Choke warning light

[PaulColeman]

I went to the Classic Car Show at the weekend and ended up buying a load of bits from SNG who had a stand there. I didn't intend to buy anything I just happened to be passing!! Anyway, the choke warning light was missing off my dashboard so I bought one but it doesn't seem to fit properly. I put the red plastic bit into the chrome surround, put that through the dashboard and then screw the bulb holder onto the back of it and before it tightens up the red plastic bit has run out of thread.

How can this be? It's like this...http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JAGUAR-E-Type ... 3f41490731

Paul.

[Moeregaard]

Paul, I just happened to have in my hot little hands a reproduction jewel for the choke lamp. I had ordered this many years ago, for my '65 FHC, but by the time it arrived I'd substituted one from another car. It's probably 20 years old. Anyway, I took some measurements and they are as follows:

Overall length measured under the head: .500 inches
Length of threaded portion: .325 inches
Thread type: 3/8-24 UNF

You can probably add a few threads using a die, but the biggest challenge will be holding onto the doggoned thing.

[christopher storey]

Paul : these things are always a bit of a problem, because the design was altered during the life of the car to take a push in type of lamp rather than the more sophisticated one you have got, and I suspect ( although I cannot be definite ) that the hole in the dash was altered as well. I should get a upply of washers big enough for the jewel lens shank to go through , and pack the rear of the dashboard with these before screwing the holder on. That way you should be able to tighten up without running out of thread .

PS also, it might be an idea to put a single washer under the head of the jewel on the outside of the dash, which will prevent its being pulled through excessively

[PaulColeman]

Thanks for the replies.

It seems a bit odd to me that it would be so bad? The dash panel thickness is about 2mm but the light won't tighten down to much less than about 5mm by the look of it.

I did think about padding it with washers but then convinced myself that I must be doing something wrong as it couldn't possibly be so bad!

[paulsco]

Paul,

I bought one from SNG a few weeks ago with exactly the same problem. I packed it out with some washers, but it is something that SNG should have easily got right in the first place; do they not trial fit the parts they sell??

Paul

[PaulColeman]

I'm guessing it comes off a different car and it was the closest thing they could find?

[barberlou]

I have a 64 e type and I need help with the choke warning light. The jewel in the holder is mounted in the dash panel, but what holds the socket where the bulb goes in the back of the panel. The socket falls out where the bulb is held in... what actually holds the complete unit together (hard to explain). And, where is the earth ground at on the unit. Thank you for any help.

[malcolm]

Hi Barberlou - what's your name by the way? This is an old thread from 2014. I suggest you post your enquiry as a new topic on the series 1 thread, and you will be more likely to be spotted.