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#1
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Help! No Dash Lights! (it's a long one)
Okay, here's the scoop. After getting sunburned to a crisp yesterday, I finally got my Whelan(TM) Strobe kit (A la Police Interceptor) kit installed. It worked WICKED SWEET. I look like a pace car now. They're 90 watts, and they look a whole lot better than my lod dinky 10 watt system.
After about 1/2 hour of letting them run, to make sure there's no problems they quit. [Break] Before I continue, some background. The old system was powered by the connection to the light that goes in the ashtray. READ: I took the light out, and used the ends to power my old system. I used the SAME connection to power the new lights. [/break] I went over to the car, and I did a complete check of the car. Everything still works fine, it's just that now, my guages (IE The Tach, The Speedo, and all that.....she does not glow anymore! I checked fuses and relays, and they all look fine. On the way home, I noticed a faint buring electrical smell. I pulled the car over and got out the Fire extuingser, and opened the hood, ready to do battle with a nice C class fire. However, no smoke, nothing. I'm puzzled. Is it something I overlooked? I believe the Ashtray light and the dash lights are connected to the same system. If I overloaded the circuit, there would have been blown fuses. Any ideas? Please help, I need to see my guages at night! Here's my baby for those interested. Any help is appreciated.
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1992 SVX LS-L Claret - RIP. Last edited by Imprezzed; 09-02-2006 at 01:40 AM. |
#2
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Re: Help! No Dash Lights! (it's a long one)
I have seen a few times, in my Trials with Wireing lights in a
1990 Legacy, that some cases, you can overload the wires WITHOUT blowing the fuse, which will get you that nasty burning smell ;( I've had that a few times when i first started getting into wireing cars (before i knew what i was doing) Quote:
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-Roger H. | Website - nsm484.com | Facebook - Roger Harvey | Twitter - nsm484 | Personal Locker 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer OZ Rally [Nori] 1996 LSi Polo Green [Calista] - 18" Konig Incident's - Lived for awhile Now Selling 1992 LSL Dark Teal [Yori] (Rear Ended, Donor to Calista, and now gone) 1992 LSL Ebony Mica (Sold to svxcuseme) |
#3
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Does this mean I have to take the dash apart and find the wires?
If so, is there a guide to take the dash apart somewhere? The one on this site appears to be down.
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1992 SVX LS-L Claret - RIP. |
#4
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sounds to me like you blew out the dimmer switch. Those strobe kits can draw a lot of current, and I think the one you have has a 15 amp fuse.
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Mike - Proud owner of a Pearl 92 SVX LS-L 5MT with 78k miles and climbing 5-Speed Status: DONE! Lambo Door Status: On hold but will be a success 04 WRX 5MT, STi Short Throw Shifter, Group N tranny mounts, AZA Z-2 18x7.5 Rims, slotted/cross drilled rotors, stainless steel lines, 35/20% window tint, ecu bead crush, power mode button; 7" In-dash touch screen LCD, mobile computer, voice recognition, alpine PXA-H701 DSP, 2 JBL amps, focal speakers all around, 5 farad cap, and fiberglassed subs in the trunk. The Mobile Computer Interface - featuring the SVX | My Locker | My Secret Stash |
#5
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90 watts is way too much to draw for the ashtray light. My guess is you fried something.
Dave |
#6
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Quote:
P.s. I've already decided what to do about the strobes, I'm gonna run it directly from the battery. Saves time and effort.
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1992 SVX LS-L Claret - RIP. |
#7
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Quote:
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#8
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Quickest.
Please help!
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1992 SVX LS-L Claret - RIP. |
#9
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It's hard to say because obviously I don't think you have a lot of experience with electrical wiring. But .......break out your test light and start testing the wires (I guess you can do it at the ash tray bulb) .........put the parking lights on........one wire should read + the other ground (with the dimmer at it's brightest setting). Then adjust the dimmer, the ground should become slightly more positive (or vice versa) .........if no, then the dimmer switch might be bad. Try checking the fuses also ......if you have no + lead and both are grounded then most likely there's a fuse problem.
Good luck, and if you're confused try going to a friend that knows his stuff.
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Mike - Proud owner of a Pearl 92 SVX LS-L 5MT with 78k miles and climbing 5-Speed Status: DONE! Lambo Door Status: On hold but will be a success 04 WRX 5MT, STi Short Throw Shifter, Group N tranny mounts, AZA Z-2 18x7.5 Rims, slotted/cross drilled rotors, stainless steel lines, 35/20% window tint, ecu bead crush, power mode button; 7" In-dash touch screen LCD, mobile computer, voice recognition, alpine PXA-H701 DSP, 2 JBL amps, focal speakers all around, 5 farad cap, and fiberglassed subs in the trunk. The Mobile Computer Interface - featuring the SVX | My Locker | My Secret Stash |
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