[GingerPuss]

Hi All,

I recently had an excuse to use the SLC to drive to work and back (100 miles) as my boring little Toyota needed a new exhaust.

I leave home at 6am - so being dark, I switched on the headlights. I discovered that none of the interior lights were working at all. No instrument binnacle lights....or heater controls...or even the courtesy light. Strangely, the auto gear selector indicator strip was lit up. I checked the fuses later that day and they were all OK. It ocurred to me that I haven't actually driven the car in darkness for 2 years. Lucky no exterior bulbs had blown.

Does anyone have any tips what I should check first to get my interior lights working again? The worst bit was driving and not knowing how fast I am going as I couldn't read the speedometer.

Cheers.

 

[michncraig]

I'd start by wiggling the dimmer knob for the dash lighting and see if the lights come on or flicker, this is a rheostat and a little oxidation can make it break the circuit. A little movement might bring it back to life.

I just had this same experience on my old Volvo that had been in storage for 5 years, rotating the knob back and forth a couple dozen times made it all good.

 

[Reichsrundfunk]

Hi All,

I recently had an excuse to use the SLC to drive to work and back (100 miles) as my boring little Toyota needed a new exhaust......


Cheers.

Hey, No Toyota is ever boring! Remember all that un-intended acceleration???? You never know when one will "take off" on ya!

 

[rowdie]

+1 on the dimmer knob. Rotate back and forth 100 or more times. Common corrosion problem. Many have been brought back from the dead.

 

[ChiefRider]

Dimmer rheostat is the likely culprit, BUT...

Don't discount the fuses just because they are not blown. Over time, the surface between the fuse and the contacts in the fuse panel will become lightly corroded, just enough to cause an open circuit. If they are original, replace them all with good quality copper alloy (not aluminum) fuses.

 

[GingerPuss]

Thanks for the advice guys. I forgot there was a control for the light brightness. I will try playing with my knob and see if it generates an illuminating response.

Cheers
Mark