1979 instrument lighting issue
12-03-2010, 03:15 PM
#1
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
1979 instrument lighting issue
The lights on my 79 are dim and I was following some suggestions from another thread.
The rheostadt is hanging by the wires from PO so I disconnected the connectors and bypassed them. The lights are brighter but my coolant needle jumps up three needle widths, ammeter goes a needle width down (already reading lower than what is measured at battery and jump post) and oil pressure needle also drops.
Another odd thing is with the ignition on and light swith off I have instrument lights illuminated with the rheostadt connected. If I disconnect the rheostadt the lights go out. Is this a relay or ignition switch issue? Any suggestions on dealing with the guage fluctuations when lights go on and off?
The rheostadt is hanging by the wires from PO so I disconnected the connectors and bypassed them. The lights are brighter but my coolant needle jumps up three needle widths, ammeter goes a needle width down (already reading lower than what is measured at battery and jump post) and oil pressure needle also drops.
Another odd thing is with the ignition on and light swith off I have instrument lights illuminated with the rheostadt connected. If I disconnect the rheostadt the lights go out. Is this a relay or ignition switch issue? Any suggestions on dealing with the guage fluctuations when lights go on and off?
12-03-2010, 03:46 PM
#2
Mine is the same way.. the engineers apparently designed the backlight to stay on permanently.. I presume to allow the instruments to remain lit even if you go into a tunnel.. I am debating rigging a relay that turns on when I turn my light switch on..
The voltmeter and the oil BP.. mine are same approximations.. I chanegd the instrument circuit panel and it helped a bit.. I have found that where the wires enter the connectors on the instrument panel is where most of my panel irregularities come from.
The voltmeter and the oil BP.. mine are same approximations.. I chanegd the instrument circuit panel and it helped a bit.. I have found that where the wires enter the connectors on the instrument panel is where most of my panel irregularities come from.
12-03-2010, 04:17 PM
#3
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The bulb in the ashtray is controlled by the headlight switch, you can use that to trigger a relay for the instrument lights if you want to be able to turn them on/off with the headlight switch.
My 79 is the same way, instrument lights always on. I thought it was PO rewiring issue until the current flow diagram confirmed that's the way their supposed to work.
My 79 is the same way, instrument lights always on. I thought it was PO rewiring issue until the current flow diagram confirmed that's the way their supposed to work.