(Early) 260Z instrument lighting

[gilltech]

My instrument lights have gone out. It doesn't appear that they have their own dedicated fuse. I'm struggling to understand the 260Z wiring diagram as to where they source their power from. There's a lighting intensity adjustment knob, but makes no difference.Anyone got any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[Z]

Mate I'll have a crack!
I've been mucking around with my dash lighting and the wires for the dash come straight from the harness which runs along behind the dash. The fuse for the dash light is your tail light/park light fuse (third one down on the right block of the fusebox), mine is a 20A. Check the fuse, if that's the problem sweet. I tried an upgraded 4W bulb set from MSA and had problems so went to 3W Narvas for the whole dash.

Funny thing is that I started with 3.4W bulbs as standard!

Hope that helps.

[gilltech]

Hmmm - thanks for the help 'Z', I'll check the taillight fuse again, I think it's good, but at least that gives me a better idea of what the dash lights are linked to as I was struggling to understand the wiring diagram.
(BTW yes it doesn't pay to upgrade the wattage of dash bulbs, they can get really hot & damage/melt their holders).
Many thanks, John

[Z]

From MSA no less, why sell em if they don't fit the application - lesson learnt.

[gilltech]

The fuse was OK, still no gauge lights. I had recently reinstalled the console, so took another look at it, & found that a single connector black wire was quite hot. I had plugged a pair of male & female bullet connectors together thinking they belonged to each other. Once unplugged, instrument lights returned, all good. So the problem was me  . (I have no idea what the black wires are for, neither appear live, yet when connected must cause a short & cause same wire to get hot. Probably there for some accessory that my basic-spec'd early Z didn't receive when new). Duh. Cheers Z.

[zeds4ever]

  If you use a test lamp set up & go from a known active wire to any black wire & a full glow results you will find it is a earth wire, if it is a dull glow it is related to another unit source most probably. The black wire is the earth wire system mostly used with Datsuns.

                                                Regards: Alan. 

                                                           

[gilltech]

Thanks Alan, yes I had thought that the black wires were all earth. So dumb of me to plug these two together, & it caused a reaction somewhere in the system. I was just trying to make sense of the additional wires & plugs behind the console that aren't used on my early 260. Thanks for your follow-up advice!