Re: Dashboard / Instrument Light Woes
Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2019 3:11 am
stugilmour wrote:It is difficult to remove with dash in place. Veg has done it more recently so he is best to ask. From memory, knob is removed with a little catch pin in the knob. Bezzle piece unscrews from around shaft and then pull switch out. It is a very large vacuum switch, with (probably) two microswitches attached to the outside. They are really fussy to get aligned right.
Correct. There is another thread here somewhere about the spring-clip which holds the knob onto the shaft. Basically find the hole on the bottom of the knob and push the button in the hole with something, if I understand correctly. The clip on mine was replaced with a screw by a PO so I really can't advise from experience.
The bezel-nut is one of those types with a slot on either side. You may be tempted to try to remove it with needle-nose pliers but I don't recommend this if you don't want to damage your dashboard surface. You can make the tool with a bit of scrap pipe or tube and a rotary tool.
Also the elbows that connect the vacuum hoses tend to split easily but they are readily available from the usual suspects.
There is a thread on here with excellent photo?s of the light switch. I will try to find a link. This link shows a picture in a parts drawing. The microswitches are item 39 and there are two of them. Looks like it is post 50/1363.
http://www.lotuselan.net/wiki/BN_-_Body ... acuum_%2B2
What is your VIN? I am 50/2181. Note there were several running changes to the microswitch and vacuum switch setup in the Plus 2, but Veg and I have the version shown around item 39.
My switches seemed OK until one of them crumbled without warning in my hand, so be aware that age isn't always kind to them. Replacements were reasonably priced from an audio components supplier, as these are generic switches used in many non-automotive applications.
That said, have you checked the relay on the right heater box wall? Think that is where your issue is.
Agreed. If the relay isn't healthy and correctly wired, the sidelights won't function correctly. If yours is like mine, the wires will come off it if the dashboard moves even just a little.