Console Lights Conundrum

[orbitron3000]

Hey fellas,

I am having a strange problem with the four lights on the console that light it up so you can see all the dials at night. At the start of the day, while I was rebuilding the AC switch, when I would turn the key to position 1 or position 2, all four lights (they're LEDs in my car) would turn on. Even when I started the car, all four lights would remain on, despite the headlight switch being in the off position.

Fast forward to me putting the interior back together -- window switches, 12v lighter, defrost switch, otterstat, clock, and a custom switch to raise and lower the antenna. Now, whenever I turn the key to position 1 or 2 (didn't bother trying to start the car) only one light (the 3rd light, if counting from the left) will turn on and the light for the cigar lighter won't turn on at all. I've looked behind the console to make sure I didn't inadvertently unplug any wires, and it looks like I haven't. Any ideas?

[content22207]

If you are still using the original sockets, they are uber cheap -- wiggle the bulbs in the sockets and they should come back on.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[orbitron3000]

Hey Bill, thanks for the insight. I just went out and jiggled the bulbs like you suggested and nothing came on. I had a hair brained idea to switch the working LED to another socket and lo and behold it came on. Near as I can figure, it looks like 3 LEDs simultaneously kicked the bucket. (I didn't think LEDs could burn out but now I know.)

Anyway, my next question is a matter of behavior. I thought these lights only came on when the parking lights or headlights were on and not just all the time. What is the correct behavior for these lights?

Thanks,

Ryan
#5780

[content22207]

Original design concept was an opaque black A/C panel with lettering that only became visible (illuminated) when the car was energized:

5124

That razzle dazzle bit the dust before production, but the wiring remained -- in a factory configuration the A/C panel is illuminated whenever the car is energized. A common mod is to jump the A/C panel illumination relay output to the headlight signal, using it to power the panel bulbs.

Bill Robertson
#5939

[orbitron3000]

Thanks Bill. And I never knew that about the cars either, that's pretty interesting. Now I'm off to replace the LEDs that burned out.

I may be way off base here, but could they have burned out because I had both headlights, the turn signals, and tail lights were disconnected while I was initially testing the replaced switch, and the decreased resistance on the system caused three bulbs to burn out?

[content22207]

5126

Bill Robertson
#5939

[orbitron3000]

Cool, Bill. What book is that from?

Also, should the 12v lighter light come on when the car is started along with the rest of the console lights? I can't seem the remember.

[r00b]

Also, should the 12v lighter light come on when the car is started along with the rest of the console lights?

No.

[orbitron3000]

New problem...

I replaced the center console lights with four white LEDs (Really diggin' the look of the white leds over the PO's green LEDs)

Anyway, now when I turn on the parking or headlights, the four LEDs turn off, rendering the entire console dark and unilluminated. As far as I can tell, nothing has been unplugged from the headlight switch. Besides that, what other places are likely to have been accidentally removed by muddling around back there?

Thanks,
Ryan

[DMCMW Dave]

You are probably missing the light relay or the resistor that is supposed to dim the panel with the outside lights on. I suppose it's possilble that the resistor puts too much resistance in-line for LEDs, if so you need to bypass it.

[orbitron3000]

Do you mean relay 29 in the fuse box area? Or is there a relay in the A/C panel that you're referring to? Also I couldn't find any resistors behind the panel and I'm almost positive the lights worked with the old LEDs.

Ryan
#5780

[orbitron3000]

Well I was able to figure this out. After studying the wiring diagram, and familiarizing myself with how relays work and taking into consideration what DMCMW Dave suggested, I finally put two and two together. For prosperity (and anyone who may have a similar situation), here's what I did:

I recently installed the new dome light dimmer (for those with LED replacements for the courtesy lights) provided by Bitsyncmaster. During the installation, in order to power the relay, he suggests to use the Light-Green and White wire either from the Red Resistor, or the A/C Panel Illumination Relay. For my first go, I just stole the LGW wire from the Red Resistor, and this produced several quirks:

1) The dome lights did dim, but afterwards the door lights didn't work and the courtesy lights did not turn on when opening the door until turning the key to position 2.

2) The AC panel would only illuminate when the engine was on or the key was in either position. When I turned on the parking or headlights, the AC panel lights turned off.

So I finally realized how the Resistor and the AC Panel Relay work together (after studying the wiring diagram). I put the LGW wire back on the resistor, and performed the "A/C Panel Illumination Mod" (previously posted by EdR5150: http://www.dmcnews.com/Techsection/acpanellites.htm and http://www.16908.info/?p=341). And voila! Everything works now as it should. The dome lights dim after a period (20 seconds I think or so), the AC Panel doesn't illuminate when the car starts but they do when you have the headlights (non stock, but makes sense -- don't need the lights on during the day when you don't need the headlights).

Thanks everyone for their help and insight into this problem.