Imola S50 - long overdue journal!

[Knightrider]

Originally Posted by c_w

Looks like there is still some orange peel which is common with spray cans. It might be worth a very light wet sand and then polish (it is a fiddly small piece to handle though!).

Actually the top is a lot better than the underneath, and it looks pretty good back on the car. I may give it a go when I get bored again!

[Knightrider]

So following on from this thread, I decided to clean up my headlight switch. It was working, but the dash light dimmer was a bit grindy and uneven, and occasionally the dash lights went out altogether.

Pretty easy to get out - unclip the head of the light knob and there is an 8mm bolt inside. Undo, then unscrew the rest of the switch in the other direction to remove. Then you will see a screw above the switch inside - undo, and the whole switch/vent assembly will pull out.

At this stage, in retrospect I think it would probably be easier to remove the lower dash trim under the steering wheel and just unclip the light switch from inside, as it is a pig to get the vent, light switch and bulb assembly back in in one piece when you are done.

Once unplugged, you have your switch:



Unclip the metal plate with a thin flet-headed screwdriver:



Unclip the plastic circuit board:



Move the switch to the central position (sidelights on) - this allows you to remove the central connector:





Slide out the metal rod:



Then you can remove the rheostat:



Unclip the brass surround and disassemble. My black plastic insert was cracked, so repaired with some glue:





Then clean up all the contacts and the coil with WD40 on a cue-tip, reassemble in the opposite order, and reinstall. Now works like new!

I realised whilst I was there that the bulb for the light indicator was not working, so a new one ordered...

[Dave P]

Originally Posted by Knightrider

So following on from this thread, I decided to clean up my headlight switch. It was working, but the dash light dimmer was a bit grindy and uneven, and occasionally the dash lights went out altogether.

Pretty easy to get out - unclip the head of the light knob and there is an 8mm bolt inside. Undo, then unscrew the rest of the switch in the other direction to remove. Then you will see a screw above the switch inside - undo, and the whole switch/vent assembly will pull out.

At this stage, in retrospect I think it would probably be easier to remove the lower dash trim under the steering wheel and just unclip the light switch from inside, as it is a pig to get the vent, light switch and bulb assembly back in in one piece when you are done.

Once unplugged, you have your switch:



Unclip the metal plate with a thin flet-headed screwdriver:



Unclip the plastic circuit board:



Move the switch to the central position (sidelights on) - this allows you to remove the central connector:





Slide out the metal rod:



Then you can remove the rheostat:



Unclip the brass surround and disassemble. My black plastic insert was cracked, so repaired with some glue:





Then clean up all the contacts and the coil with WD40 on a cue-tip, reassemble in the opposite order, and reinstall. Now works like new!

I realised whilst I was there that the bulb for the light indicator was not working, so a new one ordered...

what condition was the round coil in as I cant see it in the pictures?

[Knightrider]

Originally Posted by Dave P

what condition was the round coil in as I cant see it in the pictures?

I know - when I downloaded the pics I realised I hadn't actually taken one of the coil! It was completely intact (no breaks) and pretty clean. Just needed a bit of WD40.

[urquattrogus]

Originally Posted by Knightrider

I know - when I downloaded the pics I realised I hadn't actually taken one of the coil! It was completely intact (no breaks) and pretty clean. Just needed a bit of WD40.

What about the "Turbo Boost" switch, how is that looking for you?

[Knightrider]

It's red. It doesn't need a turbo boost switch - red cars just go faster....

[Knightrider]

Waiting for the satin black paint to arrive to refurb the sub grille, so I thought I'd give it a good clean and go over with the machine polisher as the sun is out...







Not looking too shabby for nearly 22 years and 120k miles...

[David z coupe]

Looks fantastic