RDS928S

For the last several months I have been trying to figure out why my rotary dimmer **** and the wiper speed rotary **** as well as the intensive washer button on the bottom side of the dash pod do not function.
Tried relays,fuses, checked pumps etc.
Today was seasonably warm so decided to take the trim peice off to examine the rotary *****. Apparently somebody pulled off both female connections from both the rotary ***** and jumpered them.
Does anyone know why someone would jumper both these functions?.

Thanks
RDS

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

I think they are kind of expensive and you probably only use your instrument lights at full output anyway. If the old thumbwheel rheostats work OK or can be cleaned or replaced then you will probably be able to return full function. Not sure if it's worth it, but your call.
Dave

Alan

RDS,
Funky! There is no good reason to do this. These are quite unrelated functions. Not quite clear which connections are jumpered but it would make sense for none of them a sfar as I can see for any reason. This functionality was pretty much the same for all years too.

The wiper intermittent rate control has intermittent wiper switch to one side (goes to +12v when on - this also goes to the intermittent wiper relay Intermittent on 'I' input) the resistor is between and the other side feeds the intermittent wiper relay variable 'R' input.

The illumination control has variable illumination one side and 12v supplied from the light switch on the other.

So basically these are all active high variable levels... quite independant...

Figure out which is which and reconnect:

Variable Lighting (LHS) - Black & Black/Blue
Intermittent Wiper (RHS) - Yellow & Yellow/Red

Orientation shouldn't matter

Alan

RDS928S

Dave/Alan:
Thanks

The rotary ***** are in excellent shape. Not frozen or rusted. This 928S was a one owner car with zero molestation until I found both functions jumpered.
Even if the ***** were not functioning there would be no need to pull off the connectors and jump them.
I am thinking that maybe these units were blowing fuses or shorting out?

RDS

j.kenzie@sbcglobal.net

Alan,
My rheostats work "fine". But I assume something was less than perfect about RDS's. Come to think of it, if I jumpered my instrument lights (old 84S) rheostat and they were 50% brighter, I might just leave them that way. I'm guessing that even at the brightest setting there is still some resistance compared to jumpered. I can only imagine there was something analogous with the wiper interval rheostat, or maybe they were shorted closed or full open.
No doubt, restore to factory fresh is best advice.
Dave McK.

Alan

RDS,
Ah you mean each of the rotary ***** was replaced with a jumper...? so per my above:

for Variable Lighting - Black is jumpered to Black/Blue...?
for Intermittent Wiper- Yellow is jumpered to Yellow/Red..?

If thats what you meant I guess its a little different - still makes no sense though.

It fixes the variable illumination @ max and the rate control at either min or max (not sure). Neither of these will stop something blowing a fuse - just makes it more likely for the lights and no difference for the intermittent. For the lights it could be a solution to a poor connection on the rheostat (flicker maybe). Reconnect and find out - it can't do any harm - make sure you have the right connections though.

Alan

When you find thing like this it makes me think ... what else?

Dave - I don't think it will make it any brighter...