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MG MGA - Dim panel lights

My panel lights are so dim, they only really work when its pitch black. Turning the switch barely improves things. Any ideas please ?

Also, I searched the archives for 'panel lights' in all years and came up with many non related answers. Is there a better way of using the archives?
Nigel Munford

Earthing is a good place to start. The wiring diagram shows all instrument cases connected together through a common cable (black) and then to earth. You may have a high resistance earth, for instance has the earthing point been cleaned back to bare metal?.

Just a word of caution. Before you start fiddling about under the dash, disconnect the battery. Very easy to short-out loose/disconnected wires under there. I have learnt that one the hard way.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Nigel
Try dash lights, instument lights, panel lights etc. then scroll throught the list. It's probably a poor ground or the switch.
Kris Sorensen

I love temporary jumpers for diagnosing electical problems.

Get 2.

Connect 1 across the terminals on the dimmer switch. Better? Change the switch. Or some people just leave the switch bypassed altogether. It's not as though the lights are going to blind you.

Connect the second jumper from an instrument to a known good ground. Better? Clean your grounds.

Still not better? Maybe your bulbs are tired.

Good luck!

TTFN

P.S. I guess you should use a multimeter first to make sure that you're getting 14v or so to the switch (with the engine running).

Derek Nicholson

I understand that you can buy halogen bulbs for your instruments. I have not seen them but sounds interesing. Anouther thing to try is to clean the window on the side of the smaller gauges that the bulb must shine through to illuminate the gauge. Dismantling and cleaning or painting the inside of the housing silver on the larger gauges helps these as the bulb is inserted into the housing
J.H. Hall

Sorry I ignored the last part of the question you asked. How to use the archives? Well, you've got to get a little devious/inventive! Try searching, not only "panel lights", but things like "dim gauges", "dim gages","dim guages","dim instruments", etc. Notice the variations on the spellings of the word "gauge". The first is American, the second is dyslexic. For a "cross-over" problem like this, you can always check on the other boards, too.

Anyway, I did a quick search for you and came up with this from the archives:-

http://www2.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runprog=mgbbs&access=&mode=archiveth&subject=6&subjectar=6&thread=2004121501061223899

Found after doing a search for "dim gauge".

Derek Nicholson

Halogen bulbs, available (and not cheap!) from http://www.lbcarco.com/ :-

171-000H
HALOGEN 12V 5W SCREW BASE INSTRUMENT/MAP LIGHT BULB
CVB - 12V FOR SMALL INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE BULB OR LARGE WITH TWO BULBS
Retail $18.00 Our Price $13.00


171-003H
HALOGEN 12V 3W SCREW BASE INSTRUMENT/MAP LIGHT BULB
CVB - 12V FOR LATE INSTRUMENTS WITH GREEN FILM
Retail $18.00 Our Price $14.00


171-010H
HALOGEN 12V 10W SCREW BASE INSTRUMENT/MAP LIGHT BULB
CVB - 12V FOR LARGE INSTRUMENTS WITH ONE BULB
Retail $18.00 Our Price $13.00


Mustn't forget that not only are some of the bulbs installed 45 years old, but I strongly suspect that most of our eyes are at least that old! This might be the main problem and I don't think any number of jumpers will cure it! ;>)

TTFN

Derek Nicholson

If you have the 2.2w globes upgrade to 3w globes and make sure the glass on the globe is still clear.

You can also bypass the Dimmer to see if that makes a difference. (just join the wires together) Red to red/white

Cheers <MARK>
Mark Hester

Thanks to you all.
Nigel Munford

A cheaper alternative is to buy 9 volt bulbs. About $2 for 2 at Radio Shack. They don't last as long, but are brighter.

Ira
Ira Spector

Hi,

I have a 1961 MGA which I am getting ready for summer.
The electrical is a bit of a mess, but I'm getting there. On the subject of panel lights , I have 4 lights which I assume connect to the speedo, tach, fuel gauge and oil/temp gauge. Problem is there doesn't appear to be any slot for the light to shine into the temp/press gauge and the bracket doesn't appear to have a metal piece to hold the light. Wrong bracket ? Wrong gauge ?

Thanks,

Duncan
Duncan

This thread was discussed between 08/05/2006 and 22/05/2006

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