Are these the controls for the spot light on the roof? Nothing happens when I fiddle with them so I'm trying to figure out what they do and why they appear broken.
Yes. No idea why it does not work
Maybe that relay you didn't know what it was for?
Yes - for the spotlight. Toggle turns it ON/OFF. Joystick is for UP/DOWN and LEFT/RIGHT rotation. Don't know about the other black knob. It might turn on the map (reading) light, if you have a map light.
When fiddling with the spotlight controls, try turning the ignition key to ON position - see if that helps. If not, then try ignition key ON and headlight switch ON - see if that works. My last guess - try it with headlight switch ON and rotate the instrument panel lights dimmer switch all the way to the BRIGHT position.
I messed with our OEM spotlight several times over the years. I eventually replaced it with a wireless remote control LED model. See below:
Roof spot light fuse or breaker (https://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=13526.msg460532#msg460532)
I think the spotlight worked independently of anything else.
I put a newer high powered one on my 97 with a wireless remote. Way brighter and way more money.
Found a good use for having one. I had had deer walk out on the road at night several times at highway speed. Not good
Turned on the spotlight and set it on the right edge of the road 3-400 yards ahead just off the roads edge.
It froze the deer. Glowing eyes looking at you. Versus walk out onto the road lane.
Obviously night driving. We used to relocate at night up to,around midnight. Explored and played during the day. Moved at night.
Late 80's times.
That spotlight has cheap plastic chinese gears which jam, break, you name it. Later the manufacturer changed to opposing motors. I threw mine in the dumpster and bought a prit-ty bitchin flashlight.
Thanks guys. Chuck was right, ignition had to be on and it all started working. Still no idea what the black dial does though
Increases or decreases the speed of the light. Safer wired to ignition versus kill the batteries.
[an off-topic discussion has been removed. Please keep this Tech Talk thread focused on the spotlight controls]