In search of short - Instrument Lights

[rmsmall]

My lotus is part ground hog: every ground on it seems to be requiring personal attention.

The current one I'm in search of is the ground for the instrument lights. I think this must be loose as the instrument lights will occassionally come on but will then turn themselves off. All the plugin's appear to be in tight and I've "jiggled all the bits" (the standard advice from across the pond for fixing this) so I'm looking for the end ground connector. I've checked the main ground by battery and it is good. I have a LHD car and plan on taking the dash out this winter to fix the A/C so I can get to the hard to reach places then if I know where to look.

Advice?

[Specky]

There's a loom break just to the left under the binicle...(I Guess that'll be on your right) You could do some con checking there.

Does the interior light go intermittent?

Have you checked for a loose fuse?


TTFN

[rmsmall]

Checked the loom breaks and they seem OK. The interior lights (on the mirror) work even when the instrument lights don't.

I took an ohm meter to it and I think that the problem is not a ground but that the light are not getting power so I'm tracing the circuit and I'll test the switch as soon as I figure which connectors handle the instruments lights.

[saska]

Checked the loom breaks and they seem OK. The interior lights (on the mirror) work even when the instrument lights don't.
I took an ohm meter to it and I think that the problem is not a ground but that the light are not getting power so I'm tracing the circuit and I'll test the switch as soon as I figure which connectors handle the instruments lights.

The wiring diagram for the instrument lights is HERE
It is entirely possible that the panel lamp rheostat module is faulty. It is located up under the driver's footwell (both RHD & LHD) and is probably green. See the bottom right of This Diagramfor location.
I believe the rheostat module is on the Lotus After Sales list as Part No. A100M6059F at £7.50 including VAT
How you'd get this in the US I don't know but I would certainly try to source one of the modules before I did anything else as it is an easy fix and others who've had intermittent panel lights have been sorted by replacing it.

[Bolsom]

Have you tried winding the dimmer for the panel lights up and down a few times? Was this part of your jiggling? It worked for me.

Colin

[Ashaman]

I had this same problem - for me it turned out to be the relay rather than a wiring or rheostat problem; so you may want to give that a try (especially if you have access to a spare) before tearing into the dash.

[tweetdriver63]

Since it's been a few years since anybody commented on this thread, I assume you got it all straightened out.

My instrument panel lights have suddenly gone dark tonight. Interior lights on the mirror work fine, as do all the accessories in the dash, but no lights. In my garage, I started to troubleshoot. I turned on the marker lights and fiddled with the rheostat and anything else I could think of. Then I pulled the binnacle cover off to check the "lighting" fuse, which turned off and closed the headlights when I pulled it. I then walked around the car to the passenger side to have a look at the fuse block. As I walked around, I noticed all of the right side marker lights and tail light weren't working. I checked, and the 5amp fuse for the LH marker lights is toast. I don't have a replacement of the right amperage on hand, so I'll have to come back tomorrow, but I think with a new fuse there, the instrument lights will come back to life too.

[tweetdriver63]

Yep. I was right. Replaced the fuse for the RH sidelights and everything is back on.

I also just noticed in the wiring diagram for the panel lights that the 12v source it shows is "sidelights." Strange nobody mentioned that right away when this thread started.