Instruments and switches

The E-Type's dashboard carries Smiths instruments and, on Series 1 cars, a row of toggle switches that later gave way to rocker switches for safety legislation. The components are robust in design; age, heat and vibration are what undo them.

Gauges and senders

A gauge that reads wrongly is as often a sender or a supply problem as a gauge problem. The temperature and fuel gauges depend on senders and, on many cars, a voltage stabiliser that feeds them a steady supply; a stabiliser fault makes both gauges misbehave together, which is the clue. Before condemning any instrument, verify its reading against an independent measure, and test or substitute the sender.

Switches and connections

Toggle and rocker switches suffer worn contacts and tired springs, and they fail intermittently before they fail completely. Most can be dismantled, cleaned and returned to service, and reproduction switches are available for those that cannot. Behind the dashboard, multi-plugs and earthing points corrode where they are never disturbed, so an instrument fault hunt should include the connectors behind the panel.

Repair or replace

Specialists rebuild Smiths instruments, recalibrating and refacing them, and the result keeps the car's character intact. New reproduction instruments also exist. A car with its original, working instruments is part of its appeal, and a dead gauge is rarely a reason to walk away from a car; it is a reason to ask what else has been left unattended.