Dash Panel Lights

[Valvechatter]

Hello,
Having just become a new owner and Group member ( I am looking but have not acquired a workshop manual yet) I thought I would seek some advice, before I dive in and try to fix this problem. Headlights, tailights, turn signals, emergency flasher are all functional but I have no panel lights. No lights In gauges, heater controls, or glove box. Any suggestions on where to begin? I do not see a dimmer anyplace so I assume the dash panel lights are on or off?

Thank you.

Lin

[rjmarco]

I believe there is a dimmer knob on the dash just at the bottom center instrument.  Hope this helps.  I found it working on my 1965 230 SL. 

[Valvechatter]

Sorry, I have just discovered the section In the technical manual on the rheostat rebuild and fix. This most likely my problem. I will investigate further.
Lin

[Ulf]

Either that or a fuse, the rheostat bypass is a surprisingly easy fix :-)

[mmizesko]

just finished restoring my dash lights a few months ago.  If you have to have the dash apart, you can use the opportunity to replace all the bulbs and the gaskets around the instruments.  BTW, the 2w bulbs are so dim on my dash, I wish I had put in the 4w replacements.  The dash lights are fairly dim anyway, so jumping the rheostat is the right answer.  there is a way on the site to short the circuit on the bakalite power block below the dash, but we soldered the connection on the rheostat itself on the instrument cluster.  Good Luck.

Mike Mizesko

[49er]

OP stated that the glove box light wasn't working as well. Don't believe the rheostat controls this bulb so either the switch is stuck closed or a fuse out.

John