Lee Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Was driving home last night and noticed a faint burning smell. The smell disappeared after 5 mins or so. Was a bit worried at the time but thought nothing of it until i went out to the car this morning! Opening the door i noticed a small black object in the footwell. I believe the object is the dash light dimer dial, that is next to the ignition. The very worring thing is that it hasn't just fallen off. Its melted off! I'm going to attempt to take the dash off tonight to get a look...hopefully its just an isolated problem and not a tangled mess of melted wires. Has this happened to anyone else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 uh oh. let us know what you discover! pictures would be lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 11, 2004 Author Share Posted June 11, 2004 Not sure what's happening! Started the car with the lights off and held onto the metal part which connects onto the dimmer switch dial. There is no heat until I switch on the lights. After about a minute of holding on it gets unbearably hot. Have taken off the dashboard and removed the (melted) cream box that controls the dash light brightness. I’m now a little scared to go out for a drive because I’m paralysed and getting out the car quickly is not easy. Any advice from any electrical experts would be appreciated. Oh and does anyone have this item for sale? Thanks! Sorry i can't upload any pics...seems to be disabled:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Originally posted by Lee Not sure what's happening! Started the car with the lights off and held onto the metal part which connects onto the dimmer switch dial. There is no heat until I switch on the lights. After about a minute of holding on it gets unbearably hot. Have taken off the dashboard and removed the (melted) cream box that controls the dash light brightness. I’m now a little scared to go out for a drive because I’m paralysed and getting out the car quickly is not easy. Any advice from any electrical experts would be appreciated. Oh and does anyone have this item for sale? Thanks! wow cool! Are you the guy that appeared on TopGear? I was thinking about it last week and I was going to post a "does anybody know of that guy who was on TopGear... is he a member?" is it you? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Originally posted by carl0s wow cool! Are you the guy that appeared on TopGear? I was thinking about it last week and I was going to post a "does anybody know of that guy who was on TopGear... is he a member?" is it you? No, 'Roboldham' was the star of Top Gear if I remember correctly. Paul Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 11, 2004 Author Share Posted June 11, 2004 Not not me. But yes he is a member on here. His name is roboldham i believe...type in "filming at top gear today" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra ST Myster Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 I have a new dimmer switch you can buy off me, but there is obviously something very wrong with the wiring on your dash circuit, sounds like there is a short on it but the fact that it doesnt fuse out is very worrying!! I would take off the panels and see if there is any other damage to any other wires and try and trace the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gordon F Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 As the dimmer switch gets old, the contacts wear out causing 'arcing' inside the switch. This can cause a heat build up, but not the short required to blow the fuse. Fit a brand new dimmer switch, and have the whole circuit checked out by a competant auto electrician. Hope you get it sorted soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LeeT Posted June 11, 2004 Share Posted June 11, 2004 Originally posted by supra TT myster I have a new dimmer switch you can buy off me, but there is obviously something very wrong with the wiring on your dash circuit, sounds like there is a short on it but the fact that it doesnt fuse out is very worrying!! I would take off the panels and see if there is any other damage to any other wires and try and trace the problem. as supra myster says if it is melting its getting hot which is not good. personally i wouldn't drive it again untill you trace the problem. otherwise you may be looking at an explosion in the footwell?are you sure? no such thing as dimmer in footwell its to the right of steering wheel IIRC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangerous brain Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 I think he means it fell in there fella? Its more than likely gonna be the box itself causing the problem. It will be some form of potentiometer in there. An insulation check on the wiring wouldn't go amiss when you get the new dimmer box fitted. Age moving parts and electricity have a tendency to cause trouble at some point. If the box is drawing enough current (which it will do to heat plastic to melting point) it will burn the fuse out as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 12, 2004 Author Share Posted June 12, 2004 Thanks for the replys guys!! Don't know where i would be without this place! Definately worth becoming a full member! Went out for a drive last night, no burning smells or smoke! lol Have looked at the wires behing the dash, they all seem to be ok as far as i can see. But for safety sake i'll get an auto electricain to double check once i've fitted an new dimmer switch. (hopefully form Supra TT Myster) Oh, does anyone know by chance if the odometer lights are connected to the dimmer switch? Just that when the headlights are off, the odometer back light is on but when i switch the headlights on the odometer back light goes off! This has been like this since i bought it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supra ST Myster Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 Do you mean the odo goes completely off when you switch your lights on?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lee Posted June 12, 2004 Author Share Posted June 12, 2004 The light goes completely off. i.e not able to read the mileage. The odo still works but have to switch the lights off to view it. If you see what i mean:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jake Posted June 12, 2004 Share Posted June 12, 2004 Lee, I would disconnect the dimmer switch ASAFP. You can still drive the car fine without it, you just don't get the dash and odometer illuminated when the lights are on - hardly a big problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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