Dash Lights - do we have them?

Maintenance advice to keep your Spider in shape.
searya
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Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2018 1:00 pm
Your car is a: 1984 Azzurra

Dash Lights - do we have them?

Postby searya » Thu Feb 22, 2018 10:54 pm

This is a really dumb question, but I just bought a 1984 Azzurra took it out at night and noticed I couldn't see the speedometer, tach etc as there was no lights (headlights were on).

Should there be lights? If so do they come on automatically with the headlights or is there a trick I am clueless about.

Thanks,

Sean
St. Louis

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aj81spider
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Your car is a: 1974 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Chelmsford, MA

Re: Dash Lights - do we have them?

Postby aj81spider » Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:50 am

Yes there are dash lights, and yes they should come on with your headlights.
A.J.

1974 Fiat 124 Spider
2006 Corvette
1981 Spider 2000 (sold 2013 - never should have sold that car)

nibbes123
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Your car is a: 1979 Fiat 2000
Location: Mississauga Ontario Canada

Re: Dash Lights - do we have them?

Postby nibbes123 » Fri Feb 23, 2018 6:01 pm

Check your dimmer switch . Mite be turned down or not working at all.

searya
Posts: 46
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2018 1:00 pm
Your car is a: 1984 Azzurra

Re: Dash Lights - do we have them?

Postby searya » Fri Feb 23, 2018 9:36 pm

Thanks! Turned out to be the dimmer switch. As embarrassing as it is it was turned all the way down. :oops:

Now onto figuring out the digital clock that worked yesterday. Probably an on off switch for that too :)

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Odoyle
Posts: 440
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2014 10:06 pm
Your car is a: 1983 Pinafarina Spider
Location: CA

Re: Dash Lights - do we have them?

Postby Odoyle » Fri Feb 23, 2018 11:32 pm

I'm interested to see what you find wrt to digit clock, as mine doesn't work as well, and have yet to explore the root cause.

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RRoller123
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Your car is a: 1980 FI SPIDER 2000
Location: SAGAMORE BEACH, MA USA

Re: Dash Lights - do we have them?

Postby RRoller123 » Sat Feb 24, 2018 7:21 am

Many of us connect the two wires across the dimmer switch and thereby bypass it, which brightens the dash lights somewhat. Leaves the switch in place, and it is easily reversible. Dim dash lights are a very common complaint with these cars.
'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
2002 Edgewater 175CC 80HP 4-Stroke Yamaha
2003 Jaguar XK8
2003 Jaguar XKR
2021 Jayco 22RB
2019 Bianchi Torino Bicycle

searya
Posts: 46
Joined: Sat Feb 17, 2018 1:00 pm
Your car is a: 1984 Azzurra

Re: Dash Lights - do we have them?

Postby searya » Mon Feb 26, 2018 8:28 am

Thanks for all the replies.

On the related clock topic I was thrilled to find out that the first thing I tried fixed it....checked the fuses and found that the first fuse on the left was blown. New fuse and I was back in business, including clock and windshield wipers.

On a side note to this side note, I also noticed that the second fuse from the left wasn't secured real well. I bent the fuse springs so it held tight and that fixed my intermittent problem with the gauges (oil pressure, speed, tach) not working!

That likely burns up all my good luck on fixing things!


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