Backlighting on HVAC controls

[glacialmoraine]

Hi,

I have a 2007 Exige S. I bought it used.

The HVAC controls have never lit up, and I have found every year of Elise and Exige night shots showing this part lit up.

The dealer took the controls apart on my car and another 2007 and said the other car had bulbs, wires, things that would cause light. My car he said just had blank aluminum.

My car is base, no touring pack. The one he checked had touring, but I've seen base models lit up in pictures, in cars I believed to be stock.

So, do they all have the backlights and the assemblyman in hethel fell asleep and forgot mine, or is there some sort of touring/base climate control lighting delineation that has changed year to year.

thanks,

gm

[TheViper]

I can't believe that a base model does not have the illumination of the HVAC console. Is your dimmer button turned up sufficiently, this is located on the right side of the steering column, hold it in to change intensity. The instrument panel backlight also connects to the HVAC illumination. BTW, the illumination is only on when you have your side (parking) lights on.
Michael

Originally Posted by glacialmoraine

Hi,

I have a 2007 Exige S. I bought it used.

The HVAC controls have never lit up, and I have found every year of Elise and Exige night shots showing this part lit up.

The dealer took the controls apart on my car and another 2007 and said the other car had bulbs, wires, things that would cause light. My car he said just had blank aluminum.

My car is base, no touring pack. The one he checked had touring, but I've seen base models lit up in pictures, in cars I believed to be stock.

So, do they all have the backlights and the assemblyman in hethel fell asleep and forgot mine, or is there some sort of touring/base climate control lighting delineation that has changed year to year.

thanks,

gm

[MikeinAlexandria]

Sounds like you don't have the wiring to do this. It is probably fairly easy to implement, just take a peak at a parts manual and see what harness and lighting bits you'd need. But, it will probably be quite expensive, maybe come up with your own solution? LEDs?

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by glacialmoraine

The dealer took the controls apart on my car... My car he said just had blank aluminum.

If this is truly what was seen, I believe Pierce was distracted by Nigel's antics again and your car whizzed right past him without getting the HVAC back-lighting bits added. I have driven a base '07 at night (no sport, no touring) and the HVAC controls were illuminated .

[RoadDad]

Originally Posted by MikeinAlexandria

Sounds like you don't have the wiring to do this. It is probably fairly easy to implement, just take a peak at a parts manual and see what harness and lighting bits you'd need. But, it will probably be quite expensive, maybe come up with your own solution? LEDs?

The wiring should be there no matter what. The Elise has Exige specific wiring in it and vise versa because it is easier (I read that as cheaper) to wire all the cars the same. The Federal cars have wiring installed for the rear fog lamp but we have no rear fog lamp. So that wiring and harness should be there somewhere. It may be tucked somewhere not very visible, but it should be present.

[TheViper]

The Red/Orange wire is the illumination wire.
Michael

[kevinthefro]

It doesn't use bulbs. It uses an electroluminescent panel, as does the tach/speedo.
The EL panel is glued to the aluminum plate, and a piece of plastic with the graphic overlay is glued to that.
The small black box is the inverter that steps up the voltage, and the ribbon cable connected to J1 leads to the EL panel itself.

[mista618]

are the small divot lights on the knobs supposed to light up as well? I have an 07 exige with touring pack...the HVAC panel lights up but the small divots do not? Can't seem to find any night pics on here for comparison

[kevinthefro]

The knobs on my 07 are solid aluminum. I'm thinking about trying to drill through the divots, fill with clear epoxy, and backlight.

Here's a better shot of the ribbon cable, with lights on, the faceplate is illuminated.

My guess is the inverter is bad on glacialmoraine's car. It can be checked with a voltmeter. I measured 136 volts AC at the J1 terminals.

[glacialmoraine]

Thanks for all the great replies and pictures, I have forwarded a link to this thread to the tech at the local dealership. Apparently my car should light up!

gm

[mista618]

Originally Posted by kevinthefro

The knobs on my 07 are solid aluminum. I'm thinking about trying to drill through the divots, fill with clear epoxy, and backlight.

Here's a better shot of the ribbon cable, with lights on, the faceplate is illuminated.

My guess is the inverter is bad on glacialmoraine's car. It can be checked with a voltmeter. I measured 136 volts AC at the J1 terminals.

so your knobs do not light up either? I'm just confused because I remember someone saying theirs does light up...I have never seen it myself however.

[shay2nak]

the knobs don't light.

[glacialmoraine]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

the knobs don't light.

They do now...



This part was fedexed from Lotus to my dealer today, they must have made a change, maybe for the 2011 MY? Looks like the EL has no mask behind the knob, and the dot is drilled all the way through and filled with clear plastic/epoxy.

I'm happy, not only does the hvac panel light, the knobs do too. Yay!

Should the AC compressor turn itself off every time the car or blower is turned off? i have to turn it back on all the time now.

take care,

gm

[kevinthefro]

Sweet.
You don't have a part number for those knobs, do you?

[Aedo]

Originally Posted by glacialmoraine

...
Should the AC compressor turn itself off every time the car or blower is turned off? i have to turn it back on all the time now.
...

Yes - that is the correct functionality (even if it seems odd - )

[glacialmoraine]

Originally Posted by kevinthefro

Sweet.
You don't have a part number for those knobs, do you?

I think they were just sub-parts of the whole assembly, since my old knobs didn't glow they must have come attached to the new AC control panel?

If you take the knob off there is a glowing circle just smaller than the knob, it is not painted back there. Not sure if the older ones are like that or not...

take care,

gm

[shay2nak]

that looks awesome! why is the temp adjustment in blue? Does it become red if you move the knob into the red portion?

[glacialmoraine]

Originally Posted by shay2nak

Does it become red if you move the knob into the red portion?

Yes, it changes to red. I think the colors are the way they are because the knobs are all the same, with a clear plastic piece. They just let the color behind shine through.

take care,

gm

[polojcp]

Shocking!!! Mine does not light up too, and it has been that way since day one. I thought it was normal.

Good thing my warranty is still available.

[tesprit]

Originally Posted by glacialmoraine

I think they were just sub-parts of the whole assembly, since my old knobs didn't glow they must have come attached to the new AC control panel?

If you take the knob off there is a glowing circle just smaller than the knob, it is not painted back there. Not sure if the older ones are like that or not...

take care,

gm

It appears there are now two different knobs available as well as two different HVAC control panels according to this parts list: Lotus Garage - AC/Heater Driver Operated Controls My guess is that this replacement panel came with the new knobs that light up. It also appears that you can buy the knobs (new or old style) separately of the panel, but I have a feeling if you try to purchase the new lit knobs and attach them to the old panel, they will not light up.