Instrument lighting

[mcvw]

Hi,

My apologies in advance, as technically this is a Beetle question - but I'm hoping it's general enough that it applies to early bays too

I've just removed all my additional dash gauges and gone back to a stock setup (i.e. speedo & fuel gauge). Everything works (much to my amazement!) except that I don't have any instrument lights :?

At first I thought it was cos they had 6v bulbs in - so I replaced these with 12v versions (car is UK spec 67 12v) but still no lights

The wire that feeds the instrument lights is a grey & brown striped, and daisy-chains from the speedo to the fuel gauge. Currently it doesn't continue to Earth. Should it do so?

Thank you,


Mike

 

[58herbie]

Mike,

the Grey and red (or brown as you call it) does not go to earth, this is your live feed to the lights from the light switch. the lights earth out through the metal body of the speedo and gauge. you can test if its working by touching the bulb holder on to the car body and they should light up or bare another piece of spare wire, wrap the end around the outside of the bulb holder and bare the other end of and touch that to a good earth point on the car. also check see the switch knob has not been twisted to dim the lights.. if this fails light switch might be goosed and not be putting out a feed for the panel lights.

jon

 

[Guest]

silly question but have you checked the fuse for this?

 

[Clarkson46]

Check that you have earthed the speedo. No earth on the speedo and the panel lights will not work.

 

[Justin & Muttley]

I'll take a picture of the wiring behind my wife's (totally stock) Beetle dashboard later for you - hers is also a UK spec 12V '67!!!