Instrument Light Dimmer

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:31 pm

Hi folks,

Got a bit of a query for you all. I noticed today whilst driving in the rain that with my lights on all my instruments go very dim. So dim I cannot see if I have fuel, my engine has melted or if the climate control is giving my feet frostbite rather than de-misting the front screen

Had a quick look but couldn't see any way to brighten everything up. A quick look on eBay shows me there is an adjustment switch for this, and some BB4's had them. Where would this be?? Am I being a nob and missing it completely, or is mine not fitted with one because it's a '92 Si VTEC or something... If the answer is no I shouldn't have the switch, is there any way I could retrofit one? It'd be nice to be able to use my lights and still see my instruments really

Cheers,
Josh

Post by **4thgenphil** » Tue Jun 05, 2012 11:33 pm

i have a switch but it does nothing

so would love to see if this could be retro fitted aswell!

Post by **Pushki** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:02 am

This is where the switch usually lives in the facelift model. Just behind the handbrake.

Post by **4thgenphil** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:07 am

and pre facelift although the panel is a little different

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:12 am

Pushki wrote:This is where the switch usually lives in the facelift model. Just behind the handbrake.

I'm pre-facelift in my 92, so that might explain things. My centre console is different, the bank of switches is laid out 2x2 and the cubbyhole is set back a bit further. Might pop out the blanks and see what wiring lives behind there, not looking too hopeful though

I guess the next question is, has anyone got any ideas how to wire it into the pre-facelift loom

4thgenphil wrote:and pre facelift although the panel is a little different

Phil, if you pop the dimmer out of yours, is it plugged into anything?

Post by **4thgenphil** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:13 am

nope!

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:33 am

I reckon I know why it's not working!!

I really want a dimmer for my dash though, all my cars have had them and I like everything turned up like the Blackpool illuminations. There must be some form of control somewhere as the dash dims as soon as the lights come on - surely if you removed whatever is controlling this currently, and wired the dimmer switch in place (which I'm assuming is a variable resistor?) it should all work nicely?

Post by **4thgenphil** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:37 am

in theory, yes!

littlefeller · Post by **littlefeller** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 6:02 am

theres nothing much behind the blanks apart from the wires for the fog and half mast switch. yes it is possible, you will need a rotary switch (this would be the simplest way) i will have a look at the diagrams later and see how easy it would be. the idea of dimming them with lights on is so not to be too bright for night time driving, dont know if you have ever noticed but mine reflects off the windscreen, its not really noticable (but would it be when at full brightness?).
yes it is anoying not having a dimmer but they could even be fitted to the blanks as you say uuuummm

without looking i would hazzard a guess and say its likely that the current is reduced to the clocks when lights on by a simple resistor, will see if this can be bridged out, if so then the resistor can be replaced with a volume control type knob. (which would work as you say, as a variable resistor) .

Dbo · Post by **Dbo** » Wed Jun 06, 2012 7:28 am

there have been threads abuot this before

my JDM is the same.
it is law in Japan that the dash must dim at night

the dim control i have been told is behind the dash in the clock/fuel gauge side cluster

was told to cut the loom out of a facelift UKDM scrapper but never tried

but i do have 2 dimmer switches in my box of spares

write up and piccy's would be good though on how to change this