Thread: No Dash Lights - Problem Solved

Hi All

As mentioned in Charlie's year 3 post recently. I've been chasing a strange electrical problem, where I don't have any dash lights when the headlights are on.

Following the advice in the Good Oil, I found the 30 amp trailer fuse under the bonnet blown (go figure......). Replacing this resulted in intermittent behaviour and wriggling the indicator light stalk caused them to come and go. A bit of Googling found a youtube video where an American guy had the same behaviour and also traced it to the stalk.

Ordered up a new stalk which arrived last weekend. Fitted it and problem solved ! All up it took less than an hour, including coffee.

Once I get a bit of time I'll try a strip down of the old stalk and see whether it can be cleaned/repaired.

The youtube video follows. Its a good "How To" tutorial.

Cheers
Steve

[ame]https://youtu.be/d6NIo43Juqw[/ame]

Not one to rush things, some times .... I finally pulled apart the old indicator stalk and gave it a clean. Pretty simple inside, with no awkward fiddly bits and springs that magically disappear or need 5 hands to hold in place. The contacts on the slide which controls the lights was visibly dirty and a good drench with contact cleaner flushed out a bit of muck. Put a small dab of dielectric grease on it, reassembled and into the spares box. Some pics below:



Indicator stalk. Undo the 4 screws and prise the top off. There is a small lug either end (marked).



Remove the top and the stalk just lifts out.



Highlighted is the slide at the base which the stalk engages to turn the lights on and off. On the right you can just see the contact track which is a bit grotty.

Cheers

Steve