Lost Insturment Lights with glass cleaning

[gzmavian]

Another issue.  I am in the process of working on insturments.  I successfully loosening the Tach from beneath dash and pulled it out a bit toward steering wheel.  I now have great access to center cluster insturments to clean foggy glass.
HOWEVER during the Tach removal I noticed a small spark and now I do not have any insturment lights that are working.  The headlights. interior driver foot well light, AC blower, and radio work.  I checked the fuses and all look fine.  Any thoughts on the problem?  Greg

[J. Huber]

Greg, is the tachometer all the way back in place? Be sure the ground is on the back post and that the bulbs are fully seated in the unit. May be too obvious but thought I'd mention it. Good luck

[jeffc280sl]

Fuse #7 is in this circuit.  Do your side lights work?

[gzmavian]

I have not replaced the tach back into the dash.  Ground and other wires are connected as best as I can tell.  I will check the side lights.  I did obtain new bulbs and plan to replace.  I will check all the recommendations.  Its just seems  very odd that all the insturments lights are now out.  Stuff happens.  I'll go over all the recommendations.  Thanks guys.  Greg

[georgem]

I`m with Jeff. Pull #7 fuse and you will find it blown. That small spark you mentioned would have made the fuse do its job.

Cheers

George
230SL
Brisbane

[gzmavian]

Thanks. I'll check the fuse again.  Greg

[Joe]

There's really no reason to not simply remove the tach. It is easy to replace the cable and locking nuts. It is far easier to access the center guages with the tach out.
You will probably find the thin gaskets that fit between the guages and the dash are in need of replacement, anyway.
I like to disconnect the battery cable before prowling around inside the dash.
Joe

[gzmavian]

I look a  look at the fuses this morning and all looked intact.  However I took fuse #7 out just now and after a very close inspection I noted a very small defect in the fuse and it has blown!   Thanks George and Jeff.  Now to get some fuses.   Thanks  Greg

P. S.  I absolutely agree that removing the tach get the best access to the Center Instrurment cluster.  This all started with my intention to clean the foggy glass on he center cluster and spedo.  I with it would be possible to remove the bezel and glass without removein the entire center cluster.

[jeffc280sl]

Greg,

Glad to hear it was something simple.  Be patient putting the gauges back in.  It harder than taking them out.

[ja17]

Hello,

You will need to at least move the center cluster out of the dash to remove the bezel and glass.  If you have not already consider removing  the steering wheel it is easy to do and make the job so much easier. It will also help prevent scratching the dash while trying to work in close quarters with the gauges.  While you have the center cluster apart spray down the dash light rheostat with some contact cleaner and lube or you may  be in the dark again!  I hear these rheostats are NLA.   

Anyway if you need some advice on the steering wheel removal let us know. No puller is needed.

[graphic66]

I put dielectric compound on the rheostat contacts, don't use regular grease.

[gzmavian]

Joe I just returned into town and read your recommendations.  Two days ago I loosened the center cluster and partially pulled it forward. After carefully examining  the  bezel and how it was attached, I thought about removing glass without removing the entire cluster from the dash.  I took a small screw driver and heated it with a torch and bent it in a near 90 degree angle about l/2 inch from the end. I then gently pried up the back of the bezel - top, then each side working from top down. I was successful in removing the glass, cleaning it, and replacing it then crimping the back of the bezel snugly.  It looks great and took me 30 min.  Beginners luck! 
My question to you, the expert in town, is how to change the light bulb in the center cluster.  Can it be done without entiriely removing the cluster?  Where is this bulb located?  I thank you and all others for your great support.  Greg

[jeffc280sl]

http://www.sl113.org/wiki/pmwiki.php?n=Electrical.Temperature

Have a look here for the details.  Good job on the center cluster glass.  Taking it out is tough because of the oil line and temp probe.

[gzmavian]

Jeff, I read this review several times.  My heart rate increases and I crack a sweat just thinking about the difficulties one faces trying to remove the center cluster and damaging the capillary tube etc.  I cannot seem to find information anywhere specifically describing where the light bulb is located and how to change the bulb.  Any additional thoughts?  I would hate to complete my project without changing the bulb but I am not certain I want to damage the center cluster and create a new issue.  Thanks, Greg

[jeffc280sl]

Its been a while since I changed the bulb(s) in the center cluster.  From the photo in the tech manual it must be located under the back cover.   Not sure if you can remove the cover without taking the center cluster out.  Maybe someone else can input here.

[gzmavian]

Thanks, I'll wait for additional thoughts from others.  Greg

[J. Huber]

Sorry can't help -- I changed my bulbs (there are multiple) after I removed the cluster from the rear (which by the way, is not that difficult once the tach is out -- but you must be careful especially of the capillary tube.) It is also a good idea to sure the bulbs are seated fully before reassembly. I had a loose one and had to remove the cluster again to discover this.

[ja17]

Yes,

There are quite a few bulbs in the center cluster.  Many are behind the rear plastic cover.  You should  be able to gently move the cluster out of the dash enough to work on the back.  There should be quite a bit extra capillary line to work with.  If I find that I need to take the cluster to the work bench, I unfasten the temp gauge and leave it at the dash, still hooked to the capillary tube!

Here again, if the steering wheel is off, the job is so much easier.

[gzmavian]

thanks guys.  I appreciate all the advice.  I'll see how far I get.  Greg