Panel Dimmer switch : MGB & GT Forum : The MG Experience

Panel Dimmer switch #1
arnie1980 Arnold Toney Largo, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1980 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Feb 2, 2011 04:07 PM Joined 15 years ago 111 Posts

Thanks to all who responded to helping me get the knob off the switch so I could "rebuild" the darn thing. Worked perfectly by punching in the pin on the side of the knob. After getting the switch out and disassembled, there is no way to repair it as the spindle is shattered . probably from someone twisting the knob to far. Any way, my decision is just to eliminate the switch all togeather. Here's my problem.... there are 4 red wires that went to the switch. Do I just bundle all of them togeather ( Yes, I will solder them!!!) and that eliminates the switch.
As always, thanks in advancefor you knowledge and assistance.

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #2
Sinewave T. Keith Vezina Kenner, LA, USA Sign in to contact	Feb 2, 2011 04:16 PM Top Contributor Joined 20 years ago 2,398 Posts

I am assuming from your online name that you have a 1980. If so, you should have three wires that are red with a white tracer and one that is red with a green tracer. Yes, You can solder them together or just move the wires so that they are all on one side of the rheostat.

T. Keith Vezina
British Motoring Club New Orleans
1976 MGB, 1976 MGB Trailer & 1978 MGB V8

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #3
balloonfoot Lloyd Faust Novato, CA, USA Sign in to contact	Feb 2, 2011 04:23 PM Top Contributor Joined 17 years ago 14,068 Posts

Replace the switch with an inline fuse and you'll have fused dash lights! ! (red/green on one side...red/white on other).

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #4
bobmgble Bob Beretta Dover, Ark, USA Sign in to contact 1974 MG MGB GT "Pumpkin" 1980 MG MGB Limited Edition (LE) "Green Hornet" 1999 Jaguar XK8	Feb 3, 2011 11:35 AM Joined 19 years ago 403 Posts

And, while you are at it if you have changed to SU's put your choke in its place.
Bob

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #5
RAY 67 TOURER Ray Marloff Fort Bragg, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB "My Girl"	Feb 3, 2011 01:53 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 17,821 Posts

I drive with my lights on all the time, see and be seen. I bypassed the dimmer long ago and installed a spare od switch in the circuit, so that the panel lights weren't on all the time during daylight driving. RAY

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #6
arnie1980 Arnold Toney Largo, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1980 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Feb 3, 2011 06:39 PM Joined 15 years ago 111 Posts

thanks again to all who responded. I bypassed the switch and installed a inline fuse. The dash lights are beautiful now!

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #7
riggs5614 Chad Riggs Knoxville, USA Sign in to contact	Feb 14, 2011 03:12 PM Joined 15 years ago 217 Posts

How exactly did you link the wires together? My dash lights on my 1968 B dont come on at all. I can turn the dimmer switch and it clicks but nothing happens. I plan to take it off and get a better look this week. Hard to drive in the dark with out the dash lights.

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #8
riggs5614 Chad Riggs Knoxville, USA Sign in to contact	Feb 15, 2011 02:31 PM Joined 15 years ago 217 Posts

This is what I think is my dimmer switch. Am I correct. I need to take it out to try and bypass it I just dont want to remove the wrong thing.

smallgauge.JPG 35.8 KB

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #9
arnie1980 Arnold Toney Largo, FL, USA Sign in to contact 1980 MG MGB	Topic Creator (OP) Feb 15, 2011 03:32 PM Joined 15 years ago 111 Posts

Nothing there looks familar to me, sorry

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #10
blkcloud Mitchell Hackett Huntington New York, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB 2004 Porsche Boxster	Feb 15, 2011 03:40 PM Joined 17 years ago 1,016 Posts

I would say that looks suspisiously like a heater control knob, not a dimmer switch.

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #11
riggs5614 Chad Riggs Knoxville, USA Sign in to contact	Feb 15, 2011 05:37 PM Joined 15 years ago 217 Posts

I thought that also but the heater control knob is on the other side of the steering wheel.

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #12
RAY 67 TOURER Ray Marloff Fort Bragg, CA, USA Sign in to contact 1967 MG MGB "My Girl"	Feb 15, 2011 05:47 PM Top Contributor Joined 16 years ago 17,821 Posts

On the '68 to '70 B, there was no dimmer switch but an on/off switch on the left side of the steering cowl. It's right in front of the turn signal stalk. RAY

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #13
B KRAZY Robert Coombes Surrey, BC, Canada Sign in to contact 1973 MG MGB GT 1980 Triumph TR8 2010 Chrysler 300	Feb 15, 2011 05:49 PM Joined 18 years ago 28 Posts

On the left side of steering wheel is control for amount of heat,the right side
of steering wheel is control for direction of heat, eg:defrost interior.
The knob for light dimmer is on right side, it is a lot smaller.

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #14
riggs5614 Chad Riggs Knoxville, USA Sign in to contact	Feb 15, 2011 05:51 PM Joined 15 years ago 217 Posts

WOW I feel dumb now. Thanks a lot that makes more since. Now I cant wait to get home to see if that switch will make them come on. I was wondering what that little thing did. Thanks everyone I will post what happens.

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

Re: Panel Dimmer switch #15
B KRAZY Robert Coombes Surrey, BC, Canada Sign in to contact 1973 MG MGB GT 1980 Triumph TR8 2010 Chrysler 300	Feb 15, 2011 05:53 PM Joined 18 years ago 28 Posts

Just noticed yours is a 68, Ray is correct on /off switch on left side.

Reply

Was this post helpful or interesting?

Yes No Thank

MGB & GT Forum

Panel Dimmer switch

To reply or ask your own question:Members Sign InorCreate an AccountRegistration is FREE and takes less than a minute

To reply or ask your own question:

or

Registration is FREE and takes less than a minute