Dimmer/Cig. light bulb? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

dna59 · 12-03-2004, 07:27 AM

Does the dimmer control the cig. lighter bulb? Because I tried using it as a power source but it seems to be getting no current since my neon doesn't come on. I asked this because it seems my dimmer isn't working since my gauge light don't come on only the other lights in the gauge cluster.

Erbe · 12-03-2004, 07:39 AM

yes...the dimmer does control the cig bulb...i painted over the cig ring to get ablue and then i got gauges and didnt like the look of the white light bleeding through and turned the dimmer all the way down, no cig

dna59 · 12-03-2004, 11:12 AM

Is there anyway to fix a bad dimmer? or is it possible to get a new one and replace it?

CraigW · 12-03-2004, 12:19 PM

That voltage and current would be too low to run a higher current device. You may have caused damage, Later units have PCB inside not sure about yours.

dna59 · 12-03-2004, 09:04 PM

^^yeah it think it's safe to say I did something and messed up something. Tryin to figure out how I can fix it. Any ideas anyone?

CraigW · 12-03-2004, 10:19 PM

Have you had the rheostat unit out ?? Use your nose to see if it smells burnt, See if it is possible to dissasemble to inspect.

dna59 · 12-03-2004, 11:32 PM

^where can i find that?

***Eye8Pussies*** · 12-03-2004, 11:45 PM

the current to the little little bulb in the cigarette lighter wouldn't be enough to run a set of neons....maybe an extra couple of the small bulbs...or maybe leds, but probably not much more...

your best bet would be to hook up your neons to the current supplied to the actual cigarette lighter....then hook up a switch to it too. This way, you have the benefits of having a fused current, and you also don't have to worry about leaving the neons on because they will turn off when you take your key out.

dna59 · 12-04-2004, 06:59 AM

^^Yeah I was thinking about using the cigarette lighter itself. However i'm not sure about what wire is what. I know one of the connnectors on the cig lighter itself says 12V, but i wasn't sure so i didn't want to take a chance, I always mess shit up when it comes to taking chances. I guess i'll try it though. Oh and by the way it's not a set of neons, just one 15" one.

CraigW · 12-04-2004, 08:04 AM

The rheostat is the control that dims the dash lights down when turned.

dna59 · 12-04-2004, 09:23 AM

^^Oh ok i had already checked that but not inspect it, so i guess i'll take another look at it cuz i'm convinced that it is that. Thanks