Dashboard Lights

[andygill]

Do all travellers have a speedo light swtich just below the choke knob.

My 1970 traveller doesn't appear to have one. So I assume the bulbs have gone.

Does anyone know what sort of bulbs I need to buy ?

Thanks

[Jefftav]

The switch is right under the dash approximately where you put in the ignition key and you may need to bend right down to see it but I thought all Minors had this switch.

It is a small switch that slides from side to side and switches the speedo backlights off/on. I would be surpised if all the lamps have blown in the backlights so if that switch isn't there and the backlights don't work I think you need to take out the glove box on the drivers side and trace the wiring to see if the lights are getting a supply. It could be that a wire has been pulled out of the bullet connector.

[andygill]

Just taken a photo.

I presume this hole is where the switch should be.



What should I do next ?

Thanks
Andy

[Jefftav]

You will have to take the glove boxes & possibly the speedo out to trace the wiring and fing out what is going on.

The glove boxes are held in with phillips headed screws and simply unscrew these and withdraw the glove box. The passender side is probably easier as the steering wheel is not in your way but usually most connectors are behind the drivers side glove box so in the end you may also have to take this out. The glove box will come out past the steering wheel with some patience.

There is a wiring diagram at the top of this section which will help with colours of wires and the dashboards lights are set into the back of the speedo (not to be confused with the ignition, high beam and oil warning lights) and you need to follow the wires back to where they pich up a supply and check with a test light or meter if they are getting a supply and it is a case of finding any faults and reparing them. I could also be that someone has either stuffed the switch up behind the dash or bypassed the switch.

The lights also need an earth connection but I think this done through the speedo (someone will correct me if I am wrong) and this completes the circuit.

Hope this helps and let us know how you get on.

Jeff

[bmcecosse]

The dash light slide switch should be at the right side of the panel - under the lights switch - nowhere near the choke. Check to feel if it's there. The dash lights only work when the sidelights are switched on - are they working ok ?

[andygill]

Thanks bmc.

I'll have a look when I get home.

Does my picture above look like where the switch should be ?

Andy

[Declan_Burns]

Here's a photo of the switch[frame][/frame]
Hope it helps.
Regards
Declan

[andygill]

Here's my dash ?



and underneath (sorry for brightness)

[dp]

The square hole. Perhaps it's just come loose but still in the on position and is rattling around inside the area under the speedo

[Declan_Burns]

Here's a photo from another angle.[frame][/frame]
Regards
Declan

[andygill]

Two years after my first post on this ive decided to have another go !!

The first snag I have hit is trying to undo this screw. It won't budge, any tips ?[frame][/frame]

I've managed to take a look behind the dash best I can and cant see any switch or loose wire. Sorry this photo is a bit blurred.[frame][/frame]

[mike.perry]

Do the speedo lights work when the sidelights are on? If yes then forget about the switch, nobody ever uses it.
If no then trace the speedo light wires, 2 red/white wires, back to a bullet connector then run a red/white wire from the connector to the sidelight terminal on the light switch. Check that there are no loose or disconnected wires.

[Roni]

By your last photo it looks like the remains of a switch is still screwed in place. Above it, covered in black tape with red and red/white wires going in, is what looks like the rest of the switch or a connector of some sort.

[andygill]

By your last photo it looks like the remains of a switch is still screwed in place. Above it, covered in black tape with red and red/white wires going in, is what looks like the rest of the switch or a connector of some sort.

It's a connector the two wires joined to it. Any idea what I should do next ?

[beero]

What colour are the wires in the connector? Should be red (supply) from light switch and 2 x red/white feeding the 2 lamps. Is there any power on the red when the sidelights are on?
The screw you are having trouble with looks like star drive or torx screw head.

[bmcecosse]

If the red and red/white wires are joined - the dash lights should be ON when the side lights are on.

[andygill]

Finally manager to get the glovebox and cardboard out to have a proper look.

I do have a red wire connected to two red/white.

[frame][/frame]

So it looks like it's the bulb.

In the guidance from the MMOC manual it says

"Start by removing the speedo head, this is held in place by two screws. These are accessed
via two holes in the cardboard bit of the gloveboxes. Undo these screws which are difficult
to see but easy to feel by about three turns "

Unless i'm missing something I can't see any screws. If i feel behind there are three small nuts if they are holding it in place it will be an absolute pain to take out.

This is my speedo.[frame][/frame]

[bmcecosse]

No -it is one screw each side through a bracket that holds the speedo in place. Just slacken them and pull the speedo forward. Disconnect the battery first to avoid a short....

[bmcecosse]

Very easily - hard to mis...... In line with the little hole in the glovebox liner........

[andygill]

I know i'm being a bit thick but which of these bulbs light up the speedo ?

[frame][/frame]