Ideogram Thumbwheel on center dash

[pressonregardless]

Accidentally posted in "Cars for Sale": Ok, I searched the forum and my two month restoration on my 1974 Spider. I have a lot of wiring "modifications" under the dash on this central California Spider, including two large 6 wire plugs cut or disconnected. All the important stuff works, the last weekend I spent 3 hours tracing the backup light (blue-white) wire that had been cut and tucked under the drivers floor panel? Don't know why as I repaired the two connectors on the transmission and we were back in business. Any way, what does the " Ideogram " black thumb wheel do in the middle of the dash. The "Seat Belt", "Brake On" lights don't work. Just wondering. (BTW: Anyone know a talented FIAT mechanic between Modesto and Fresno?) I like to tinker, but time is limited.

[So Cal Mark]

isn't Kelly Dicker at Wine Country Motors in your area?
I believe the thumbwheel dims the fiberoptic light in the heater controls

[pressonregardless]

Thanks, Mark. First, what fiber optic light in the heater controls. I've had that console out twice and there is nothing under there but a few wires? Wine Country Motors is in Napa, I live on Hwy 99 between Modesto and Fresno (Merced area). Thanks for the fast Post. I know there is too much unhooked behind the dash, also all the controls work on the heater box, yet doesn't seem to be hot water flowing though, is the heater valve mechanical, or controlled by a capillary tube?

[pope]

Dont know what a 74 has but, my 80 has two of those reostats. One is for the wiper blades speed control and the other is to dim the instrument dash lights.
Maybe the graphic on the thumbwheel will help you with this.

Those black wire looking strands that connect to the areas where it says HEAT are fibre optic strands that light up when the dash lights are lit. There are multi strands that lead back to a bulb.

[pressonregardless]

Does it look like 4 or 5 wires in a bundle? If so I think I found that under the dash. Thanks for the help!

[vwdmc16]

I also have this thumb wheel and dont know what it does. i hate useless stuff,

[vwdmc16]

ok so ive comfirmed it, that wheel does dim the fiberoptics on my '78. kinda useless huh? why not connect it to the normal dim switch?

[mbouse]

ha-RUMPH! useless stuff? we dunn make no useless stuff!

that wheel was specficially designed to make dim lights dimmer. where else can you get a dim light dimmer switch?

[rlux4]

Exactly Mike. Maybe if it read: Dim-Dimmer-Dimmest.
Ron

[So Cal Mark]

the theory is that if you make the inside of the car darker, the dash lights will appear brighter

[pope]

Has anyone replaced their #158 Instrument lights with LED's (t-10's) yet? I have read that they use almost no juice and are brighter and whiter and also come in colors. I think the 158 uses 3.3w where the LED's use 1/4 that. Worth a try!

[So Cal Mark]

while the leds are brighter, they don't project light in all directions so the gauges appear dimmer. You have to get the multi led lights, and the units with ample leds don't fit the bulb holders in a Fiat dash

[pope]

T10 Dashboard Lights
Replaces part numbers T10, T-10, 194, 168, 158, 12256, 12961, 2821, 2825, W5W
Usage: Dashboard lights for cars and boats

New SMT versions of the T10 arrived.

We now have the colour changing version in the T10 plus a new 1w White 120° version.

These fit a variety of applications and we've introduced different colors by customer request.
We have white, purple, and rainbow LED T10 bulbs plus now the 360° version and the colour changing version in the T10.
Picture shows the 1LED version - dimensions are same for the 4 LED10mm version (available in Red and Blue only)

The T10 'Star' refractor bulb is an excellent bulb for lighting up dashboards without any shadow areas. With the 4 radial LEDs and the one flux LED up on top.

The SMT version is a true 360° bulb and has no LEDs sitting up on top - all its light is projected sideways.
We tested it and it lit up a 70 sqm room with enough light to see your way around.

The new 1w version achieves a 120° viewing angle because it has one big flat punchy LED sitting up on top.

Mark, this is verbatim from a web site that sells LED's, progress on LED's are changing from day to day. I think one of the above versions would be perfect. The pics of the LED's are the same shape as the old style bulbs meaning they would fit existing spaces.

[TulsaSpider]

aaaaaaand the website isssssss ****drumrolls*****

[pope]

Do GOOGLE search on above info...there are a ton of sites.