No Airbag/Serv/battery light

[Jay_G]

Right, I'm probably the first person to moan about NOT having them but here it goes.

Bought the 172 on Monday, and realised tonight that the above lights don't come on when you flick the key on. So I did the trip button dashboard trick, low and behold the lights don't come on.

Now, was the previous owner trying to hide something, and removed the bulb? Or am I right in thinking there LEDs on the PCB, thus unremoveable? The passenger side airbag was turned off by the key, the light wasn't on on the dash, I only realised when I was looking at it.
Could that be related?

Could be an underlying problem that someone is trying to hide? Or am I being silly, and it's a case of faulty clocks? If so, what can I do?

Cheers

 

[MicKPM]

You're not going to be the only one shortly mate as the new MOT rules regarding the operation of all warning lights are in as of May 1st!

Chances are you're right in your assumption and the previous owner is trying to hide something. You can either remove the clock set and replace it with a known "good" set to see if that cures the lack of lights or you can disassemble yours to see what they've done.

The clock set lights are SMD LED's so they've most likely broken them off the PCB itself, destroyed the GND track/connection or simply filled the lightwell with something like silicon. I've got a spare clock stack for this exact reason as its quicker to switch em out for a diagnostic confirmation than it is to strip the stack down.

Mick

 

[Jay_G]

Hi Mick

Yeah, that's the exact reason I'm panicking now! MOT is due in July. I'm hoping it's just a faulty bulb, but some of the nasty surprises iv been getting since I got it is making me think otherwise...

How easy are the clocks to dismantle and check the bulbs etc? I haven't got money at the mo to chuck at a new set, so I'm just hoping and preying the bulbs are just dead! And it's not hiding a nasty problem. I'm hoping it is just bad luck, as I'm sure I'd notice something if the battery light was on? As that bulb has been removed/not working

Thanks again mate

 

[Jay_G]

Another 2 things iv just thought of. The first, which I'm seriously hoping is not the cash, is its a Cat D. I hope that's not related. That was in 2004 though, so I hope not.

The second is, the previous owner said the guy before him but buckets in it. Now I'm hoping he turned the light off for that reason, and nothing more sinister as a new set of clocks will sort that. I just hope he didnt put buckets in because of the Cat D lol

Thanks

 

[MicKPM]

Dismantling the clock set isn't hard but you need to exercise a little caution as the needles will need removing so you have to put them to the rest position and mark there relation/point before taking it off the spindle (don't do this and you'll never get a decent speedo reading again).

In all honesty i don't think it'll be a blown bulb as they don't blow. If you want to pop in I'll lend you my test set to plug in so you can see for yourself.

Mick

 

[Jay_G]

Yeah it really doesn't sound worth it to be honest. Where abouts are you located mate? I think I might take that up! Thanks a lot again

Jamie

 

[Jay_G]

Strange enough... The battery light has just started working... I see your in Nottingham? While I'm here could you quote me a price for wheel bearing/cv joint? Well not a definite wheel bearing, I jacked all 4 corners up and span each wheel, no untold noises. Yet there is a whining noise getting louder with speed, couldn't be related to the cv joint (which is knocking) couldn't it? Figured while I'm there might as well get some work done!

Thanks mate