Instrument lights

[Matt]

Morning all and a happy new year!
I've sorted the cooling on the old girl, and have just managed to destroy my ignition switch when checking it over for a starting problem (only fires when the starter is disengaged) so I've got to multimeter out to sort my list of niggles. I've rummaged through the archives, but can't find an answer so can anyone give some suggestions as to why my instrument lights and interior lights don't work? They've got power going to them but its obviously not escaping to earth....... As the interior and instrument lights both don't work is there a common earth or another common component for them and if so where is it?
Looking forward to the answer....
Matt

[Matt]

Hello Hello - is there anyone there....... help

[jleyton]

Is yours a fairly late car ? If so, the interior lights are a rather complicated set up and there is no official wiring diagram for them In fact, power is supplied to them all of the time but the earth circuit is only completed when the switch is operated or the door is opened.

I've written on here several times about this subject and you may find the info if you do a search.

Mind you, that's probably only relevant if your interior and dash light problems are not interconnected.

Cheers

Julian

[Matt]

Hi Julian
Thanks for the reply, mine is an early LD30000 range, built in late 1973; I've seen the listings on the interior lights which I'll revisit.
Regards
Matt

[GTJones]

Hi Matt

This might help with your loss of electricity as it leaks out sometimes as much as the oil

Gary

Wiring Diagram.jpg

[jleyton]

Hi Matt,

The easiest way to tell if you have the later set up is to check the door switches - if they only have one terminal then you have the later set up. You can also look on the back of the console light switch - the earlier system (as shown in the post by Gary) has two purple wires connected to the top two connections of the switch. The later set up has two black wires that are connected and is very different.

If you are still stuck on this ask again later. I can't get on my ordinary PC at the moment, where all my info is, but I should be able to in a few days time.

Cheers

Julian

[Matt]

Thanks guys - I'll take a closer look at it tomorrow when the rain is supposed to stop.......

[Peter Hills]

Matt,

Have you let the smoke out of the special Lucas wires?

Peter

[Denise]

[QUOTE=Matt starting problem (only fires when the starter is disengaged)
Looking forward to the answer....

Ballast resistor?
Denise.

[Matt]

Hi Peter and Denise
I'll be going on ebay to get one of the special jar of Lucas smoke - the one I had for my Brit bikes has run out
And I've just replaced the ignition switch which on a first couple of tries seems to have cured the starting problem. The old switch fell apart when I took it out, so it looked to be the problem but thanks for the suggestion
Regards
Matt