Dash and Facia illumination

[Ant]

More questions (the Haynes manuals useless)

There is very little illumination when the lights are on. Only the Elec window switches and interior light will work.

No illumination on fog, heated rear window (assuming there isn't supposed to be any illumination for hazard switch), blower, dash, exterior light switch, glove box, cigarette lighter (which may or may not be working)

I've scoured through the wiring diagrams but have come to the conclusion that all the bulbs have just failed overtime (weren't working when I got the car) and there isn't a common failure. This is based on the fact that the operating lights come on on the fog and heated rear window, but no illumination. Would this be a fair deduction?

If so what bulbs do I need to get to replace all the failed ones (assuming can get them at Halfords) all Haynes says is that the dashboard lights are 1.2 watt, are the switch lights the same?

[AdamB]

Your analysis is pretty sound, if only a few are working then the supply from the light switch must be working, the interior light doesn't run from the light switch but the windows switch illumination does. I'm not too sure what the lights are in the switches on a mk2 but if mine is anything to go by then its a mixturs of LED's and bulbs. The only problem with the LEDs going is they are a real sod to replace unless you are brave enough to dismantle a switch and solder another one in.

[Ant]

Thanks for the response, looks like I'll have to dig around some more and propably take the dash to pieces before I go shopping for bulbs/leds.

Soldering and electrics are about the only thing I do feel confident to do, (Did the first year of an Electrical and Electronic Engineering degree, just my diagnosis skills that need work) It's the mechancial stuff I'm dreading.

[Ant]

Found out how to take a switch apart had a look, the bulb is fine.

Realised there is a common component, the wiring from the light switch and dimmer.
Heading back to study the crappy Haynes to see if I'm right.

[Ant]

Success.

Identified that there was a common point for all the dash and facia switch lights, this being the dimmer switch circuit.

Disconnect the battery, there's always power running through the lighting switch.
Remove the lighting switch (switch it on and then use a screw driver to lever it out [see haynes removing facia switch])
Disconnect the lighting switch.

There's a cutout on the top where the dimmer makes contact with the plate and the pot.

On my switch the dimmer contacts where not touching either plate.
Use a circuit tester on the top plate and the pot if the switch appears to be making contact.

If the dimmer's working then you'll have to check out the connections behind the facia. I didn't have to do this so don't know how.

If the dimmers not working then the best method is to get a new one.

It's possible to bend the contacts back to touching (I suspect there's something missing from mine, like a piece of plastic to keep the contacts pressed outwards), but be careful, it's easier if you open the whole switch up. However I suspect that when you hit bumps your interior lights will flicker.