Headlight fiber optics question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 108
Likes: 1
From: Easton CT
Headlight fiber optics question
On my '69, all the fiber optics work fine except for the 4 headlights. So I took off the connector to one of the inner lights and sure enough, there is on optical fiber cable between the the two electrical connections. Apparently some light comes out the back of the light and into the fiber. I tested it by shining a flashlight into it and yes, the correct light illuminated on the console.
So why doesn't it work? I have modern halogen lights instead of the original T3's. Could it be that only T3 headlights are designed to shine some light back into the connector?
So why doesn't it work? I have modern halogen lights instead of the original T3's. Could it be that only T3 headlights are designed to shine some light back into the connector?
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,547
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From: Carbondale Pa.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Yep, there needs to be a glass protusion sticking out the back of the headlight. The one in the photo is a Halogen on my 71', so at least some have it. You can just barely see it below the headlight terminal. I'm surprised yours don't have it as normally that's where they pull the vacuum when they make the light.
This is the part of the fiber optics that "looks" at the back of the head light.
This is the part of the fiber optics that "looks" at the back of the head light.
Last edited by Duke94; Sep 17, 2008 at 07:25 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: In limbo
St. Jude Donor '13-'15, '17 thru '22
My car was just painted, and the headlight fiber optics don't work. I can't make heads or tails of the pictures here. Can anyone "shed more light" on this topic? Like explain it in a way a dolt like me can understand it? I can't see the "glass protrusion" in the picture. Can anyone point that out?
Last edited by Derrick Reynolds; Sep 17, 2008 at 08:40 PM. Reason: improve clarity
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Confusion
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Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
My car was just painted, and the headlight fiber optics don't work. I can't make heads or tails of the pictures here. Can anyone "shed more light" on this topic? Like explain it in a way a dolt like me can understand it? I can't see the "glass protrusion" in the picture. Can anyone point that out?
Clean the FO ends on your headlights, parking lights, license light, and tail lights. If the FO lines have not been cut, the brightness of the display should improve.
You can also clean the gunk out of the lenses on the console.
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Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
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From: Crossville TN
On the 'just' painted car... Chances are the painter did not mask off the connectors and he painted over the end of the fiber optic cable. Just scrape off the paint on the end of it and it should work just fine. {try not to scratch it up too much} Also, if you haven't been into the tunnel console to know how the cables are situated, you need to do that. Sometimes, they can just fall out of their sockets. If you have access to both ends of any ONE cable, you should be able to shine light in one end and see it shine in the other end. If you can't, the cable is separated somewhere in the line. There are patch kits out there to hook them back together.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2000
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From: Minnesota
For the internet disabled, you know who you are.......................
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/HARNESS1.PDF
http://www.docrebuild.com/dr-r-web/HARNESS1.PDF
That would be me--thanks for the assist
SEMPER FI--1970 Dave