4th gen EL dial dimming question

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 2:53 pm

Question for owners of EL dials with dash dimming.

On my UKDM, when you reach end of travel on the dash dimmer control, there's a switch function (it clicks over). For the fuel/temp gauge, this completely switches the dimming off and the dials light up full brightness even though the headlights are on (this is how it's meant to work).

I've just fitted the EL dials and the brightness adjusts up and down ok as I move the dash dimmer control, but when I click the switch over, the clocks don't switch over to full brightness, like the fuel/temp gauge does.

Is this the same as everyone elses, or do their speedo/tachometer also click over to full brightness with the fuel/temp gauges?

I've taken a video to show what I mean, but can't get it to upload to photobucket atm...

K30DPC · Post by **K30DPC** » Sun Mar 02, 2014 4:18 pm

Sounds like you messed up with wiring speedo/tacho cluster. It should work exactly the same as your fuel/temp gauge.

It's hard to say over the internet but I think you connected to wrong red/black wire. There is two of them going to dimm adjuster. On one of them you get +12V when you switch on your headlights, and the second is after the clicking switch in adjuster (if you know what I mean). Try the other red/black and I guess it will be fine

sarah_h · Post by **sarah_h** » Wed Mar 05, 2014 12:52 am

Checked mine earlier for you - the whole lot including speedo & revs dims and then brightens together using the little wheel.

Hope you get it sorted

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 3:37 pm

Did You swapped Dial from non el dial? If so it might be a dimmer relay, it's slightly different non EL dial.

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Fri Mar 28, 2014 4:09 pm

Yeah I did swap.

What's different about the dimmer relay please?

Thanks,

Lorenzo · Post by **Lorenzo** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:55 am

I do not know exactly, according to manual it is different wiring. I think in this manual You can find the answer.
if You will came up with something share it, I am also swapping the dials

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:38 am

When I get a minute I will post up what I did for swapping the dials, with the wiring pin out changes and photos - been meaning to do that for ages but not had a moment yet.

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Thu Apr 03, 2014 3:17 pm

I swapped my "analogue" dials out for some EL ones a few years ago but my rotary dimmer had never worked. I ran the wiring to a simple on/off toggle switch which I put beside the gearstick. Allows me to have dash fully on or fully simmed with lights on.

As far as I can make out, the EL dials need a different box thing (is that the relay?) that goes in the back of the dash behind the fuel/temp cluster. I've laid hands on one of these from a scrap car that someone had removed the EL dials from and not taken - it's is a different shape from the non-EL one. I also have a rotary switch that goes in the thing to the right of the steering wheel (a USDM item), same size as the little fog / cruise / sunroof switches. I originally had a coin holder there.

I now have both front and rear fogs working from that position, but haven't as yet installed the dimmer switch. I think I've figured the wiring by looking at the service manuals for EL and non-EL setups (wiring is slightly different), but haven't been arsed to remove the gauges to actually do the job yet.

Angus · Post by **Angus** » Wed Apr 16, 2014 8:27 am

For reference, here's the two versions of the dash black box, plus what the USDM dimmer switch looks like: