'84 Spider - A dark interior !!!

RickU · #1 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 08:48 AM

and I do not mean the color of the interior-smile. When it is pich black outside and I open my beloved Spider and get in...well..it is pitch black inside as well !!!

I believe the PO took out the light on the center mirror . Are there any other lights that are suppose to come on when I open the doors ? I find myself "stabbing " in the dark to get the key into the ignition

Anybody run into this and have any "creative ideas " as to how they provided some interior light ? If so please "shed some light" on this topic for me . Thanks

Rick

ghnl · #2 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 09:29 AM

Indeed there is supposed to be a light under the rear view mirror. The later model S3 spiders had footwell lights - perhaps they could be retro-fitted?

Is there NO light in the underside of the mirror? If not, then perhaps the mirror was replaced by one out of a different model. If there is a light fixture but no bulb (or a burned out bulb) start by getting a new bulb. Note the mirror light has a switch - it can be set to OFF... If you do have light but it doesn't work remove the door contact switches and clean them. There is also a 'light timer relay' in the fuse box. That item was DOA in our '84 Spider and so the mirror light didn't work. I removed the relay and jumpered a couple of the connections. Now the light comes on when the door is open and off when closed - it just doesn't stay on for a few moments after the doors are closed.

RickU · #3 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 09:39 AM

thanks Eric. I will have to see what is under the center mirror to see if indeed it has a bulb.

Does that throw off enought light to see where the key goes etc.

I take it that it gets 12 volts when the door is open and the door jamb switch grounds when opened ?

Thanks again for your help

**Peter** · #4 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 09:45 AM

that's what it's like on my 67.......and there's a mirror switch as well to provide ground

**AlfaTango1** · #5 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 10:09 AM

There also should be a light where you shins go. May not throw enough light for ignition but it may help if lens is not fogged up. These can easily be switched on by accident and drain your battery so be careful that it is set in the center "Neutral" position.

**Tifosi** · #6 (**permalink**) 06-04-2008, 04:37 PM

There's lighted ignition switches too. (which yours may already have, but the bulb is blown or something else is wrong with the circut)

It's not a massive amount of light, but it does (literally) shine out the keyhole.

RickU · #7 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 12:09 PM

thanks to all for the replies. I think the PO must have taken off the floor well lamps cuz I can not see any ..but then again I could just be missing them. Where exactly all they suppose to be..thanks

I also did not realize the ignition switch itself had a light so that will also be a route I take as perhaps some light shining thur the keyhole will be all i need. Will have to replace the bulb on that.

Can I access that by just removing the steering wheel column .

Again thanks to all

ghnl · #8 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 12:53 PM

I doubt your '84 model would have had the footwell lights. They were added later. (our '84 doesn't have them).

Don't hold your breath in anticipation of lots of light from the key switch light bulb. If it is there it'll show you where the key goes but it ain't a whole lot of light...

**Tifosi** · #9 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 01:36 PM

Rick,

Remember, I did say you're 'may' have a lighted switch in it.

Quickest way to check would be to pull the rubber trim ring off that goes around the ignition switch. (it's just a press fit into the clamshell)

If you look in the hole around the switch, there will be an obvious squarish protrusion on the side.

If there's no protrusion, there's no light housing.

**Tifosi** · #10 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 01:39 PM

Examples.

Note the square cut notch in the clamshell in the 1st pic. That's for the light housing.

In the 2nd pic, the housing protrusion is obvious.

Unlighted

Lighted

**Tifosi** · #11 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 01:43 PM

Scribble drawing form an older post showing one of the console side panels and the location of where the curtesy lights would be located on an early S3, fi they were installed.

**AlfaTango1** · #12 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 02:41 PM

Even without the light you should get used to the location, my spider is black on black and the rear view mirror has been replaced too and I just put my index or middle finger on the key, find the slot and it slides right in.

**Tifosi** · #13 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 02:42 PM

Uuuhh, huhuhuhuh

**AlfaTango1** · #14 (**permalink**) 06-05-2008, 02:57 PM

I was going to use an analogy but thought I'd leave it alone