Hi All Below is pictures of the dash instrument panel from behind after taking it out. A second picture is a close-up of the red caps behind the bulbs. I would like to move a couple of bulbs from the seat-belt warning lights (there are no seat belt detectors in European cars so these are effectively free) to the CEL light locations (these are not built into European cars since they don't have the test switches that the USA ones have delivered with them). Before I damage something: How does one get the bulbs out and put new ones in? Can these caps be screwed using a pair of pliers or similar and then the bulbs somehow come out? With finger pressure alone they won't unscrew. With pliers it feels that something will happen with a bit more effort, but this could also be something about to break. Can I simply apply that extra pressure or am I going about it the wrong way and about to snap something off that I shouldn't??? Anyone done it and know for sure? Regards Mark Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
Hi Just hold it with a pair of pliers and turn carefully 90° (counter-clockwise) - then it can be pulled out. I also have one gone again so I may try replacing some with LEDs instead while at it. Regards Mark
And that panel comes off with just 2 screws, is that right? Easy to get off? I may end up pulling my seatbelt bulbs.
>>And that panel comes off with just 2 screws.. Assuming you mean the complete instrument panel, yes, there are two screws underneath it hidden in the leather. Feel around and you will notice what seem to be two 'rips' in the leather (originally I thought it bad workmanship wen I saw them from below) and you can make out screw heads if you point a torch-light into the holes. You may need a bit of patience to get the screw driver to find the screw-heads and again when refitting to get the screws back into their holes. The screws themselves are not completely removed - just loosen them enough and they stay in their retainers. There are a number of connectors which can all be removed quite easily - no need to worry too much about noting where each one was connected since they are all "coded" and can't be put back incorrectly. Regards Mark
I've just done this on mine last week - took some pics here 348 DIY "Restoration" - Page 138 You just twist the bulb holder anticlockwise and it comes out. You can then just pull the bulb out with your fingers.
Can anyone shed some light on the polarity of these bulbs/sockets as well as the ones in the climate control panel? It looks like there is a common trace between bulbs but no easy way to know if it is common ground or common 12V. I want to replace them with LEDs which are polarized.
No easy way, but you could figure it out using a wiring diagram and an ohmmeter. On later cars: On the left hand instrument panel connector (car side, not panel side), the green/white wire provides most of the (positive) power, Blue, white and green/black, too. You'll have to translate the wire colours on the car side of the connector to pin numbers on the panel side. I don't know what colours the wires have on the panel internals. On the gauges, the dimmable power is provided by the yellow/red wires. Note that not all LEDs can be dimmed like tungsten filament lamps. On the right hand connector, the green/white wire provides most of the lamp power. Yellow/black also provides power. You may see a pattern forming when you check the contacts. e.g. all the positive contacts are on the bottom/top(?) or left/right (?) of a particular light group. Perhaps you could let us know what patterns you see. Check the connector pin to the bulb contact (bulb removed). These colours may vary on the Spider.
Actually, I'm not sure of the blue. It goes to the turn indicator. Blue-black also goes to the turn indicator. Typically, blue and blue/black wires are used for right and left hand turn indications (respectively). The polarity may reverse, rendering a left or right hand turn indication inoperative if you put LEDs there. Also, the instrument panel turn indicators may be part of the turn indication resistive circuit (which produces hyperflashing if the resistance is wrong). e.g. when a turn indicator bulb is blown.
Older F348 instrument wiring diagram... https://www.dropbox.com/t/35AmOZzRUYhoGUZT Newer F348 instrument wiring diagram... https://www.dropbox.com/t/cdjLH7BKzBPFR3nv Links will expire in 6 days.
