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Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:12 pm
by alex1985blue
Hey Guys,
I have been exhausting the resources on here recently as ive had a few questions so forry, and thankyou at the same time.
On my car I have little leds illumiating the door handles in the car, but the ones in the rear doors are much brighter than the ones in the front doors.
Is there a way that they can be brightened up? I have tried the dimmer switch for the dash lights but that basically turns them from very dull to off. The rears still stay on when the fronts are off making me think that they have been tuned down seperately to the rears?
Can they be turned up or down using a computer through the ECU? Im wondering if there is a option like where you can turn auto locking doors on or TV in motion for example.
Thoughts?
Cheers
Alex
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:30 pm
by Sanj
Alex,
Could be the clip on the inside of the door card is sitting too far back - usually clips into place and may need to be pushed back in. But you need to get the door card off. Previous owner may have broken them too - easy to do as they are fragile and the last thing to unclip as the door card comes away. Easily broken...
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:36 pm
by alex1985blue
Ok, I will have a look and see what I can do.
Do you know if there is a guide on how to take the door cards off?
Cheers
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 8:54 pm
by Sanj
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:32 pm
by nujon
I have two that do not work at all - can someone advise what is the light source and what is the common failure / breakage mode? (expensive to self fix?)
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:04 pm
by squeaky2
[quote=""Sanj""]Alex, Previous owner may have broken them too - easy to do as they are fragile and the last thing to unclip as the door card comes away. Easily broken...[/quote]
Im with Sanj and unfortunatly im one of those owners..........they really do break off far too easily. Managed to kinda stick it back when i did mine .
Hadnt noticed whether they dimmed with the dash board lights......now tempted to go and look

Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:08 pm
by Sanj
The plastic directs the light from the bulb/LED further back in the door card. Just needs the door card opening to investigate further...
Once you know how the card can be taken off in about 3 minutes...
But take your time, on first attempt!
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:10 pm
by nujon
[quote=""Sanj""]The plastic directs the light from the bulb/LED further back in the door card. Just needs the door card opening to investigate further...
Once you know how the card can be taken off in about 3 minutes...
But take your time, on first attempt![/quote]
What is the bit that actually breaks Sanj?
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:19 pm
by Sanj
You have a clear perspex tube that guides the light - one end sits right next to the light source, the other goes to the grab handle, to give the light. All in the one wiring loom (flexible). To get that to sit in place there are two clips above and below that fit the handle, they are delicate...
It's when you forget to squeeze these clips and slide the assembly out, you pull on the door card and easily snap the pespex tube. I did - I got a clean break and used a combination of superglue, a hot glue gun and some duct tape to support everything!
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 10:24 pm
by nujon
[quote=""Sanj""]You have a clear perspex tube that guides the light - one end sits right next to the light source, the other goes to the grab handle, to give the light. All in the one wiring loom (flexible). To get that to sit in place there are two clips above and below that fit the handle, they are delicate...
It's when you forget to squeeze these clips and slide the assembly out, you pull on the door card and easily snap the pespex tube. I did - I got a clean break and used a combination of superglue, a hot glue gun and some duct tape to support everything![/quote]
Thanks - I take it the perspex tube is not a service part - presume the bulb can be changed?
Re: Lights Illumiating door handles very dim
Posted: Tue Feb 15, 2011 11:05 pm
by Sanj
I'd have to say, same train of thought as you - bulb shouldn't go though...
The lot should be DIY repairable though.