No instrument lighting!! Help

[Lee]

So here's what happens (or doesn't as the case may be!):

At night, switch on my headlights, instrument lights do not illuminate, dash switches do not light up.

I have checked and replaced fuse number 12 (15 amp for interior lighting) but no result. Coppers aren't going to believe my lame excuse.."sorry officer, I souldn't see the speedo so I couldn't see what speed I was really doing! These cars are deceptivel fast aren't they!!". They will throw away the key! LOL! I have to reach up and switch the courtesy light on the check how fast I'm going! This is starting to drive me mad and I can't figure it out. The next logical thing is to replace the rheostat in the instrument binnacle as I have a spare binnacle to butcher.

Any other thoughts? Is there anything else I can check first before attacking the binnacle with unecessary soldering?

Thanks in advance,

Lee

[A6 AVANT]

Sounds like a defo dimmer/rheostat fault to me. Have you tried turning the dial?:nana:
Believe it or not we have had customers in our garage with this fault and all it required was the dial turning!! :wacked:

I had the lights go on my coupe and the arm on the rheostat had burnt out. Quick trip to mr scrappy and hey presto!
HTH
Chris

[Doug_RS2]

Don't have a scooby what is wrong with yours Lee - but the bods with wiring diagrams could maybe help us both

I have an instrument lighting problem as well. Everything lights up with the headlights on but when I switch on the main beam, all the instrument lights go off - I actually don't mind this - it makes you concentrate on the road more - (if I flash the main beam the linstrument lights stay on) Any ideas? :confused:

[A6 AVANT]

Doug, sounds like your fault is totally different to Lee's, Have you checked your plugs on your clocks? Also does your main beam warning light work when dash lights go out? If bulb holder for main beam warning light has been fitted incorrectly it may be shorting out on another part of circuit board on back of cluster and thus giving you your fault!
Just a couple of suggestions, I am sure you have more important things on your car like........ RE-BUILDING IT!!!!! :nana:
Did you sort out the spark plug fault?
Regards,
Chris
Beetie's problem slightly worse than yours!!!!

[Doug_RS2]

The blue main beam light is the only one that comes on. I've got loads of wee jobs like this to fix - just not allowed the time.

The helicoil has been fitted upside down, so the when the tang has been broken off, it has a sharp edge that is f@$king the spark plug thread - the head is back off and going to the machine shop tomorrow - I just have to
get a quote from Audi for new headbolts - since they are stretched after using them once - I'm really ****** off with that.

[A6 AVANT]

I would be SO PISSED at that one!
The doesn't even come close!!
Can't we have with a baseball bat in his hand???
Hope you get sorted, by the way you got a pm.
Chris

[Lee]

Thanks Chris. Being logical, the first thing I did was twiddle the rheostat knob but to no avail. I am guessing that the rheostat is my real problem so I will just go ahead and sort it! Car is off road for a while (no ECU: another issue!!) so I am not stessing about anything in life at the moment.......nice! Why does my world revolve around my S2 ordinarily?!?!?!? I need by bumps read! LOL!

Thanks again for the rapid feedback (I love this forum!)

Lee

[Greg_S]

Lee,

couldnt remember if i had told you or not. I sent your ECU over to paul a while back for you.

Still got a few left overs at my house tho, got two ECU cradles. 1 is lee's, a DC to AC inverter and ant's torch still there.

Who's are the other bits?

Greg

[Doug_RS2]

The inverter is mine - althoughyou might as well hold onto it and bring it to the next meet (when is that Greg?)

What are ECU cradles?

[Greg_S]

yeah im gonna put a post up about that later on mate. 28-29th Feb it will be.

The cradle is the bracket that holds the ECU then slides up behind the heater duct to hold it inplace.

You will have to remind me with the inverter know what my memory is like

Greg

[Doug_RS2]

I think one of the cradles will be mine - I will check the box Lee sent me tonight.

Lee - did you have the cradle to mount it in your car? Did you send it?

[Stick Insect]

Lee, I had the same problem. The dash lights are on the same fuse as the number plate lights on my car. Check the number plate lights and see if they are working, then find the correct fuse.

I think mine blew when I fitted the ejector seat on the same line.

D.

[Fat Audi 80]

Had exactly the same thing in my '80 nowhere does it tell you the dash lights are on the same (5A IIRC) circuit as the number plate lights

S