listy Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 (edited) Only actually realised this today, not sure how I missed it, but not sure if they have even worked since I purchased the car last year! The lights above the buttons come on, but not the lights behind the buttons themselves. So this I presume rules out a fuse. I'm thinking it must be something to do with the plug? I also have to have at least the side lights on to get the lights above the buttons to come on. If I wiggle the plugs around these ones do come on, but as soon as I put the panel back in, they go off again. Hence thinking its the plug, or plug housing. Any help would be appreciated on how to fix this problem, otherwise a wanted thread for a new heater control unit will be going up Edited December 9, 2012 by listy (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted November 9, 2012 Share Posted November 9, 2012 I'm assuming your talking about the heater unit? - and I assume all the other dash lights work? (odo etc...) I'd check the bulbs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted November 9, 2012 Author Share Posted November 9, 2012 Yeah just the heater unit. The bulbs in the actual buttons. Everything else works fine. I'll take it apart after football tomorrow and have a ganders. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted November 10, 2012 Share Posted November 10, 2012 Yeah just the heater unit. The bulbs in the actual buttons. Everything else works fine. I'll take it apart after football tomorrow and have a ganders. theres 5 bulbs in there - quite possible they've all blown... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco79 Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I have a similar problem but if I wiggle the connector everything works as it should ....... For about a week lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ScottC Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 theres 5 bulbs in there - quite possible they've all blown... And can be bought at the bargain price of £5 from Toyota Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgyRog Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Can you buy a straight swap LED for these sort of bulbs Now Heckler has stopped doing the conversion, it would be nice if there was just a brighter option Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Can you buy a straight swap LED for these sort of bulbs Now Heckler has stopped doing the conversion, it would be nice if there was just a brighter option I never said I'd stopped doing them, I'm just busy doing other stuff at the moment. Back up and running in the new year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DodgyRog Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 Sorry I got the wrong end of the stick This I'd definitely on my list to do Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted November 14, 2012 Author Share Posted November 14, 2012 I have a similar problem but if I wiggle the connector everything works as it should ....... For about a week lol That's just the plug mate. .make sure it's in properly, and that the wires to the plug are properly connected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I have a similar problem but if I wiggle the connector everything works as it should ....... For about a week lol That's a sounds like a dry solder joint on the orange plug Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted November 14, 2012 Share Posted November 14, 2012 I have a similar problem but if I wiggle the connector everything works as it should ....... For about a week lol http://internetwork.org.uk/electrical/dry/flick.htm Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marco79 Posted December 5, 2012 Share Posted December 5, 2012 http://internetwork.org.uk/electrical/dry/flick.htm Just seen this thanks mate hopefully that's the case as its very annoying! If I apply preassure to the dashboard panel they work aswell lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share Posted December 9, 2012 So, I took the heater controls apart (finally) and this is what I found: It appears that when the previous owner did a red conversion, they didn't replace the button lights The red wire you can see in the picture was tucked in and out of the buttons, so I'm guessing the button lights were just something that they never got around to. Would I be correct in saying if I cut the wire, and soldered LEDs in along the length so they sit in the buttons, it would work? Or would I also need resistors in there too? The black bunch of wire in the top right corner of the picture, is joined to another bit of red wire. I'm thinking this is where I need to join the long length of red wire to complete the circuit? Help appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 the RED wire is EL wire - thats supposed to light up the buttons. Somewhere there should be an inverter - small black box. http://www.internetwork.org.uk/led_guide/led.htm this tells you how to do it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share Posted December 9, 2012 So the red EL wire (electronic light?) actually should emit light? Sorry if I sound dumb, haven't done much electronics since school lol And the little black plug in the top right of the pic should have a home somewhere? Correct? And by plugging that in, it "should" work? Always wondered what it was for, but could never find its home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 So the red EL wire (electronic light?) actually should emit light? Sorry if I sound dumb, haven't done much electronics since school lol And the little black plug in the top right of the pic should have a home somewhere? Correct? And by plugging that in, it "should" work? Always wondered what it was for, but could never find its home almost - electro-luminecent wire there should a small black box which it plugs into for it to work. I used to use these when I started doing the conversions but found them unreliable and having a habbit of going up in smoke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share Posted December 9, 2012 Right. Currently sat in the supe hunting for this little black box behind the panels but not having much luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 Right. Currently sat in the supe hunting for this little black box behind the panels but not having much luck is the EL wire actually connected to anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share Posted December 9, 2012 Right, been here 20 minutes now, and am pretty certain the black box just isn't there looks like a trip to a component store is in order during the week is the EL wire actually connected to anything? I'm not 100% sure. One end isn't attached, the other end (I think) is attached to the little plug. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted December 9, 2012 Share Posted December 9, 2012 ok, sounds like the inverter is missing - I susspect its removed as it broke. You wont get an EL invertor from a component shop - ebay how ever... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/12V-DC-to-AC-Inverter-for-EL-Lamp-Wire-Electroluminescent-5M-Meters-Car-DIY-/230836323458?pt=UK_Home_Garden_Night_Lights_Fairy_Lights&hash=item35beeac482 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted December 9, 2012 Author Share Posted December 9, 2012 (edited) I was thinking of just replacing the EL wire with LEDs as per your how to mate. Will have a look at the invertor though. Edit:just looked at the inverter and may as well give that a try first as its so cheap. I'll just cut the plug off, and hard wire it into the back of the ciggie lighter. If that doesn't work, I'll go full led. Thanks for all the help Si Edited December 9, 2012 by listy (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 Is this the right type of inverter? http://www.elwirecraft.co.uk/el-products/car-modification/tiny-water-resistant-12v-inverter-for-up-to-5-meters-el-wire/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heckler Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Is this the right type of inverter? http://www.elwirecraft.co.uk/el-products/car-modification/tiny-water-resistant-12v-inverter-for-up-to-5-meters-el-wire/ Yep. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
listy Posted December 10, 2012 Author Share Posted December 10, 2012 (edited) Ill order that one then. Edit: Ordered Edited December 10, 2012 by listy (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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