor. The green and yellow one's aren't that bright to be honest, but they are better then the bulbs. The red ones are a fair bit brighter though, so they're good for the crucial warning lamps!
Yes, the dash is a pretty tight fit! You'll also need to disconnect the heater controls from the back of the dash. I found it easier to pull the dash out a bit before unbolting them.
If I were you, I'd consider using wing nuts to re-attach the dash where possible (I don't think you can use them on the two bolts on the left hand side as they clash with the fibreglass, but those ones are fairly easy to remove/refit anyway). This makes it much easier to remove the dash in future should you ever need to. I also left off the two nuts either side of the heater control - the dash is a tight fit anyway and there isn't any more play in mine without them (also, these two were the most difficult to remove and almost impossible to refit without dropping tools/nuts/washers in the cavity behind the dash - retrieval isn't easy!). I got some good stainless wingnuts & spring washers from a chandlery.
Yes, the dash is a pretty tight fit! You'll also need to disconnect the heater controls from the back of the dash. I found it easier to pull the dash out a bit before unbolting them.
If I were you, I'd consider using wing nuts to re-attach the dash where possible (I don't think you can use them on the two bolts on the left hand side as they clash with the fibreglass, but those ones are fairly easy to remove/refit anyway). This makes it much easier to remove the dash in future should you ever need to. I also left off the two nuts either side of the heater control - the dash is a tight fit anyway and there isn't any more play in mine without them (also, these two were the most difficult to remove and almost impossible to refit without dropping tools/nuts/washers in the cavity behind the dash - retrieval isn't easy!). I got some good stainless wingnuts & spring washers from a chandlery.
Anyone know if my car will pass the MOT with the bulb working very dimly or not at all, or if I bodge a separate bulb mounting on the steering column cover?
I really don't want to go to so much trouble at the moment just for one bulb when I could do it in the winter when it's off the road anyway and I'll be doing a few other bits around the dash. I can't get a spanner anywhere near the bolts for the mounting plate!
It's the sidelight / headlight telltale, not the the main beam one.
According to this page, the telltale for the sidelights doesn't appear to be required to pass... it's not mentioned at all...
www.motester.co.uk/cog.html
>> Edited by GI on Wednesday 19th October 11:38
I really don't want to go to so much trouble at the moment just for one bulb when I could do it in the winter when it's off the road anyway and I'll be doing a few other bits around the dash. I can't get a spanner anywhere near the bolts for the mounting plate!
It's the sidelight / headlight telltale, not the the main beam one.
According to this page, the telltale for the sidelights doesn't appear to be required to pass... it's not mentioned at all...
www.motester.co.uk/cog.html
>> Edited by GI on Wednesday 19th October 11:38
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