Dashboard Warning Lights Bulb Replacement

[85S3NA]

Hi,

Just getting the Esprit S3 n/a ready for its MOT and noticed that several of the dashboard warning light bulbs have gone (headlight full beam, parking brake, ignition/battery light etc) - is it an easy job to replace these bulbs, or is it a much more complex binnacle out job? Hoping for former, expecting the latter

Thanks, any advice much appreciated,

Jonathan 

[Choppa]

On the S3 the binnacle stays where it is bolted and the three sections that comprise the dash unscrew from in front of you as you sit in the drivers seat. Screws for the side sections come out from underneath the pod, screws for the central panel are in the corners and a couple hidden under the dimmer knobs. Take great care when removing the plastic surround that goes over the speedo and rev counter as it will have probably been (or become) stuck on the upper edge where it touches the underside of the binnacle and the plastic will be  very brittle. Once this is off you'll be able to undo the metal plate that holds the central dials and shift it around so you can get to the bulbs that need replacing.  The LHS and RHS sections can be moved once the screws have been removed from underneath. The lower edge of this central plate isn't particularly smooth so use something to protect the leather when you are moving it around. Also it might be the perfect time to replace the bulbs for all your gauges with green LEDS, they are much brighter than the filament bulbs, but they don't dim, unless there are dimmable ones on the market these days.

[snowrx]

I think you can replace the warning lights by just removing the binnacle side panels.

Dimming dash LED's is a bit more work-

https://www.lotustalk.com/forums/f164/pwm-dimmer-g-car-dash-led-s-356713/

[85S3NA]

Thanks guys, very helpful and much appreciated - in the short term I'll replace the bulbs (I will look into LEDs in the medium term) - I can see that the warning light bulbs were Lotus parts number A082M6311 24V 3A bulbs - anyone know their non-Lotus part number? So I can what they look like  - cheers, Jonathan

[snowrx]

On my (USA) '85 they look like this, and LED versions abound, usually called T10 or #194 here. You want ones that have the chips facing forward, as the sockets are just black plastic and will not reflect light light to the lens from side mounted LED chips.

 

These might be a bit big but I used something similar with 2 chips:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-T10-194-168-W5W-5730-SMD-4-LED-White-Car-Side-Wedge-Tail-Light-Lamp-Bulb-12V/372664158049?hash=item56c483c761:g:F2IAAOSwXVNba~ZC

[naasaa]

How is the emmited light distribution with these. Even?

[ekwan]

9 hours ago, snowrx said:

On my (USA) '85 they look like this, and LED versions abound, usually called T10 or #194 here. You want ones that have the chips facing forward, as the sockets are just black plastic and will not reflect light light to the lens from side mounted LED chips.

 

These might be a bit big but I used something similar with 2 chips:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-T10-194-168-W5W-5730-SMD-4-LED-White-Car-Side-Wedge-Tail-Light-Lamp-Bulb-12V/372664158049?hash=item56c483c761:g:F2IAAOSwXVNba~ZC

These ones will do nicely, but pricey.