Switch illumination + window switch...

[fitz]

I have a couple of queries and know you guys can help me out...

a) the illumination of my front fog light switch is gone when dash illumination is on, if you push it it lights up to confirm they are active. The manual only lists one bulb, is the bulb for dash illumination or is it optical (IE new switch)

b) My drivers power window switch has an annoying tendancy to refuse to stop going down - its got the auto down, which is great, but normally with a quick push of the 'up' side it stops, now more often than not, it will stop when the switch is in up, but won't go up, when the switch is released, it continues to go down, much wiggling of the switch later, i can put the window back up!, is this the switch, or is there a controller somewhere for the 'auto' window feature that could be knackered?

[amarshall]

Excel's didn't have "auto-down/up" as standard AFAIK. It sounds like a fault with an after-market unit.

[hodders]

the illumination of my front fog light switch is gone when dash illumination is on, if you push it it lights up to confirm they are active. The manual only lists one bulb, is the bulb for dash illumination or is it optical (IE new switch)

If I remember correctly the bulb goes to max. brightness when you press the switch and variable brightness at other times, controlled by the rheostat, which can often be a bit dodgy. If you get to the back of the rheostat, you can swap a couple of the wires over to prove the point. I do remember, correctly this time, that getting to the back of the reheostat is a bit of a b****r without dismantling lots of the dashboard. I used a small mirror last time.

Just looked at my photos and I think you can temporarily swap over the rear connectors of the front & rear fog light switches. that will similarly prove it to be the rheostat or the bulb/switch at fault.

[fitz]

Thanks guys,

I'll dig out the alarm manual, i'm guessing it could be an option on it, perhaps it has auto closure and i've never noticed?!!!! its not too bad, because i know i'll eventually get the window back up, but it is a little distracting when driving battling with window switch!

Cheers hodders, the rheo on mine actually works (shock horror) as the i can see the illumination fade etc, i'll pop a new bulb in it / swap wires with the other fog lights and see what i find out...although i've still to fit my 3rd brake light....

[hodders]

Just to labour the point, looking at the wiring diagram, a single wire serves the vertical bank of fog & heated windows switches. So if the stat is iffy, they all should be iffy, ergo it's the switch or bulb.
while I'm on a roll, there are some unused contacts on the back of the stat, so if you have a bad contact you can try using the spare one (for the gear selector light on automatics).