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S3 coupe interior lights

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 12:04 am
by gjz30075
Hi all. I'm trying to get the 'B' pillar lights to work on my S3 Coupe but can't figure out how they
are activated. The switched dash light works fine but no voltage is getting to the pillar lights.
Are these activated in some other way, other than the door opening?

Is the pillar light bulb type different from the dash light?

Re: S3 coupe interior lights

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 11:32 am
by nmauduit
gjz30075 wrote:Hi all. I'm trying to get the 'B' pillar lights to work on my S3 Coupe but can't figure out how they
are activated. The switched dash light works fine but no voltage is getting to the pillar lights.
Are these activated in some other way, other than the door opening?

Is the pillar light bulb type different from the dash light?


on my '68 s4 they operate simultaneously with the dash - though one has a weak contact in the bullet connector and does not light up on occasion (light tap on the cardboard panel usually puts it back on) : if wiring is similar, you should be able to trace the voltage on the purple/white (from memory) wires, and ground return when on.

Re: S3 coupe interior lights

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 2:33 pm
by elancoupe
On my S3, there is a 3 position dash light toggle. Lower position is all lights off, center position is dash light on with door switches, upper position is all three interior lights on with door switches. The switch on the dash light is for manual control, but the dash toggle must be in the up position for the quarter lights to function.

My three position switch is a bit dodgy in the up position, sometimes it takes a wiggle or two to get the quarter lights on. :roll:

I think all three light bulbs are the same.

Re: S3 coupe interior lights

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 4:21 pm
by gjz30075
Thanks guys. Mike, that makes sense now.

Re: S3 coupe interior lights

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 5:25 pm
by types26/36
Here is a page from a friends original Lotus handbook supplied with the car, his car is a very early S3 Coupe, the car is one of those few cars that was supplied by Lotus with the red interior.
He could never get all the lights to work in all of the combinations as per the book.

Re: S3 coupe interior lights

PostPosted: Sun Jun 03, 2018 5:31 pm
by gjz30075
Great reference Brian. Thanks!