Jump to content
The mkiv Supra Owners Club

Rear bulb fail warning light conversion


Digsy

Recommended Posts

Hi all,

 

Despite my grandiose plans to mount the tell-tale for my rear roglamps inside the instrument cluster, I have decided I had about as much fun with wiring as I can stand for one weekend. Therefore I will be going the "easier" route and using the rear bulbe fail warning lamp as my rear fogs tell-tale.

 

As I understand it, you need to snip the purple / violet wire and simply route it to earth to make the blub come on. Looking at the diagram on Pete Betts site, it looks like there is also a yellow wire that you have to snip at the bulb fail unit itself.

 

However, the diagram is a tad unclear (no offence meant, Pete)because it hops straight from the front of the car (where the warning blubs is) to the rear of the car (where the blub fail unit is). It also says you have to cut both ends of the yellow wire, but only shows it being cut at the "rear" end.

 

If someone has done this mod already, please can they advise?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...
Originally posted by Darren Blake

Despite my grandiose plans to mount the tell-tale for my rear roglamps inside the instrument cluster, I have decided I had about as much fun with wiring as I can stand for one weekend. Therefore I will be going the "easier" route and using the rear bulb fail warning lamp as my rear fogs tell-tale.

 

Got this sorted now. I've got a wire that grounds via a diode through the "lights on" switch on the stering wheel stalk. Trouble is, because the LHS warning bulb panel is only live when the ignition is on, I have no foglamp warning when the car is parked. Not a big issue but I was wondering if it would fail an MOT on it?

 

Having had the IP right apart now, I am really, really miffed at how close I am to putting a proper legend inside the fuel / temp guage. The bulb location is there, the copper tracks are there, I even have the ground wire running behind the IP that could easily be rerouted. Trouble is, instead of leaving the legend printed on the dial and just not putting a bulb behind it, they have blanked it out completely. If they had left a semi-transparent window I could have printed out an orange legend onto some acetate and slipped it behind the dial face - job done!

 

So because of the shortcomings of the rear bulb fail warning conversion, and because modding the IP is almost possible, and (mainly) because I'm 100% anal retentive, I am now back on adding the fog lamp legend to the dial face, but I'm at a loss as to how it might be done.

 

Options I've considered so far:

1) Print out a complete new dial face myself (too much hassle).

2) Punch a hole in the existing dial face, just to let the light through (bit of a bodge).

3) Cut out the blanked section of the dial face and glue in a new section with the legend (disaster if it goes wrong, and a bit of a bodge too).

 

Actually, if anyone has fitted a white dial set an has a J-spec (or even better, UK spec) dial face kicking about, I would love to have one to experiment on. I think I'll post a thread in "For Sale / Wanted"...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Darren are you still fannying around with this?

 

I'm sure the light-out warning is the best route to take. Any mod to the fuel/temp face will be a disaster - I've tried it with other cars, it always looks crap. You either see a cut or the icon can be seen during daylight.

 

If you really want to do it, use the UK gauge. Have you priced one up?

 

Did you ever sort out the trim panel for the switch? I've still got one without cut outs if you want it.

 

No, the fog warning "off" with ignition off is not a failure. They only test the fog light works along with other lights (so engine running) and that there is a warning light.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well take a look at this....

 

I was experimenting with this a few weeks back and will be doing repalcement legends one day. (I did it first as I wanted blue but then saw the opportunity to create new symbols :-) )

 

Check out my water injection symbol ;-)

 

 

Download the attached file.

 

Regards

Pete

small_dials5.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Phil,

 

Yep. Still fannying! :D

 

I've caused myself lots of bother because of the way I've wired in the stock switch. I won't go into details because its sorted now, but in the end I needed to use two diodes to stop the relay switch earthing out "backwards" through the blown blub lamp, and I also had to locate a wire which was earthed *only* when the lights are on.

 

(Plus I'm only working on it for an hour or two here and there so as not to upset the wife to much).

 

I got all the necessary for the trim panel. UK part is £40+VAT but the blanks for the washer and headlight leveller switches are discontinued. The J-spec part with the single cutout is special order from Japan (ker-ching).

 

In the end I made a front mounting bezel up myself to disguise my "handy" work when I cut the switch into the dash.

 

No idea about the price for a UK dial face, but seems overkill since I'm only going to use the face itself. If I can get hold of a second hand one I will, if not I'll leave it be.

 

Pete,

 

Interesting... What are you planning to print it out onto?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Pete, Interesting... What are you planning to print it out onto?

 

Getting a graphics company to print it onto a thick acetate film.

Probably use Graham Talkes at The-Image-works.co.uk. He's done all my number plates and livery in the past.

 

I'll let you know how I get on. I hope to get something for Billing.

 

Pete

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. You might also be interested in our Guidelines, Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.