Hi all,

Stigy's post just reminded me of something I did one time when I needed to charge my phone. Cigarette lighter socket wasn't working so I saw that the green illumination around it still was so thought hmm there must be power there. basically, I took the power from the light and used it to power the socket so now, a few months down the line. every bit of lighting apart from the centre main light in my interior is gone.. I assume this is because of my overloading it as I forgot to ever sort it properly. What is likely to be the first thing to fry in the illumination circuit connected to this?

Silly thing to do I know but, I needed my phone charged.

Thanks for reading, hope somebody can help.

Michael

Check fuses probably popped one

Check fuse 3, 5 Amp.

and then fix the lighter socket so it works properly. iirc, if you have have the window child lock enabled on the drivers door, it kills the power to the lighter socket.

iirc, if you have have the window child lock enabled on the drivers door, it kills the power to the lighter socket.

Mine doesn't do that. '03 vRS.

not lucky enough for it to just blow a fuse. the dimmer switch? how would you test that? it's coming up as 0% illumination on vcds.

not lucky enough for it to just blow a fuse. the dimmer switch? how would you test that? it's coming up as 0% illumination on vcds.

The internal lights dimmer and headlight leveller is a combined electronic unit that cannot be repaired.

With a multimeter set on an appropriate dc volts range, check pins 3 and 5. Pin 3 should have the supply from fuse 3 and pin 5 should vary as you move the rotary wheel for dimming. Voltages are measured to ground (or pin 1) and with the lamp load connected.

Replace if no volts on pin 5. In effect you have already checked that pin 5 is at zero volts as there is no illumination on the dash.

You can get at the rear of the unit by removing the main lighting switch and then pushing out the plastic surround that holds the light switch and the rotary controls in the dash.

To remove the lighting switch, when in the off position, push the centre in and turn slightly clockwise to disengage. The switch will will then pull out. I would disconnect the battery before I start and then reconnect just for testing

Is the glovebox light working?

That shares a feed with the dimmer and lighting amplifier.

No, glovebox light is not working. I can't remember whether it ever was though.

Excuse my ignorance,

Where is the lighting amplifier?

No, glovebox light is not working. I can't remember whether it ever was though.

Excuse my ignorance,

Where is the lighting amplifier?

Check both ends of fuse F3. If you don't have power at the fuse, you have either a broken wire or a problem with the light switch. If you've had the dash off recently, make sure the connector for the light switch is fully plugged in and that you haven't pulled one of the wires.

For the lighting amplifier, take a look at http://www.briskoda....e/#entry2138657

Ok so I have 11.7 volts at pin 3 and 0 volts at pin 5 no matter where the wheel is. Hopefully that means it's just the dimmer that's fecked.

Thanks for your help.

Ok so I have 11.7 volts at pin 3 and 0 volts at pin 5 no matter where the wheel is. Hopefully that means it's just the dimmer that's fecked.

Thanks for your help.

It could also be something is shorting the output to ground. Is there a grey/blue wire to the bulb at the cigarette lighter socket? That seems to be the source of your problems.