Lack of dash illumination

[phope]

Looking for some advice, as I am useless with car electrics


I bought a 1991 8v GTI a few months back as a winter runaround - recently got my licence back after an enforced spell of 18 months off the road due to medical grounds. Long story, but being diagnosed with Parkinson's kinda makes doctors nervous about driving 


Only intended to keep it perhaps until the wife's new car arrived, but I rather think the Mk2 is growing on me, so intend to keep it for a lot longer


Car is in great condition, with full service history, every MOT cert and plenty of receipts, but there have been a few electrical problems, that I am working my way through


Dial illumination - one bulb was out - I have fixed that
Interior light - contacts were worn - I have fixed that
Horn stopped working after I got the car - replaced relay, and back to normal
Dodgy contact on left side headlight - connector just needs fixing, as dipped beam cuts out intermittently, temporary fix is to reseat connector whenever it comes loose.

However, two are stumping me and my very limited knowledge 

Cigarette lighter - doesn't work, and no illumination
Heater control panel - blowers work at all speeds, but no illumination

Fuses appear to be intact, interior lights come on, dash illumination is fine and I'm kinda stumped on what to try. With my illness, it's not always easy to do tricky electrical stuff as my hand can shake terribly from time to time.

Any suggestions to try?

[X4MGS]

Cig lighter will probably be the bulb... Its just a pull out and replace job....

The heater panel is a different story... If the bulbs gone it's fecked - And can't be fixed you need to find another one, That works..

If you get stuck with one, drop me a PM as I have a spare one that is in full working order.... Easy to swap pull off the blower and heater controls and the unit then just unclips from the dash. The blower switch then slides off (Upwards) I think and then can be re-fitted to a new panel...

Simple as that!!

[Ben Lessani]

You can replace the bulb on the heater panel, but it wasn't designed to be replaced, so you have to be extremely careful - the grey plastic snaps really easily. But its just a little green LED tucked inside.

Uprated headlight loom for your dodgy headlights

[X4MGS]

You can replace the bulb on the heater panel, but it wasn't designed to be replaced, so you have to be extremely careful - the grey plastic snaps really easily. But its just a little green LED tucked inside.

It's a GOW Bulb and it can't be Easily replaced as its moulded into place in the plastic (Right PITA to get one out)- I Know cos I have one in bits on my bench at home from my sons Driver...

Much easier to get one that works...

[Ben Lessani]

You can replace the bulb on the heater panel, but it wasn't designed to be replaced, so you have to be extremely careful - the grey plastic snaps really easily. But its just a little green LED tucked inside.

It's a GOW Bulb and it can't be Easily replaced as its moulded into place in the plastic (Right PITA to get one out)- I Know cos I have one in bits on my bench at home from my sons Driver...

Much easier to get one that works...

Easier, yes, but free-er to attempt a repair yourself. The only trick is being delicate and not snapping the grey bit, a 12mm diffused/non-directional LED IIRC is a suitable replacement.

[X4MGS]

You can replace the bulb on the heater panel, but it wasn't designed to be replaced, so you have to be extremely careful - the grey plastic snaps really easily. But its just a little green LED tucked inside.

It's a GOW Bulb and it can't be Easily replaced as its moulded into place in the plastic (Right PITA to get one out)- I Know cos I have one in bits on my bench at home from my sons Driver...

Much easier to get one that works...

Easier, yes, but free-er to attempt a repair yourself. The only trick is being delicate and not snapping the grey bit, a 12mm diffused/non-directional LED IIRC is a suitable replacement.

So tell me how you attached the wires from the LED to the two pins that then fit into the light plug... This is the part I have the issue with... I have looked at drilling two small holes in the base and then soldering them to the brass legs... But that is a PITA to do...

Its a 10mm max size I think...

[X4MGS]

Uprated headlight loom for your dodgy headlights

I have to agree with this... I have bought a kit from Ebay and will be making up another for my lads Driver from this one...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270672697462

[phope]

Cig lighter will probably be the bulb... Its just a pull out and replace job....

The heater panel is a different story... If the bulbs gone it's fecked - And can't be fixed you need to find another one, That works..

If you get stuck with one, drop me a PM as I have a spare one that is in full working order.... Easy to swap pull off the blower and heater controls and the unit then just unclips from the dash. The blower switch then slides off (Upwards) I think and then can be re-fitted to a new panel...

Simple as that!!

Thanks for that...I'd removed the panel already so easy to do

Can you pm me a price for the fully working unit please :-)

That will be easier than trying to fiddle around with the sealed unit...from what I saw, it looks a bugger to split without damage

I'll get a bulb for the lighter and give that a try

[lemski]

If you have a led lyin about for the heater panel put the wires into the connector. It will only light one way but if it lights then what I did was split the heater panel carefully and replace the bulb with an led. Its so much better in my eyes but it saves buying a full new control pannel.
Liam

[Sam.]

You can replace the bulb on the heater panel, but it wasn't designed to be replaced, so you have to be extremely careful - the grey plastic snaps really easily. But its just a little green LED tucked inside.

It's a GOW Bulb and it can't be Easily replaced as its moulded into place in the plastic (Right PITA to get one out)- I Know cos I have one in bits on my bench at home from my sons Driver...

Much easier to get one that works...

Easier, yes, but free-er to attempt a repair yourself. The only trick is being delicate and not snapping the grey bit, a 12mm diffused/non-directional LED IIRC is a suitable replacement.

So tell me how you attached the wires from the LED to the two pins that then fit into the light plug... This is the part I have the issue with... I have looked at drilling two small holes in the base and then soldering them to the brass legs... But that is a PITA to do...

Its a 10mm max size I think...