Dashboard gauges not lit

[MagicMatch]

Hi,
Although I have had my Stag for nearly two years, for the first time yesterday I used it in the dark, only to find that none of the clocks are lit. The Rheostat Dimmer doesn't change anything and the fuse must be ok since other items on the fuse do work (sidelights for example). As each gauge has its own bulb I am assuming the rheostat must be at fault? Has anyone else had a similar problem? I'm not very bright (pardon the pun) when it comes to fixing things, so please excuse my ignorance. Any help would be appreciated.

[NeilR]

Just bypass that stupid dimmer. IMHO.
Old instruments are dim enough without making it worse.

[stagwingnut]

I had this problem, I found that supplying a separate earth wire from the dashboard metalwork to any one of the dial securing twist knobs made my instrument panel illuminate . Regards Graham

[StagJonno]

Could be a wire has become detached. As well as the Red/ White positive feed to the lights coming from the rheostat, they also need an earth (usually black wire). How do your Fuel & Temp gauges work? If they are constantly overreading, it's pointing to a missing earth as the Voltage Regulator needs an earth to work, which it gets from its mounting to the speedo (or Tacho - can never remember which ) From memory, the instrument cans have the black wire daisy-chained).

You can check the wiring by removing the screws holding the dash in place, pull off the rheostat knob, then pull the dash gently towards you (dropping the steering wheel to its lowest position helps). This should give you access to view the wiring. If the wiring seems OK, then check the rheostat by bridging it out using a short wire to bridge the Red/ Black wire connector to the Red/ White one. If the lights now work, then the problem is the rheostat. This can be replaced if you feel you need to be able to dim the instruments (I found them to be too dim at full brightness, so replaced the bulbs with brighter LEDs), otherwise just make up a permanent bridge.

[singapore stag]

To bypass the dimmer take all of the wires going to it and put them on one side or the other, there is enough terminals for this. IMO, the Stag could do without one.

[sujitroy]

Be careful messing around with the dash board, You'll fix one thing behind there and another thing goes wrong. I replaced my electrical temp. gauge. I took the car for a spin, filled up with petrol and now my fuel gauge only reads half full.

The tacho and speedo have a separate ground wires. Be careful they can come off when re-installing the dash.
Sujit

[singapore stag]

Be careful messing around with the dash board, You'll fix one thing behind there and another thing goes wrong. I replaced my electrical temp. gauge. I took the car for a spin, filled up with petrol and now my fuel gauge only reads half full.

The tacho and speedo have a separate ground wires. Be careful they can come off when re-installing the dash.
Sujit

You probably put in half a tank, subconsciously thinking of trying to save dollars?

[jbuckl]

Usually the rheostat will fail safe to max illumination… try it

[richardthestag]

am I the only owner out there who needs to dim the dash lights when I drive at night?

Even though I am 6'3" I still find that when driving at night the dash instruments can distract me from the potential drama through the big glassy thing in from of me.

My dimmer works beautifully though IIRC it only has 4 steps from off through glow-worm, to dim, to I can see the gauges! but they are distracting my attention from the rest of the world.

Earths will be Home ffs #(1) is not home - who chooses this appalling forum software issue, wood dash doesn't help so good and reliable earth needs to be made from each gauge to the body frame.

Next up, remove the bulb and look into the back of each gauge, you should see a green tinted plastic cup - that is full of 50 years of crap and crud. use the cotton wool ear buds things (that you should never shove into your ears) and some brake cleaner to clean them up.

replace bulbs if they are looking tired. not had good results from led offerings so generally stay OE

If dimmer switch is at fault then give it a clean out with electric contact cleaner. 100% mechanical and easy to restore to service.

Do not do this if you like your dash lights to be brighter than the oncoming German softroader stupidly bright headlights.

personally though I want to see what is going on outside the car