Center console light

Gotta love that wiring . . .
JohnGalt
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Center console light

Postby JohnGalt » Sun Feb 05, 2017 3:30 pm

None of the lights in the center console work around the temperature control levers. I had a 124 many years ago and if I remember correctly they are lit by a single bulb that feeds a fiber optic line. Is this correct and if so where is the bulb?

vandor
Posts: 3996
Joined: Sat May 23, 2009 1:23 pm
Your car is a: 1971 124 Spider
Location: Texas, USA

Re: Center console light

Postby vandor » Sun Feb 05, 2017 7:39 pm

Correct. The bulb is under the dash, above, or a bit to the right of the ignition switch.
Csaba
'71 124 Spider, much modified
'17 124 Abarth, silver
http://italiancarclub.com/csaba/
Co-owner of the best dang Fiat parts place in town

JohnGalt
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Re: Center console light

Postby JohnGalt » Wed Feb 08, 2017 8:21 pm

Thanks Vandor

JohnGalt
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Re: Center console light

Postby JohnGalt » Wed Feb 08, 2017 10:52 pm

Well, the light bulb over the ignition switch works but even with a slightly brighter bulb there is no light getting under the center console that I can see. I've already got the upper part of the console out for cigarette light replacement so I guess the next step is to pull the center console.

side note, the cigarette lighter assembly Vicks offers for the 124 is about .070" larger in diameter than my 79's lighter requiring a bit of Dremmel work to the steel hole it slips into. Replacement works well.

JohnGalt
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Re: Center console light

Postby JohnGalt » Thu Feb 16, 2017 8:13 pm

Went under the console to discover that all of the fiber optic ends had become dislodged or never put back from the previous owner. Things are well lit now and for some reason I can't explain the dash lights are now also brighter. I did tinker with the grounds and slightly cleaned up the modified wiring I found in there so maybe I inadvertently fixed a tiny short on the dash lighting.

While I was at it I went ahead and mounted two small red leds in both the driver's and passenger foot areas for a bit of light down in the foot wells.

Car drove beautifully tonight.

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RRoller123
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Joined: Sun Nov 13, 2011 2:04 pm
Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Center console light

Postby RRoller123 » Fri Feb 17, 2017 5:10 am

Check that ground pod under the dash on the driver's side? (above throttle pedal). Cleaning and tightening the Fastons there can make a big difference, as it is one of the three major ground pods on the car, and is often overlooked.
'80 FI Spider 2000
'74 and '79 X1/9 (past)
'75 BMW R75/6
2011 Chevy Malibu (daily driver)
2010 Chevy Silverado 2500HD Ext Cab 4WD/STD BED
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JohnGalt
Posts: 15
Joined: Sat Nov 26, 2016 7:06 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Spider 124

Re: Center console light

Postby JohnGalt » Sat Feb 18, 2017 4:35 pm

The cigarette lighter shares the ground with the light and now works. I wonder if the new lighter unit just came with a bad bulb


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