So your dash lights are dead so is your backlights
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2008 7:04 am
With a car of 17years of age, things are bout to go wrong... just because of age...
If you are having the problem where your dash lights + back lights are dead, and all your fuses are A OK... I know what is wrong... It took me 4 find... but I fixed it...
The problem lies within your indicator/light switch on the steering wheel, internally there is some copper fingers with "points" (like a distributor) on the end, these fingers are lifted to "break" the circuit, now over time these "points" burn out/away and you loose connectivity... I measured it mine pulled 6Amps though those points, so now you can understand, its like a relay, they can only last that long...
Fingers with points, middle one is "Main" one for lights
The Fix...
Well either get a second hand unit or DIY... I went for DIY since, WOFE will i find a indicator/light mechanism for a S13... I went DIY...
1. Remove the plastic casing around the steering column 6 screws, 1 is below the height adjustment lever.
2. Remove the indicator, 2 screws, mine was a bronze color.
3. You'll see at the back of the indicator unit is a see through plastic thing with the 4 small ends melted over it, that needs to be broken away to get to the fingers, you can remelt the stuff on with soldering iron... Don't worry it just sounds bad, but really piss.
4. Carefully lift the fingers and sand the points with sanding paper to create a new surface... Bam your done... Just make sure that the finger has enough pressure to close it self again, to stiffen it press gently with something right on the end of the finger where its molded into the plastic...
If you are having the problem where your dash lights + back lights are dead, and all your fuses are A OK... I know what is wrong... It took me 4 find... but I fixed it...
The problem lies within your indicator/light switch on the steering wheel, internally there is some copper fingers with "points" (like a distributor) on the end, these fingers are lifted to "break" the circuit, now over time these "points" burn out/away and you loose connectivity... I measured it mine pulled 6Amps though those points, so now you can understand, its like a relay, they can only last that long...
Fingers with points, middle one is "Main" one for lights
The Fix...
Well either get a second hand unit or DIY... I went for DIY since, WOFE will i find a indicator/light mechanism for a S13... I went DIY...
1. Remove the plastic casing around the steering column 6 screws, 1 is below the height adjustment lever.
2. Remove the indicator, 2 screws, mine was a bronze color.
3. You'll see at the back of the indicator unit is a see through plastic thing with the 4 small ends melted over it, that needs to be broken away to get to the fingers, you can remelt the stuff on with soldering iron... Don't worry it just sounds bad, but really piss.
4. Carefully lift the fingers and sand the points with sanding paper to create a new surface... Bam your done... Just make sure that the finger has enough pressure to close it self again, to stiffen it press gently with something right on the end of the finger where its molded into the plastic...
