I have a 1982 XJ6. All of my instrument lights are out. All the warning lights work, headlights, flashers, etc but no instrument lights. Since everyone is out I am thinking it can't be that every single bulb is out so it must be a single source failure.

Any ideas?

thanks

BOB

 

Check the fuse and clean the fuse end caps....and clean the clips the the fuse snaps into.

Next, bypass the dimmer rheostat and see if they come back to life. Just unplug the wires from the back and jumper them all together

Post back if no joy

Cheers
DD

 

OK, here is a real dumb question. I have search all over looking for a dimmer rheostat thinking this was the issue but cant find one. Where is it on the 82?

Thanks

BOB

 

And I have a fuse diagram but cant determine which fuse is for the instrument lights.

Electrical issues don't frustrate me if I know where to start

BOB

 

OK, I found the rheostat (below the ignition switch area of the dash). I now have instrument lights but they aren't as bright as I think they should be so my guess is that the stat is dirty. I will pull it out and clean it tomorrow and see what I find.

Thanks

BOB

 

Ok, but don't get your hopes up too high. They're not very bright to begin with.

Cheers
DD

 

I've got a similar issue on my 87 XJ6. I have lights, but they are not as bright as my wife thinks they should be. Is there an upgrade option? Maybe an LED conversion?

 

Yeah, there's someone out there selling a package of LED bulbs for the Ser III instruments. Google it or check Ebay. It might be "The Driven Man" but I'm not sure.

My experience is that bypassing the rheostat puts the brightness right were you'd want it...but that's just my opinion. Of course, with the rheo bypassed you can't dim the lights when/if you ever wanted to...but that's not likely to be a major concern.

Cheers
DD

 

As I remember my 1980 car, there was a single bulb to illuminate the instruments located underneath the central console, with the light transmitted by optical fibres to the instruments, and also a few other places. This bulb darkens over the years and the instruments can then get rather dim at night. The bulb is a very peculiar fitting and I never managed to find one to replace mine. I just got used to the dim lighting !

 

Tha single-bulb fiber optic is for the small controls: climate control knobs, headlight switch, ignition switch, etc. The instruments themselves have individual bulbs...which generate about as much light as two fireflies rubbing their legs together :-)

Cheers
DD

 

Yes, Doug's right, it's such a long time ago my memory fades out. The round instruments for speedo and rev counter are easy to remove, (as I remember !!), you just press and twist anti-clockwise at the edge. Easier with a rubber glove to get grip. Bulbs should then be a cinch to replace.