No dashlight at all

[graphic66]

You will have to take the glove box out and on the side of the heater blower motor is an indentation with a little metal tab holding the light bulb in. The metal tab just pushes to the side and the bulb is in a spring that pushes the bulb against the tab. The light travels out a small plastic bar [early fiber optics] To light a little dot on the knob when the fan is on. Your bulb is probably bad if your fan works.

[Ben]

quote:Hmmm. Having never noticed a fan switch light in my 230SL, I just looked. I have the flattened area on the knob and a little empty hole in the center. Is this where a bulb would go? I don't see any metal where a bulb would attach -- just black.

.........I'm with you on this one James, what you describe is exactly as I see it. I had always assumed that folk were refering to the later cars when talking about these lights.

To be honest I am due some dash work, heater levers, bulbs etc so I'll leave it for now !!

Regards,
Ben in Ireland.
'64 230SL 4sp.
'03 CLK Kompressor

[hands_aus]

Yes the fan switch knob has the flat spot on it too, set at between 9 and 12  /  when off
The little clear plastic centre is visible through the small hole but is not flush with the outside of the knob it is recessed a little.
With the knob off, the clear plastic protrudes about 6-8mm from the brass of the switch body.

Graphics' description of the bulb location is accurate for my car too.

One point about the knob.... There is a small wire type C clip around it that holds the knob onto the chrome collar that screws onto the switch body that protrudes through the dash .

My fan switch always squeaks, this might need to be lightly greased.

I don't intend taking it out to photograph it at this stage.


Bob (Brisbane,Australia)
RHD,1967 early 250 SL, auto

[A Dalton]

Bisbane B
 Tnx
 Mine is the same . I think the lamp observation hole fills with dirt cuz the optics plastic does not come flush.. I was thinking of a small red lens  from a tiny pilot lamp.. just enough to cover the hole..

 The rotational squeaks are the same on mine , but I think it is the rotor crossing the wire=wound resistor of the reo..
Any which, Thanks for the confirmation info..specially on the knob flat.. I actually thought mine was damage
PS  .. Anyone have the lamp Base #

[graphic66]

Sometimes the squeek can be helped by appling silicone dielectric compound to the spring contactor. I always put some on these anyways to help the coductivity. The bulb I have says JAHN K15832 2w

[Naj ✝︎]

Dash bulbs:
--------Type---UK---------USA----------France----Spain
2watt---BA9S---HB288-----78220--------814112----82404---speedo/tacho
2watt---BA7s---HB281-----78180--------814012----82410---280 air levers
4watt---BA9s---HB233-----H3050041-----814312----82401---upgrade?
naj


65 230SL
68 280SL

[Chad]

I am fitting bulbs into my dash.  Currently I put a bulb (2W) in both the fan blower switch and also the clock.  I want to put a bulb into the heater control levers also, but this bulb appears to be somewhat smaller than the one that has worked for the clock and the fan blower switch.  Does anyone know the correct part number for 230SL lever bulbs for telling the dealer or another supplier?  Is it really 78180 as the previous post? Apparently they supplied me the larger bulbs that do not fit in for the lever controls, cause I just can't make them fit.

By the way, I'm finding that working in the dash of these cars is brutal, as many of you already know.

1967 230SL