Where's My Instrument Lights?

[D7N7MASTER]

Hi All,
We've had our '73 914, 2.0 since '99. Defenately a keeper. Fun car, minimum rust. Anyway, the instrument lights never did work from day one. Low priority in the list of what it would take to be able to drive it around the block - or to work after repairs & see if it leaks...
Well, the instrument lights still don't work. & NO it's not a fuse - or a tumor! I'm no electrician. What should I do???

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Check fuse #9 again. Twist the knob on the headlight switch to see if the dimmer is cranked down all the way.

--DD

[D7N7MASTER]

I appreciate that Dave...Did I mention "since'99?" You know me; my credit card ends in xxxx. Oh my god, my c/c is burnin'!!! Seriously, I'm thinkin' about buying one of them there PP headlight switches. Or maybe a NOS fuse box. Or both. I don't know. Maybe I just bite the bullet & take it to an auto electric repair kinda place.

[914GT]

If the fuse is good, then a likely culprit is the rheostat that's burned out in the headlight switch. If you're lucky than a wire just came loose somewhere. If you pull out the switch so you can get a voltmeter on it you can find out if there's 12V getting to it, and if the rheostat is dropping the voltage fed to the lights. If you don't have a clue about basic electricity than maybe the repair shop is your best bet to getting it fixed. I suppose all the bulbs could be burned out but that seems unlikely.

[D7N7MASTER]

Thanks. Can't I just install a new headlight switch?

[skline]

Originally posted by D7N7MASTER
Thanks. Can't I just install a new headlight switch?

If you want to, you can bring it by here tomorrow during the day and I will take a look at it for you. I used to work for Auto Electric in Fullerton. I may be able to find your problem and fix it for you. Give me a call tomorrow during the day. 714-318-3889

Scott