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joella *****
Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 769 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 21:44 Post subject: dash illumination dims and stay dims when light put on. |
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My light are off and the dash is illuminated well - i can see.
Then i turn my lights on cause its getting darker outside, and the dash (climate control, compass etc) dim considerably. I would have expected the opposite, why does this happen?
thanks
Joel |
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 21:44 Post subject: Google Ads keep the POCUK free to join! |
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Baddoo LifeTime Member
Age: 48 Zodiac: Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 1605 Location: Heanor, Derbyshire
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 22:17 Post subject: |
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Try standing in a well lit room when its dark...look out the window you will be able to see very little outside.
Another experiment, next time your outside when its dark take a lighter with you. Light it... look at the flame for a second or two... then look into the dark... your eyes will take a few seconds to readjust to the darkness.
I can only assume they have taken this principle and got rid of the bright interior light to preserve night vision. Sat nav's are the same, bright colours for daytime, put it on the settings for night and its black and blue only.
This would also explain why you have a rheostat to adjust the brightness of the dash lights if necessary |
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joella *****
Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 769 Location: UK
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 23:31 Post subject: |
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yeah i guess that makes sense, but they aint bright at the best of times really. And when its dark and the lights are on, the illumination is so bad i cant see the buttons. Its that dim, so i dont think that can be right...? |
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minesapasty LifeTime Member
Age: 61 Zodiac: Joined: 11 Nov 2006 Posts: 2762 Location: Home, where they make proper pasties.
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 0:06 Post subject: |
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Baddoo wrote: |
you have a rheostat to adjust the brightness of the dash lights if necessary |
If you have tried to adjust this, and it doesn't make any difference, it is possible that the rheostat ( a variable resistor) is the fault.
If you remember back to pre-remote control TV's. When you altered the volume the sound would crackle, when you tried to tune in the TV, the channels would be hard to get right, all of these controls were variable resistors, the fault would usually be dust on the slide, or windings going faulty, causing the resistor to not operate properly.
Going back to your Paj, if the rotating variable resistor is goosed, then the voltage to the lights will be reduced, so lights not as bright. |
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joella *****
Joined: 19 Mar 2008 Posts: 769 Location: UK
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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 9:20 Post subject: |
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The rheostat does work for the main dash.
But the problem is that even with the rheostat on full, if the lights are put on, then the center console becomes is very dim when i turn the main lights on.
So i can drive ok, but i cant actually see the center console hardly at all. See my problem. |
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david jason *
Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 13 Location: crawley
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 17:14 Post subject: |
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Hi
My 91 mk2 2.5d LWB Exceed has the same problem as you joella when i turn on the main lights all the green heater control lights, clock and compass etc all dim to the point where i feel i have been blind folded i beleive these are seperate from the main dash illumination so the dimmer switch has no effect on the center dash. and help would be most welcome as its been buging me for ages |
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Stoxy LifeTime Member
Age: 48 Zodiac: Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 772 Location: Tynemouth, North East England
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 19:01 Post subject: |
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This is the design for these instruments.
There meant to be seen during the day so they lights are on brightly until the side lamps are illuminated when they dim as not to be overbright and distract the drivers view at night. |
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david jason *
Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 13 Location: crawley
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 20:03 Post subject: |
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thxs
maybe in my case it seems worse because my main heater control bulbs don't work for some reason and i have checked them and none of them are blown what else could cause them not to work? |
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Stoxy LifeTime Member
Age: 48 Zodiac: Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 772 Location: Tynemouth, North East England
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 23:20 Post subject: |
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Bas earth or poor connection.
Have you tested each bulb as the wee ones can look ok but be blown! |
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david jason *
Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 13 Location: crawley
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Posted: Mon Jul 14, 2008 18:55 Post subject: |
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Hi
Is there any way i can test the bulbs? seems to be 3 of the little gits |
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Stoxy LifeTime Member
Age: 48 Zodiac: Joined: 05 Feb 2006 Posts: 772 Location: Tynemouth, North East England
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Posted: Tue Jul 15, 2008 15:07 Post subject: |
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Put a tester accross them to see or a small 9v battery may hep. |
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