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| Rover 800 820 Auto Gear Box Selection Lever Lights. |
Car: 1999 Rover 800 820 Auto Fastback
Colour: Charcoal Grey / Black
One thing that had always bugged us with this vehicle was that the Gear Lever 'P R N D 3 2 1' Selector Lights had never been illuminated whilst we had owned it.
We just thought that the letters were not meant to be lit up on this vehicle as it was only the 820Si. All of the other Rover 800 Autos we had had and which had them lit were Sterlings.
The fact that even the drivers electric window switch pack on this car only had two LEDs whilst our other 800s had more LEDs in them, seemed to confirm that either because the car was lower down in the range or because it was one of the last of the 800s made that either the basic cars were made this way or less LEDs were being fitted towards the end of production as a penny pinching cost cutting exercise.
After checking with other Rover 800 owners, it seemed that those with the 820Si cars did not have the letters and number lights light up either, but all cars had the gear stick position (dot) illuminated.
We decided that one day we would like to illuminate the gear lever selection lights in this vehicle, but that it was not worth doing unless we had to remove the centre console anyway.
So the day we had to remove the centre console to try and adjust the handbrake cable we decided to have a look at the gear lever lights too.
What surprised us was that it looked like it had a light(s) already fitted! The gear selector trim had a wire and connector, so maybe it used to be illuminated!
When we did manage to get it apart we found a single LED inside. When we tested this LED and compared it to the Gear Lever Position LED attached to the lever (that lights up the dots), we found although this LED worked it was very dull in comparison.
We replaced the LED with a new one and then fitted and tested it before refitting all the centre console.
Now that the Gear Lever Selector Lights illuminate (they come on with either the car lights or ignition) the car seems much better to be sat in it at night. To those who have never had the 'P R N D 3 2 1' Selector Lights light up, then it is probably something that you will never miss, but when you have had more Rover 800's and particularly if you own them at the same time, then it always seems as though something is missing from the cars that do not have the letters and numbers illuminate.
In our opinion it was well worth fixing.
Of course, due to the way the LED which lights up the dots is connected, they are known to require fixing too, as we know!
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Rover 800 Centre Console Removed for Access to Gear Lever.
The Gear Lever Trim has Already has Wires and a Connector for the Selector Lights!
The LED for the Selector Lights when Tested is very Dull compared to the Gear Stick Position LED.
The Old LED has been Swapped for a New LED and is ready for Refitting.
Testing the New LED with the Ignition Switched On.
The 'P R N D 3 2 1' Selector Lights now work alongside the Gear Lever Position/Dot Lights.
That Looks Much Better than it Did Before.
In the Dark the Gear Lever Lights Do Add to the Rover Ownership Experience.
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