Evo III Dash & Tailights not working

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

Hey guys, ever since i got this car i'm discovering the previous owner had replaced/installed the potentiometer for the dash light dimmer switch. Located below the drivers side air vent to the right of the dash. I also noticed my tail lights weren't working. Strange?

Is this a common problem or has anybody had this similar issue?

The potentiometer is wired directly to the fuse box near accelerator pedal. When i turned the headlights on i realised that he'd put a 5w ceramic resistor between two of the inputs of the potentiometer. This got very hot very quickly and started to melt the wiring.

I'm trying to work out how i can just get around this cafuzzle potentiometer job and have it so it's normal. I don't care for 'dimming' my dash lights...I just want the fkrs to work and stay bright.

Also, my tailights seized to work about the same time. (couldn't tell when it started exactly as i only found out when a motorist pulled up beside me and informed me of this)

Can anybody give me some possible work-arounds for these problems?

Cheers

 

[BMGTZ]

check the fuse for the park lamps

 

[khubner1]

yeah tail lights are on the same circuit as those so if your interior lights are dead so will your night time tails. although i thought the headlights were also on this same circuit

 

[BYBY5L]

mine was a 2 wire po-meter for the eclipse white dial things, and i just connected them, and removed the white inlay bits,
and with ya tail lights do they still light up under a brake pedal or no lights at all?? maybe the earth wire off the tail lights, im guessin ya checked ya fuses/relays

 

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

The fuses and park lamps were the first things checked. No sign of blown fuses etc. Gonna check relays 2moro. (currently reading thru the wiring diagram)

All other lights work fine. Brake lights light up under pedal as they're supposed to.

This potentiometer/variable dial has 3 terminals and only 2 wires are connected (middle and far right terminals with a 5w resistor in the middle) I'm not an electrical expert whatsoever but when it gets hot....that ain't good! Can't see any sign of a third wire that is supposed to connect to potentiometer either...Is there mean't to be?

My other thought was to duck down to the local wreckers and pick up the factory dial and wire it back in.

 

[evo-gsr]

As far as I know that dimmer is a GSR thing not Evo...so not sure why its even in your car? Is it a genuine Evo or a reshell ?

 

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

Yeah i realise the dimmer is a GSR thing. That's why i was stating the previous owner has 'added' this potentiometer and was wired up in this manner. Maybe he wanted the ability to dim his dash lights?!?

It's a Martin Griggs reshell. You probably know the previous owner EVO-GSR.

 

[khubner1]

if you want a genuine dimmer i think i've got one here you can have for a 5er

 

[EVOCPE]

Pretty sure Griggs all came with the dimmer switch as part of the compliance for the re-shell

 

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

Pretty sure Griggs all came with the dimmer switch as part of the compliance for the re-shell

That's quite possible. Couldn't i get away with the original GSR dimmer dial?

 

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

if you want a genuine dimmer i think i've got one here you can have for a 5er

I'll see what i can dig up at a local wreckers. I think it's the same as most CC sedans. But i'll let ya know how i go. I may still need to take you up on your offer

 

[khubner1]

They mount into the back of the drivers side air on vent which is black on grey interior coupes and sedans if you take the entire vent piece it will be a stock fitment

 

[BYBY5L]

im no sparky either but why dont ya just cut the wires off the potentiometer and join them. Even join them on a fuse Whats the worst that could happen? Blow the fuse?

 

[4piknup]

Its a bit odd with the resister wired in...
Im thinking someone may have converted the dash lights to led? And the resister gives a better range to the led dimming ability. ..

 

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

Soldered the wires together as suggested. Dash lights are now working fine

Now to work out why the tail lights are still no go. Didn't get around to checking the tail light relay though... next thing on the list.

Went down to the wreckers to see if i could pick up a CC dimmer job. It's installed but not connected as it's only for looks.

 

[EVOCPE]

Check the fuses in the engine bay, that's where the tail lights relays are

 

[evo-gsr]

[quote name=ULS33-RVR-GO' timestamp='1367393621' post='276041']
Soldered the wires together as suggested. Dash lights are now working fine

Now to work out why the tail lights are still no go. Didn't get around to checking the tail light relay though... next thing on the list.

Went down to the wreckers to see if i could pick up a CC dimmer job. It's installed but not connected as it's only for looks.
[/quote]

If you look In some of the other wrecks you might be lucky to find the blanking panel that clips in there then you can piss it off instead?

 

[BYBY5L]

Soldered the wires together as suggested. Dash lights are now working fine

mean, thats 1 battle won,

tomorrow ill stand in front of my gsr and have a think if its not the relay giving ya greif
( i think better when im standing in front of her)

 

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

mean, thats 1 battle won,

tomorrow ill stand in front of my gsr and have a think if its not the relay giving ya greif
( i think better when im standing in front of her)

Yep 1 down, 1 to go!

 

[ULS33-RVR-GO]

If you look In some of the other wrecks you might be lucky to find the blanking panel that clips in there then you can piss it off instead?

Yeah i've got the blank panel here. Cept it's got a hole in it from the potentiometer that was there.

I'm happy with the dimmer dial there for now. I know it's not 'evo' spec but it'll do right?!