Rheostat diagnoses

[70spider]

If I have a bad rheostat would a symptom be that the instrument lights don't work? While trying to see if my intrument light sockets were good the violet wire from the clock accidentally touched the dash light rheostat and created a brief short, now none of the instrument lights work. I checked the fuses in the fuse and they are ok. I should have learned my lesson 25 years ago not to mess with electrical stuff, lets just say the fire department was called .

[vandor]

Have you tried turning the rheostat? If that does not work you can check it by connecting together its wires. If the lights come on the rheostat is bad.

[spider2081]

Not sure about your rheostat but the later ones have an internal fuse. Here is a link to a previous post here that may help you.

http://www.fiatspider.com/f08/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=28836

[TX82FIAT]

Just bipass the reostat if that is the issue. Dim or dimmer are the options.

[70spider]

Well I went through the instrument light sockets one more time with some sand paper put it all back together and I have dash lights again. I still have one of the speedo sockets not wotking but that is the only one out, so I will leave it alone .