Need help with electrical question
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 304
From: Charlotte Area North Carolina
Need help with electrical question
We own a 1969 Coupe. 350 ci / 350 hp with factory A/C. I'm not a mechanic so please be patient.
This week my son parked the car in the garage after taking it for a spin and the driver side and passenger side courtesy lights by the floor boards will not go off. Have a quick disconnect switch on battery that I used to kill the courtesy lights.
Tried:
Not sure what to try next besides another trip to the mechanic.
This week my son parked the car in the garage after taking it for a spin and the driver side and passenger side courtesy lights by the floor boards will not go off. Have a quick disconnect switch on battery that I used to kill the courtesy lights.
Tried:
- opening and closing headlights, couple of times
- twisted on / off the head light switch to turn on / off the dome lights
- Manually pushed in door switches on both sides to see if button(s) were sticking
- checked fuse box, everything looked okay, no fuses out
- looked under hood to see if I could see any obvious loose wires
- looked under both driver side and passenger side inside car for loose wires, did not see anything loose
Not sure what to try next besides another trip to the mechanic.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 304
From: Charlotte Area North Carolina
Thank you.
Door Ajar light is flickering too so it has to be a switch not making contact. Looks like it's the passenger side that is acting up. Appreciate the help.
Door Ajar light is flickering too so it has to be a switch not making contact. Looks like it's the passenger side that is acting up. Appreciate the help.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 304
From: Charlotte Area North Carolina
Is there an easy way to adjust the switch so that it makes more contact, do they twist in / twist out in order to make more or less contact with the door. I did check the doors on both sides and there is a small metal clip attached to each door that appears to be in the right location to make contact between the door jam switch and the clip on the door.
I wished I knew how to attach pictures. I'm sure that might help describe this better.
So, how do you adjust the switch on the door jam?
I wished I knew how to attach pictures. I'm sure that might help describe this better.
So, how do you adjust the switch on the door jam?
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,107
Likes: 9,424
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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you cant adjust the switch. they work of contact and ground the circuit out. if they get rust or other things like paint they loose the ground. steel wool them until all parts are shinny and clean
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 1,327
Likes: 16
From: Fl
The switches themsleves are not adjustable.
What GM woul do from the factory is install a small rubber pad - it had adhesive on the back.
This would be sure to depress the switch far enough to stop the contact.
Also ---
If I am not mistaken the wires that attach to the switches are a grounding wire - complete the ground when the door is open. If you use the pads and the issue does not go away, then you will need to follow all the wires to be sure one is not broken and grounding to some part on the car.
What GM woul do from the factory is install a small rubber pad - it had adhesive on the back.
This would be sure to depress the switch far enough to stop the contact.
Also ---
If I am not mistaken the wires that attach to the switches are a grounding wire - complete the ground when the door is open. If you use the pads and the issue does not go away, then you will need to follow all the wires to be sure one is not broken and grounding to some part on the car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Door ajar
The door ajar light is controlled by a pair of switches located at the rear of the door jamb. If the lamp flickers it may mean the switch plunger is not fully depressed when the door is closed. There are some rubber bumpers stuck on the door which will cause the switch to be pushed in further. If they have fallen off, the switch may not fully open when the door closes. It's also possible you may have a wiring problem which is causing the pair of wires going to the switch to short intermittently. The courtesy lights and door ajar light are controlled by different switches. Courtesy lights by the front switch, door ajar by the ones in the rear.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
The switches themsleves are not adjustable.
What GM woul do from the factory is install a small rubber pad - it had adhesive on the back.
This would be sure to depress the switch far enough to stop the contact.
Also ---
If I am not mistaken the wires that attach to the switches are a grounding wire - complete the ground when the door is open. If you use the pads and the issue does not go away, then you will need to follow all the wires to be sure one is not broken and grounding to some part on the car.
What GM woul do from the factory is install a small rubber pad - it had adhesive on the back.
This would be sure to depress the switch far enough to stop the contact.
Also ---
If I am not mistaken the wires that attach to the switches are a grounding wire - complete the ground when the door is open. If you use the pads and the issue does not go away, then you will need to follow all the wires to be sure one is not broken and grounding to some part on the car.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
Likes: 42
The switches are self adjusting. The inner metal tube is preset at maximum extension when new. The first time the door is closed, the plunger sets the inner tube to the correct clearance and you're all set. You might want to reset the switches, but they may not hold the new setting.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,797
Likes: 304
From: Charlotte Area North Carolina
You have all been a big help. Switch in front door jam controlling the floor lights is shiny and clean.
Should I spray the spring / plunger part with anything like graphite lubricant? to keep the internal part of the switch from developing any internal rust that you can't see? Or, WD-40? Just asking. I have both types in the garage.
Good news is the floor lights are now out when the doors are closed.
Should I spray the spring / plunger part with anything like graphite lubricant? to keep the internal part of the switch from developing any internal rust that you can't see? Or, WD-40? Just asking. I have both types in the garage.
Good news is the floor lights are now out when the doors are closed.
