Dashboard instrument panel

[welleyes]

Our 1937 Aprilia has no instrument lights. Groping around behind the dash reveals to the touch a non working switch and two festoon bulb holders. We can feel, and with a dentist's mirror see, a wire connecting the top of one bulb holder to the other. It seems to be innocent of any other connection. If we could remove the instrument panel, probably everything would be clear, but that is also a problem. More groping found what seems to be a spring clip on the left side but it does not want to move and it is not clear whether the clip is attached to the panel or the dash. Can one of you throw some light on this before we break something? Does the panel come out or must I force a small child under the dash to do the work?

Stuart and Andy Tallack

[BlueSky]

To remove the dashboard there is a spring clamp at each end, reach under the dash and push one forward with your thumb, they're quite stiff, and it should all gradually come towards you and out. You don't have to take it all the way out to get to the instrument lights, from memory the festoon bulbs are little shorter than normal so you might have to hunt around for ones the correct length.

The photo is when I rewired mine with multi pin connectors to make it easier to remove, but it shows the two clamps and the bulb holders. No idea what the switch could be under there!

Noel

[davidwheeler]

But you have to grope and undo the oil pressure line from the back of the gauge if you want to get it off for better access.  The switch is on the central console of course opposite that for the wipers.    Wiring diagrams are posted in the technical information thread.

[welleyes]

Thank you both very much. The spring clip is very reluctant to move but I am sure we shall succeed. There is nothing like advice from people who have already done the job.

Stuart

[BlueSky]

It does take a pretty firm push to get the clip out of the dash, the panel almost has to bend a little. And as David says if you want to get it all the way out you have to remove the oil pressure gauge line, plus the speedo cable and deal with whatever mess the wiring is in! But if you're lucky it should come forward enough to reach the bulb holders without undoing anything.

Noel

[simonandjuliet]

Noel, interesting to see how you did the multi-core petrol gauge cable - neat !