V12 Cabriolet Electrics Issue

Started 14th May 2017 at 09:40 · Martin Ball

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V12 5.3 Cabriolet

The engine runs very nicely.

The electrics are the issue and I slowly getting on top of them at the moment. Major issue for me is that I don’t have dash lights as the fuse blows without even the ignition on. I’ve traced the short to somewhere between the fuse box and the light switch and I am sure it is in the dash where I can’t see it.
I tried bypassing the short today by taking a wire from the slight switch, through an in-line fuse and to the rheostat and got the dash lights working OK but lost the parkers, left hand rear light and left hand rear number plate light. At one point the parkers were flashing on and off. Very pretty. I think I upset the balance with the bulb failure until to cause this. I’ve reversed my changes and back to square one.

I’ve have another think about this and would welcome any thoughts or other repair schemes.

Regards Martin

Author

Replies
- 15th May 2017 at 14:35 #4622
  
  Martin Ball
  Participant
  
  Just a note that I think I cut into the wire going to the bulb failure unit. There were two red/slate wires out of the lights switch and I knew I had a 50:50 chance of getting it right and I reckon I didn’t. I’ll move the bypass to the other red/slate wire which would normally run the fuse box this weekend and see how that goes. Fingers crossed. Martin
- 20th May 2017 at 11:28 #4723
  
  Martin Ball
  Participant
  
  Success. I cut into the other red/slate wire from the light switch, through the in-line fuse and then into the rheostat that way bypassing the short in the dash somewhere. Quite pleased but I note lots of talk about how dim they are. Just happy to have them at the moment. Cheers
- 20th May 2017 at 14:15 #4728
  
  Laurence Jones
  Keymaster
  
  That’s good news Martin – electrical shorts are a nightmare to find at the best of times, let alone up within the dash.
  
  Laurence
- 20th May 2017 at 16:45 #4763
  
  Laurence Jones
  Keymaster
  
  Regarding the Dashboard lights, I’ve just posted and article in our site’s Articles section, about how I improved them on my car.
  
  The article section can be found in the right-hand menu on this site’s Home page
  
  Laurence
- 25th May 2017 at 09:30 #4878
  
  Martin Ball
  Participant
  
  Thanks Laurence
  
  Very interesting article. I’ll look at the LED options as a first step and see how they go. I would like to put an LED in place of the fibre optic bulb as well. Regards
  Martin
Author

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