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Topic: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas? (Read 3033 times) |
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mondeoman
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2.9 24V Cosworth Ultima + 2.3 16V Facelift Ultima
Posts: 376
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Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« on: Aug 30th, 2009, 10:46am » |
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Hi,
I've just bought an M reg Scorpio Ultima and for some strange reason the overdrive and cruise control lights are very dim. I thought at first the bulbs must have blown and was going to replace them, but in fact they are working just very faintly. Does anybody have any ideas what could be causing the problem and how best to solve it?
The traction control light, indicators, airbag, ABS lights are all working fine are are bright.
Many Thanks,
Simon
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tlundkvi
Full Member
Ex. Scorpio 2.9 24V -95
Posts: 909
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #1 on: Aug 30th, 2009, 12:27pm » |
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Do you mean those around on the meter assembly? If that's so, they might have blown and been replaced with the wrong wattage. (I assume they are hose twist on bulbs). New ones should be pennies from Ford, but to replace them you will need to remove fascia with stereo etc.
http://www.fordscorpio.co.uk/fasciabulbs.htm
If they are leds (not 100% sure), leds die over time and fade out, much more tricky to replace as you have to investigate a bit to get the correct led.
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mondeoman
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2.9 24V Cosworth Ultima + 2.3 16V Facelift Ultima
Posts: 376
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #2 on: Aug 30th, 2009, 5:08pm » |
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No the warning lights are located bottom left of the instrument panel.
I did wonder if someone changed the bulbs for the wrong wattage, but I have a full service record for the car (not just dealer stamps) and no mention of bulb changes etc in the service information.
I just want to be sure I'm not wasting my time stripping the fascia to find out all is well and it's something else.
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Tekno
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Tenho Ruohoranta
Posts: 599
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #3 on: Aug 30th, 2009, 6:34pm » |
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Small bulbs: T5 W2X4.6 1,2W 12V
Bigger bulbs: T10 W3W 3W 12V
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1998 Ford Scorpio Ultima Estate 2.3i 16V
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Geoff_W
Senior Member
98 Ulti2.5tdi Auto
Posts: 1340
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #4 on: Aug 30th, 2009, 10:19pm » |
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Any other strange electrical symptoms?
If not, may just be worth changing when you can. It is quite a job but the second or third times get much easier. If you are going ahead then change all the bulbs. Nothing worse than changing a bulb because it has failed to find the others failing shortly after.
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The winding road goes on and on... or at least it does in Northumberland
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mondeoman
Full Member
2.9 24V Cosworth Ultima + 2.3 16V Facelift Ultima
Posts: 376
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #5 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 10:13am » |
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That was my thoughts exactly. For the cost of a few pounds for all the bulbs I agree I'll change them all.
I'm not convinced though that it is simply a few wrong wattage bulbs that's the cause of the problem. I have just noticed that the O/D light which appears to be very dim whilst driving can be brighter at times, if the car is stationary when I press the button. 
Does anybody have any ideas how long I should allow for the job, considering this will be my first time at doing this?
Any advice on the best way to remove the climate control unit without damaging any of the plastic etc? A screwdriver my damage the components?
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Tekno
Full Member
Tenho Ruohoranta
Posts: 599
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #6 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 10:14am » |
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I used two thin screwdrivers to pop it out
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1998 Ford Scorpio Ultima Estate 2.3i 16V
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lesterlad aka Rodders
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2.3 Ghia x Estate (Manual)
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #7 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 10:34am » |
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Mondeoman:
Just a thought here, on my old 1991 Granada the orange cruise control light dimmed automatically when the lights were switched on.
Not having cruise on my Scorpio I can't really check this out.
So in essence, using cc in daylight = bright light, using it during dark & lights on = dim light, therefore reducing glare from the dash, maybe this would apply also to the overdrive light.
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There's are methods to my madness!!! I'm not sure what the methods are but there's definitely madness in them
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Geoff_W
Senior Member
98 Ulti2.5tdi Auto
Posts: 1340
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #8 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 10:44am » |
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I used two old and expired credit cards 
Another thought to check, a number of dash warning lights dim when you switch on your lamps/headlamps, Cruise is one that comes to mind, do you see that change? (Great minds Lesterlad)
If not have a look at the Multi plug that the headlamp switch plugs into, if you see evidence of heat on one of the corners (two or three terminals) then you may be seeing the early stages of a problem that will drop your Sidelights, instrument lights, clock and radio lights.
Quite easily sorted if caught early enough. Its a big socket with a number of functions and some times if a little loose causes arcing (hence the melting). Simply pushing to make a better connection can do the trick or if you are a little late you can solder the two or three connectors.
Incidentally if my memory serves me well you will be unplugging it anyway in the early stages of taking out the instrument console.
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The winding road goes on and on... or at least it does in Northumberland
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mondeoman
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2.9 24V Cosworth Ultima + 2.3 16V Facelift Ultima
Posts: 376
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #9 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 10:58am » |
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I always drive with my head lights so hopefully people stand a better chance of seeing me. It's from my days of riding a motorcycle. The good news is that's I've just tried the cruise and overdrive without my lights on and both indicator lights are bright!
You have saved me a lot of effort stripping down the dash for no reason, thanks!
Just wonder why it doesn't mention this in the manual?
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Geoff_W
Senior Member
98 Ulti2.5tdi Auto
Posts: 1340
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #10 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 11:36am » |
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Undocumented feature  On my mk1 Scorpio there is an instrument dimmer, but apparently a rheostat would effect other aspects of the smart electrics on our Scorpios. 
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The winding road goes on and on... or at least it does in Northumberland
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gozz
Senior Member
Been around awhile
Posts: 3475
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #11 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 10:38pm » |
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Mondeoman.
I think the information lamps are all LEDs.
GOZZ.
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Tekno
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Tenho Ruohoranta
Posts: 599
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #12 on: Aug 31st, 2009, 11:33pm » |
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There seems to be T5 bulbs for O/D, Cruise, Traction Control. One for each.
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1998 Ford Scorpio Ultima Estate 2.3i 16V
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mondeoman
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2.9 24V Cosworth Ultima + 2.3 16V Facelift Ultima
Posts: 376
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #13 on: Sep 3rd, 2009, 5:55am » |
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I wonder why we are not able to service the other warning lights like the ABS etc which appear to be covered on the back where they are located?
Does that mean when they go I'm broken and need a new dash??
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tlundkvi
Full Member
Ex. Scorpio 2.9 24V -95
Posts: 909
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #14 on: Sep 3rd, 2009, 9:24am » |
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on Sep 3rd, 2009, 5:55am, mondeoman wrote:I wonder why we are not able to service the other warning lights like the ABS etc which appear to be covered on the back where they are located?
Does that mean when they go I'm broken and need a new dash??
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No, you should open the assembly and re-solder new leds to it, if they burn out.
The problem is you can't know exactly what type of led it is until you open it up and test. There's many different ones in use without even touching the meter, e.g:
Yellow 12V 5mm (not 100% on the size) (heated windows buttons)
Green 12V 3mm (e.g. mode switch)
Green 3-3.5V 3mm (e.g. seat memory)
Green 5V 3mm (wide button in seat memory)
Green 5V 3mm (window buttons)
SMD PLCC2 surface mount Green 3V & Yellow 2V 20mA (AC panel push buttons)
They can all be replaced and all types (except for the 5V green, but you can replace the resistor to the right one easily) are available from electronics shops. First figure out the type (form factor), then the color. Test with a low voltage 2V for yellow, 3 for green. If very dim, increase voltage in small increments. If they fade out or change colour, they were given too much voltage.
Ideally, you measure the voltage while the leds are connected from their pins.
Replacing the leds is quite easy to do with newbie electronics skills. It may not be worth it if you get a new meter for a tenner or so.
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Tekno
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Tenho Ruohoranta
Posts: 599
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #15 on: Sep 4th, 2009, 12:56pm » |
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on Sep 3rd, 2009, 5:55am, mondeoman wrote:I wonder why we are not able to service the other warning lights like the ABS etc which appear to be covered on the back where they are located?
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Simple. That is to prevent cheating at MOT tests... (You cant unplug the bulb if ABS or Airbag is faulty)
ABS or Airbag warning light blinks/continuously on = FAIL at MOT
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1998 Ford Scorpio Ultima Estate 2.3i 16V
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lesterlad aka Rodders
Full Member
2.3 Ghia x Estate (Manual)
Posts: 877
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #16 on: Sep 4th, 2009, 5:20pm » |
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on Sep 4th, 2009, 12:56pm, Tekno wrote:
Simple. That is to prevent cheating at MOT tests... (You cant unplug the bulb if ABS or Airbag is faulty)
ABS or Airbag warning light blinks/continuously on = FAIL at MOT |
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Airbag not working is not a fail in the uk MOT
Well it wasn't last year.
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There's are methods to my madness!!! I'm not sure what the methods are but there's definitely madness in them
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Tekno
Full Member
Tenho Ruohoranta
Posts: 599
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #17 on: Sep 4th, 2009, 5:24pm » |
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in Finland it is. 
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1998 Ford Scorpio Ultima Estate 2.3i 16V
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Tekno
Full Member
Tenho Ruohoranta
Posts: 599
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #18 on: Sep 6th, 2009, 8:54pm » |
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I changed my dash bulbs. There wasn't any blown bulbs but still, WHAT A DIFFERENCE, huh! I recommend changing dimmed bulbs to new ones.
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1998 Ford Scorpio Ultima Estate 2.3i 16V
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magnetono59
Junior Member
I'm a YaBB newbie!
Posts: 73
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Re: Dim lights on dash board, any ideas?
« Reply #19 on: Sep 8th, 2009, 12:54pm » |
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Any suggestions as to where the bulbs for the instrument cluster be purchased.
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