Panel light

[stuart_k]

Can anyone tell me exactly what bulb I need for the panel light? Drove the car for the first time in the dark tonight and that was when I discovered I had no working panel light. Interesting trying to guess the speed when the speedo is not visible. It was not until I got home and checked the wiring diagram that I discovered there was a panel light switch but I tried it in both positions and still no light so I am assuming the bulb needs replacing. All the warning lights are in working order. I found the relevant bulb on the Bull Motif website but I really don't want to place an order for a 50p bulb. I'm sure I can source it locally if I know what I'm looking for.

Need to figure out how to extract it now but I'll leave that until daylight hours.

[PSL184]

I'd check the wiring as I think there are 2 bulbs (on later cars at least) Maybe both have blown, but you never know.... 12v screw in types and the wattage will depend on how bright you want them......

[//no.comment]

isnt there a switch underneath the speedo to turn them on? ;)

[mike.perry]

A black speedo has two panel lights with red/white cables and as above uses 12V screw fit torch bulbs, normally 2.2W
You may be lucky and get them from Halfords but will probably have to get them from a Minor parts supplier. Remove the old bulbs and check them first.

[//no.comment]

oh sorry didnt read the OP properly, i didnt realised ud already found the switch!

[charlie_morris_minor]

last time one of mine went i just popped in to my local motor factors rather than halfords

[RogerRust]

You might find they have fallen out or arn't working because of a poor earth, so its worth a look first. You will find 4 or 5 bulbs the oil pressure light,main beam indicator, oilfilter blocked, and the two panel lamps. I guess you could swap them around and test it all.

[stuart_k]

Thanks. Can I get to the bulbs by feeling around behind the speedo or do I have to remove it from the panel first?

[PSL184]

Easier to remove the speedo. If you look in the gloveboxes you will see some round holes. Stick a long handled phillips screwdriver in them and feel around for the screws. Just slacken the screws (do not remove them completely) and the speedo will pull forwards easily....

[stuart_k]

OK, got the speedo out and found the red/white wires that connect to the panel bulbs, so far so good. All wiring is intact and looks in good condition. Seems unlikely both bulbs have gone so I suspect the switch. However I would like to get the bulbs out. They are housed in a tube, does this just pull out with brute force?? Don't want to wreck anything but they don't seem to want to move. Only the cable pulls in and out and appears to have a spring mechanism presumably to keep contact with the bulb.

[alex_holden]

The bulb holder pushes into the end of the tube. It's usually pretty loose and falls out when you least want it to (eg. when you're trying to put the speedo back into the dash).

[stuart_k]

Help me out here, I'm no good at this electrickery.

I have established the bulbs are ok because I swapped them into one of the other warning lights and they work. I have established with a multimeter that the 12V feed to the switch is live and I have established that there is 12v across the two terminals of the switch in one position and no volts in the other position. I have also established there are 12v from the live feed to the bulb holder. But I don't have panel lights. Is it possible the switch is wired the wrong way round? Should the bulb light up when I make the connection from the live feed to the bulb holder with my multimeter? Arghhh!

[PSL184]

The bulb holder earths to the body of the speedo so bulbs will only light when connected into the speedo. If you have 12v at the bulb then the earth is bad from bulb holder to speedo tube.

[alainmoran]

Also if the speedo isn't bolted down at the sides (like mine) then this can give a less than great earth to the body of the car

[mike.perry]

To sum up, the speedo needs to be refitted for it to earth. You can connect a wire from the screw clamp on the speedo to a suitable place on the inst panel to provide an earth whilst you check the lights. Also scrape the contacts clean in the bulb holders to ensure a good circuit

[stuart_k]

Yes I was using an earthing wire whilst testing. Seems both panel bulb holders were poorly earthed whereas all the other bulbs were fine. Odd.

Now fixed and working. Thanks for the help.

[PSL184]

Well done - Tick that job off the list now

[stuart_k]

Four ticks today

Fixed the panel lights
Fixed the non working main beam at same time - earth again
Trip to the tip
Got the Midget on the road.

I'm happy.