Author |
Topic: Dimming the instrument panel lighting (Read 644 times) |
|
rafford
Newbie
I love YaBB 1G - SP1!
Posts: 1
|
 |
Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« on: Nov 8th, 2004, 1:04am » |
 Quote  Modify
|
Ford Ultima 24V Auto.
In eight years I have never found a rheostat control if there is one fitted, to dim the instrument panel lighting at night. Can Ford be serious producing their top of the range vehicle in 1996 without such a feature, or have I just not been able to find it? The local Ford dealers said they thought it hadn't been a feature of the model!
Has anyone come up with an easy retrofit?
Rafford
|
|
 IP Logged |
|
|
|
Paul B
Senior Member
'98 24V Ultima saloon
Posts: 2442
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #1 on: Nov 8th, 2004, 6:31am » |
Quote Modify
|
I think you'll find that Ford were serious, because there isn't one.
I guess it is possible to retro-fit, but I haven't heard of anyone who's done it... yet.
|
|
IP Logged |
Two hundred & seven horses and only one jockey!
|
|
|
Dave
Senior Member
Tourmallard 24v (ex-owner)
Posts: 1984
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #2 on: Nov 8th, 2004, 11:56am » |
Quote Modify
|
I thought it was only dodgy old Volkswagens that did that.
I'm sure it's possible to put a dimmer knob of sorts in. You can pioneer it, Rafford!
D
|
|
IP Logged |
Life after the Scorpio ain't easy..
|
|
|
Dai_H
Junior Member
200sx for speed, Ultima for comfort !!
Posts: 65
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #3 on: Nov 8th, 2004, 9:50pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I had one on my Nissan 200sx, used it a total of zero times (except when playing ) in the 3 years of ownership 
Not high on my list of things a car must have.
IMO
Dai
|
|
IP Logged |
Freezing in the Ultima, blasting in the 2hundy!!!
|
|
|
Paul B
Senior Member
'98 24V Ultima saloon
Posts: 2442
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #4 on: Nov 8th, 2004, 10:02pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Hmm... I have it on my old Cortina, had it on the Mk3 Granada Scorpio and I have it on... my "dodgy old Volkswagen" 
I must admit, on all these motors, its always been turned around to the brightest setting, so I don't see an awful lot of point.
|
|
IP Logged |
Two hundred & seven horses and only one jockey!
|
|
|
Dave Boulton
Guest
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #5 on: Nov 8th, 2004, 10:48pm » |
Quote Modify
 Remove
|
Well I used to find it useful to be able to turn the dash lights all the way down on unlit roads when I lived "oop north" (Scotland). It would also be useful in parts of deepest, darkest Hampshire.
Still, if there's any oncoming traffic or a streetlight anywhere it is fairly useless!
Dave
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Eddie
Full Member
Must try a different shampoo!
Posts: 495
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #6 on: Nov 10th, 2004, 5:10am » |
Quote Modify
|
It would need a study of the instrument panel circuit to see if the bulbs are on an independant supply to other inst functions.
If they are independant then the circuit could be interupted (cut!) and a rheostat inserted,coming out to a 'knob' on the dash panel. 
eddie
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Baz
Moderator
Senior Member
S Reg. 1998 24v Cosworth S2.9 COS (Deceased)
Posts: 4009
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #7 on: Nov 10th, 2004, 10:17am » |
Quote Modify
|
I think you will find that the dash lighting circuits for the Scorpio are not just on one circuit. That is as far as I remeber this conversation on the mailing list and the reply from Jamie. It is a big big job apparently!!
Baz
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Dave
Senior Member
Tourmallard 24v (ex-owner)
Posts: 1984
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #8 on: Nov 10th, 2004, 6:31pm » |
Quote Modify
|
You could install one dimmer knob for each and every bulb, and mount them all in the roof. It'd look like a plane thingypit, wooosh!
P.S. That's hilarious. c.o.c.k.pit converted to thingypit. What other words have 'thingy' in? thingyerel, thingyle....
|
|
IP Logged |
Life after the Scorpio ain't easy..
|
|
|
Danny_R
Full Member
97 Ford Crown Vic 4.6L V8 ,88 Mercury GM 5.0L V8
Posts: 381
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #9 on: Nov 10th, 2004, 9:24pm » |
Quote Modify
|
Baz, your right mate. Our electrical genius James Austin who has designed a good handful of the Scorpio mods did look into a cluster dimming feature. After a while of studying he concluded that the Scorpio's forest of multiplex wiring makes dimming the cluster extremely difficult as it is illuminated by 3 separate circuits.
HTH
Danny R
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Baz
Moderator
Senior Member
S Reg. 1998 24v Cosworth S2.9 COS (Deceased)
Posts: 4009
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #10 on: Nov 10th, 2004, 10:14pm » |
Quote Modify
|
I do like Daves Idea though............... 
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
darton
Guest
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #11 on: Nov 10th, 2004, 10:26pm » |
Quote Modify
Remove
|
My old Granada had one! shame they droped it with the scorps!in fact it was a reostat dimmer(adjustable) 
|
|
IP Logged |
|
|
|
Geoff_W
Senior Member
98 Ulti2.5tdi Auto
Posts: 1340
|
|
Re: Dimming the instrument panel lighting
« Reply #12 on: Nov 11th, 2004, 12:04am » |
Quote Modify
|
Round town, I sometimes wish that my lights were brighter and I miss the opportunity to adjust that I had in my Mk3.
Having said that if Jamie reckons its not a goer I guess we will have to live with that.
|
|
IP Logged |
The winding road goes on and on... or at least it does in Northumberland
|
|
|
|
Home
Help
Search
Members
Login
Reply
Send Topic
Print