Glove Compartment Light

[iamamanc]

Hi
I am going to put in a new glove compartment liner and light. On taking out the old liner I was hoping that the light had "fallen to the back" but there is no light there. I have noticed on my old 300D that there are two cables running to the light of which one of them is fused.
Am I right in thinking that this is one wire too much, could I tap into the side air vent illumination cable, bearing in mind that if I messed up I would need to pull the dash to fix a blown fuse. I have had a good root around behind the glove box, lots of cables but which one to tap into is a problem.
Any help would be appreciated

Cheers
Adrian

 

[BlackC55]

Just make sure that the 12vs that you tap in to is a switchable one. (with the ignition)

I would be suprised if the original connector for the light has gone into oblivion.....

 

[LastMinute]

The vent illumination is fed from the variable interior lighting supply, which is switched by the sidelight switch, not the ignition switch; the dedicated glovebox supply (if fitted - I think you are saying it's not there on the car you're working on ) is not dimmable and is switched by the ignition switch.

Out of interest, what is the "fuse behind the dash" to which you have referred?

 

[iamamanc]

Hi
I have almost been in up to my shoulders looking for the thing.
Good point about the vent lights been dimmable, I hadn't thought of that - not good.

The fuse is dedicated to the AC/Climate control switches, Air vents, Headlight switch and gear lever position marker illumination, the lights on your electric window switches are also on this fuse. Basically all the cockpit dimmable lights except the instrument cluster are from this fuse. To change this fuse you have to pull the instrument cluster, go figure!!
Why they decided to put it there is beyond me, the designers must have had a right laugh at that one

Cheers
Adrian

 

[LastMinute]

I didn't know about that fuse. It's not shown on the instrument cluster schematic in the Haynes manual. Bizarre place to choose to put one, I agree.

The radio, which isn't too far (wiring-wise) from the glove box, has an ignition-switched +12V supply (black/yellow wire from fuse 1). You might want to try that as a source. There's a permanent +12V supply there, too (red/white wire from fuse 9). (Again that's based on the Haynes manual, which doesn't cover your car specifically, but I'm assuming it's the same.)