Dashboard lights 144DL

[Kirkie]

SUCCESS....
Stripped it all down again and removed the p.c.b. from the instrument panel.
Used a repair kit for heated rear windows and went over the tracks on the
p.c.b. with the conductive tape in the kit.
Everything works except one of the 3 lamps behind the heater controls.
That one is going to have to wait a while as its a toughie to get to.
Many thanks to everyone for your constructive ideas and instructions.
Happy motoring.. Jim.
Ps.....I have been asked if I would like to exhibit my 144 dl at the Manchester classic car show in September. If your there pop over and say Hello.

[Volvorama]

Thanks. I've learned something there.
Those heater control lamps are a pain. My 144S has only 2 of 3 working at any one time, but it varies as to which one remains dark!

[MyStylesTheBomb]

Howdy. The rheostats seem to go bad with no repair. Other than a new old stock replacement the only thing I've found to do is simply pull the rheostat and replace it with a simple jumper wire. You lose the ability to adjust the brightness but you gain dead solid reliability. - Scott

[C20562236]

The rheostat just failed in my 1969 144 albeit that it only has 34K miles and seldom driven at night. Believe failure is actually corrosion related.

I plan to leave the rheostat in place and wire across the exposed contact busses on the rear placing a replacement dimming rheostat placed in an convenient location behind the dash panel where heat created by voltage drop will not be a problem.

[Steve Tilburn]

Just in case anyone bumbles across this thread as I did in a desperate search for information to rectify missing dashboard and heater control lights, Removing the dash is exactly as described, slip your hand up behind the dash after removing or moving to one side the lower dash "skirt", and then undo by feel the two knurled plastic knobs at either end of the dash which retain it. Then push the dash to the left, as you sit in the car, revealing the speedo cable to the right of the dash for removal as well, tip the dash on it's side and remove all of the push on plugs then slip it out past the steering wheel. It is not necessary to attempt to remove the dash lighting rheostat button, just remove the single cross head screw retaining the switch to the dash rear and unclip the two small metal lugs holding the unit together, then the upper part of the switch can be removed revealing the little brass travelling contact and the resistive coil, be very careful as the contact is pushed against the coil by two tiny springs which are keen to escape after years is captivity! If the coil and contact are still intact you just need to clean them with contact cleaner and very fine wet and dry or similar, check continuity with a test light and bulb and reassemble with a little electrical grease, if the brass component is worn or damaged it is quite easy to replicate or repair with solder, if the coiled wire is damaged then things get a little more difficult but at least if you go for the "full brightness all the time option" and fit a loop to the two exposed terminals, you will still have a button undisturbed on your dash front rather than a hole or the broken remains of your old one! Whilst the dash is out it's worth checking the heater control wheel bulb which you can now get your hand to through the dash aperture, it is fed by a live and earth from the twin plug on the back of the instrument panel which you have already removed. Reassembly is simply the reverse of the above and you should now have an illuminated dash and heater control wheels! Thank you to past posters for your invaluable assistance.

[Billy Smalls]

Originally Posted by Steve Tilburn

Just in case anyone bumbles across this thread as I did in a desperate search for information to rectify missing dashboard and heater control lights, Removing the dash is exactly as described, slip your hand up behind the dash after removing or moving to one side the lower dash "skirt", and then undo by feel the two knurled plastic knobs at either end of the dash which retain it. Then push the dash to the left, as you sit in the car, revealing the speedo cable to the right of the dash for removal as well, tip the dash on it's side and remove all of the push on plugs then slip it out past the steering wheel. It is not necessary to attempt to remove the dash lighting rheostat button, just remove the single cross head screw retaining the switch to the dash rear and unclip the two small metal lugs holding the unit together, then the upper part of the switch can be removed revealing the little brass travelling contact and the resistive coil, be very careful as the contact is pushed against the coil by two tiny springs which are keen to escape after years is captivity! If the coil and contact are still intact you just need to clean them with contact cleaner and very fine wet and dry or similar, check continuity with a test light and bulb and reassemble with a little electrical grease, if the brass component is worn or damaged it is quite easy to replicate or repair with solder, if the coiled wire is damaged then things get a little more difficult but at least if you go for the "full brightness all the time option" and fit a loop to the two exposed terminals, you will still have a button undisturbed on your dash front rather than a hole or the broken remains of your old one! Whilst the dash is out it's worth checking the heater control wheel bulb which you can now get your hand to through the dash aperture, it is fed by a live and earth from the twin plug on the back of the instrument panel which you have already removed. Reassembly is simply the reverse of the above and you should now have an illuminated dash and heater control wheels! Thank you to past posters for your invaluable assistance.

brilliant description...I've had to do this job several times as I can only whack the top of the dashboard so many times to get the instrument light working!!!

Only thing i would say is maybe re-name 'dashboard' to 'instrument panel' - as some folk may think you mean the whole (width of the car) dashboard....haven't attempted that one yet!!

If you ever need advice on getting the heater out, let me know - doen that three time snow too!! ball-ache...but gets easier the more you do it!!