what is it and what's it do !!??

[demerson]

Sorry there's not a picture but an explanation should do .... I have a 1974 Manta 1.9 4 spd ... my first opel ever !!! .... first question .... there is a knob on the dash right under the little "fasten seat belts" light up thing. it rotates(turns) isn't a push/pull ... I have played with it and it seems to do nothing(with the car running , and also in accessory) ??? Its drivin' me a little batty.
Ok question number 2 .... the headlight knob also turns .... what does that cause ... again tried it over and over and there seems to be nothing that it does .... ????? any info would be great.Thanks in advance

[Aardvaark]

The knob under the seatbelt light is a dimmer for the insterments lighting,
but often fails. I simply wired mine full bright as suggested by someone here
since it no longer worked.

Turning the headlight knob does nothing as far as I know. I've owned two new ones, a '73 Manta and a '75 1900 sedan.

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by demerson Sorry theres not a picture but an explanation should do .... I have a 1974 Manta 1.9 4 spd ... my first opel ever !!! .... first question .... there is a knob on the dash right under the little "fasten seat belts" light up thing. it rotates(turns) isn't a push/pull ... I have played with it and it seems to do nothing(with the car running , and also in accessory) ??? Its drivin' me a little batty. Ok question number 2 .... the headlight knob also turns .... what does that cause ... again tried it over and over and there seems to be nothing that it does .... ????? any info would be great.Thanks in advance

This question keeps coming up!
Sooo....The knob under the seatbelt light is a dimmer for the insterments lighting,
but often fails. I simply wired mine full bright as suggested by someone here
since it no longer worked.

Turning the headlight knob does nothing as far as I know. I've owned two new ones, a '73 Manta and a '75 1900 sedan.

[Gary]

knobs!!!what do they do!!!!!

Ask Ooooner!

[demerson]

Cool thanks for the responses ..... I guess a PO had already eliminated the knob from the line up !

[timemachine]

Everything said so far is correct.

Just to add, turning the headlight knob activates a spst switch on the back of the light switch that isn't connected to anything. There are two unused lugs back there. It was never used in any application I know of from Opel, but someone, (I forget who) used the contacts on the back to run a pair of under-dash courtesy lights they wired themselves, pretty clever.

But, if you do the same, remember that the switch does not not run through the ignition switch, so you'll also have to remember to turn off your courtesy lights or they'll be on all the time.

You could also use this switch (with a relay) to run things like a fuel pump or driving lights.

Jim

[kwilford]

Originally Posted by demerson Sorry theres not a picture but an explanation should do .... I have a 1974 Manta 1.9 4 spd ... my first opel ever !!! .... first question .... there is a knob on the dash right under the little "fasten seat belts" light up thing. it rotates(turns) isn't a push/pull ... I have played with it and it seems to do nothing(with the car running , and also in accessory) ??? Its drivin' me a little batty. Ok question number 2 .... the headlight knob also turns .... what does that cause ... again tried it over and over and there seems to be nothing that it does .... ????? any info would be great.Thanks in advance

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[opelgtmaster3]

try turning the headlight knob all the way clock wise with doors closed and see if it truns on the dome light. when the knob gets to the stopping point, try and turn it just a little bit more. i had a 85 AMC eagle and it has a headlight knob like that, and it was also the dome light switch.

[Rionart]

On the 'B' series cars, it turns the interior light on and off...on my UK cars I think it turns the dash lights on and off...it's been a while so I'll have to look again.
As a side thought, it's a good way to add an immobilsor switch...

[BQS4]

Adding to what Mark posted, yes, the knob under the "Fasten Seat Belts" is for the bright/dim of the dash lights, and as Mark has posted, most are so old now, they don't work, best to straight wire. This knob applied to the 74-75 models, both Mantas and Asconas. The Headlight switch being able to turn was for the 71-73 models, but, instead of dimming, they were either on or off. Opel just didn't change the design of the switch for the 74-75 models. (Just being frugal )

[Aardvaark]

Originally Posted by BQS4 Adding to what Mark posted, yes, the knob under the "Fasten Seat Belts" is for the bright/dim of the dash lights, and as Mark has posted, most are so old now, they don't work, best to straight wire. This knob applied to the 74-75 models, both Mantas and Asconas. The Headlight switch being able to turn was for the 71-73 models, but, instead of dimming, they were either on or off. Opel just didn't change the design of the switch for the 74-75 models. (Just being frugal )

Oh, yeah. Forgot about my '73 Manta's on off dash light control on the headlight switch. 35 years will do that.