Instrument console

[iMacThere4iAm]

I've just had my instrument console out for some repairs and I thought I'd share my notes.

Three of the bulbs were blown. I didn't want to pay for new ones, so I went ahead and upgraded them to white LEDs – using the original bulb housings and contacts, I soldered in an LED and resistor where the filament bulb used to fit. They work very nicely indeed; I'm quite proud of my work

The circuit board had several melted sections that had been repaired in the past, then melted again. The source of the short turned out to be a blown diode which had failed such that it allowed current to flow in both directions. After I replaced the diode and re-repaired the melted sections I was able to connect a battery without any melting, smoke or flames at all

The fuel gauge definitely works, which means my problem must be in the sender or wiring in between

There are three spare bulb slots and one space for an extra gauge... I wonder what could go in there. I reckon if I could get a second-hand fuel gauge, I could just drill an extra slot in that blank oval next to the indicator light, change the symbols and connect it to an oil temperature sensor...

Finally I added some little stickers for MPH speeds and coloured the faded needle in with an orange highlighter pen.

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

Here's a question for everyone with a post-1983 dashboard: does your "dipped headlamps" light on the instrument console ever light up?
Answer: No it doesn't, because Renault apparently forgot to connect it to anything!

 

[alewis]

My assumption was they found it too annoying having it on all the time so gave up with it - or people mixed it up with the main beam light blinding other drivers.

 

[iMacThere4iAm]

Then I don't understand why they put the bulb in...

 

[angel]

It was mandatory on some countries (Italy was one of them, I think), so it was connected to vehicles exported there.
Whenever I drive an Italian car of that era at night, I find this light very annoying...I keep looking again and again if I have forgotten something on...

 

[Azazello]

It was mandatory on some countries (Italy was one of them, I think), so it was connected to vehicles exported there.
Whenever I drive an Italian car of that era at night, I find this light very annoying...I keep looking again and again if I have forgotten something on...

No, even in Italian r4s the green light is not bulb-equipped anyway... nor it works if a bulb is fitted.