FTO Drivers Club, Western Australia

[adrians]

Cmon guys, there must be someone who can tell me where I can find the fuse for main instrument panel or fog lamps on an FTO?

[RichardH]

Ah, I hear that Christmas-time stress creeping into your voice... Perth's first case of "Fuse Rage", hehe.

I've dug my manual out, and here's what it says:

- Instrument panel. Interior fuse box (ie. in drivers footwell). Fuse #8. 10A.

- Fog Lamps. Engine bay fuse box. Fuse #8 also. 15A.


Now... here's another few bits of info.

Each FTO I've seen with the instrument cluster not lighting has been because of the 'dimmer' unit they had to add for Australian compliance when they imported it. It may be crap, it may be turned down to nothing... and it may be hidden.

The fog lamps may not be working because the button you press actually does the high current switching too, and it's a crap switch! Mine died years ago. At first, I could wiggle the switch and the fogs would come on, but then it gave up the ghost completely. The park lamps continued to work from that switch though. It needs a proper relay wired in, but I'm not gonna bother - the cops will just book you for using 'em anyway, hehe.

Hope this helps. Have a good Xmas!

- Rich

[adrians]

Thanks heaps for the info. I'll track down the blighters during the week (after the festive season).

[adrians]

Would you know where I can get a dimmer unit from?

[RichardH]

The usual places, I guess. Repco, etc...? Some are pretty ugly though, so you may prefer to find a nice one off a different car (from a wreckers maybe).

So does this mean it's a dimmer problem? If so, can you just bypass it and confirm the instruments light up?

- Rich

[adrians]

I did try that quickly but to no avail. I thought maybe this dimmer unit has been wired in such a way that you had to have one. Is there a bulb or where does the instrument panle get its lighting from?

[RichardH]

There is a globe behind each meter... so a fair old number of 'em.

You could get hold of a multimeter and check the current before/after the dimmer.

- Rich

[adrians]

Checked the before and after current via a multi meter and no good. I think this may be a job for an auto electrician. Would you have any other suggestions

[RichardH]

Next, I'd verify the fuse was the correct one, remove it, then check to confirm there was current on one side of the fuse socket.

I'd then maybe reconfirm there was no continuity between the other side of the fuse socket and the dimmer.

Finally, if I was feeling brave, I would connect up a separate fused lead from the battery to the dimmer, and see if the instrumentation lights up.

If nothing else, it would give you a very clear problem-solving sequence to take to an autoelectrician... thus reducing the likelihood of being ripped off, hehe.

- Rich

[ftoltd]

have a look for a inline fuse sonetimes when they put in the dimmer switch they will also add a inline fuse in there wiring

[adrians]

Unfortunately there is no inline fuse to be found anywhere (bugger). Tracing the dimmer lead goes directly back into the main meter panel. I'll keep you posted as to what the auto electrician finds out. Thanks again for all your help.

[adrians]

A quick update. Auto electrician finally found the source of the 'shortening'. It was traced back to a little black box that was double sided tape onto the panel under the steering wheel. He has since disconnected it and guess what? All lights are working good again (after changing some more fuses and getting another new fog switch). I first though it might have to do with the alarms, but they seem to be working fine. You guys don't have any such thing like this little black box Anyway, I'll take it for a good drive tomorrow and hope I don't have to call for some road side assistance.