500 Hello and some advice on dashboard lighting please :)

[MC123]

Hi there,

I purchased a 500 Lounge, 58 plate yesterday as a present for my girlfriend. The car is in great nick, 39k on the clock, great condition all round. Lots of fun to drive, I'm quite jealous! Reminds me of my old Mini

The only thing I've not noticed when checking it over in the daytime was the lighting on the dashboard, specifically the central area with all the dials for hot/cold, which fan direction etc.

Issues as follows:

- The blue into red spots around the heat setting dial do not light up at all - I have no idea whether they should or not?

- the rest of the bits on the same panel do light up, but every now and then they go off randomly if you make a setting change. They also come back on randomly in the same fashion. They don't flash though, just either on or off.

Not really sure what to do about this. We've got a one month warranty on the car, but i have a feeling the guy at the small garage we bought it from won't know about this.

Can anybody advise?

Thank you

 

[DBunX]

It doesn't sound right, like there is a connection problem somewhere.

I'm pretty sure I've seen mention of this, and how to fix it elsewhere on the forum. I'd do a search for it also as you may find the solution before one of the regulars pops in with the answer.

 

[306maxi]

Loose bulb, mine occasionally goes off on the left hand side, a gentle tap gets it working again.

 

[ahmett]

Hi there,

I purchased a 500 Lounge, 58 plate yesterday as a present for my girlfriend. The car is in great nick, 39k on the clock, great condition all round. Lots of fun to drive, I'm quite jealous! Reminds me of my old Mini

The only thing I've not noticed when checking it over in the daytime was the lighting on the dashboard, specifically the central area with all the dials for hot/cold, which fan direction etc.

Issues as follows:

- The blue into red spots around the heat setting dial do not light up at all - I have no idea whether they should or not?

- the rest of the bits on the same panel do light up, but every now and then they go off randomly if you make a setting change. They also come back on randomly in the same fashion. They don't flash though, just either on or off.

Not really sure what to do about this. We've got a one month warranty on the car, but i have a feeling the guy at the small garage we bought it from won't know about this.

Can anybody advise?

Thank you

I think you need to change the lightbulbs on the heater panel? I have had to change mine twice until now = ) Very easy to do yourself, just pull the panel off (requires quite a tug) and replace the two bulbs inside.

 

[MC123]

Thanks people

I'm assuming that the bulb info will be in the car's manual and the instructions on how to replace as well.

I'll try the 'tap' first and then if necessary I'll get the bulbs.

Ahmett you say it involves 'quite a tug' on the heater panel. What is the heater panel? Is it the panel upon which the dials are mounted, and it simply lifts off, leaving them in place?

 

[ahmett]

Thanks people

I'm assuming that the bulb info will be in the car's manual and the instructions on how to replace as well.

I'll try the 'tap' first and then if necessary I'll get the bulbs.

Ahmett you say it involves 'quite a tug' on the heater panel. What is the heater panel? Is it the panel upon which the dials are mounted, and it simply lifts off, leaving them in place?

Yes exactly. You need to pull it off in a firm way from either side, don't worry about using force thinking you will break it. Once you do this you will immediately see the bulbs. Its quite annoying to pull out the bulbs with your own fingers (that's how I did it), so if you have one use a pincer to take them out = )