Yeah, mine are a little screwy. Is there a previous thread, sticky, or tech manual info on Fiber Optics?

 

Try the search---from long ago there was a member named MELVIN who really had a handle on fiber optics--got mine working perfect through his help.

Semper Fi
1970 Dave

 

Hey Petdoc,

If you find it, post the link. I'm a bit too lazy to do the search myself. But I'm definitely interested. Must be the lazy Sunday afternoon thingy doing this to me. It's really nice and sunny here in Switzerland.

Cheers, Martin

 

Hi pd and mMartin,
The fiber optics can be quite a puzzle but are in fact pretty simple.
You need to make sure that the lenses in the console plate and the lens at each lamp are absolutely as clean as you can get them.
You also need to make sure that both ends of each cable have a very sharp, smooth, cut on them.
People often have trouble with the headlight optics because each lamp had a little rubber 'sleeve' at the optic connection. They helped 'gather' the light and send it on the way. These were OFTEN lost when the bulbs were changed. You can make new sleeves out of a piece of dark colored tubing. They're only about 1/4 to 1/3 inch long.
Even when working properly the optics are difficult to see during the day but should be quite bright at night.
Good Luck!
Regards,
Alan

 

Define "screwy". The assembly instruction manual (AIM) shows the complete installation, but you have to read over the headlight page a time or two to see what they mean.

There are headlight connections as part of the electrical harness for each front lamp; a connection to each front turn signal; a connection to each outer tail light; and a connection on the license lamp.

The system is 100% mechanical. Light from each lamp is collected, run through the various FO cables to the console and displayed in the upper and lower lenses.

Alan's advice about cleanliness is on the money. Unless the various cables have been cut, cleaning up the lenses and cable ends helps considerably.

FWIW: the indicators in upper lense on the console (front lamps) are angled toward the driver. They are not meant to be completely legible from the passenger's side.

 

The reason I said "screwy" is I didn't want to burden you guys with my minor problems which I assumed had already been covered previously on the forum in depth. Didn't want to appear to be a lazy whiner looking for the easy way out....Just wondering if there was info I could find that would help me...
BUT, since you asked (and thank you for doing so) Here we go:

Screwy, my definition: The rear optics work perfectly. I am pretty sure my car has been smacked in the front, as it is a '70, yet has some '72 parts in the front, and no headlamp washers as it should.
The front directional signals have 72 not 70 lenses, but the housings are correct for Fiber Optics, yet I can't find a FO cable for them. I do see the orange FO lens atop the housing, but no FO cable.
My passenger high beam FO does not work, but the other 3 headlamps' FO work....(not quite as bright as the back FO's but they work "close enough.") My headlight bulbs are new Sylvania H5001's and H5006's. At the time I installed them, I was unaware of the "tit" between the prongs that allowed the light transfer, nor was I aware of the rubber insulator tube Alan referred to. So I guess I'll pull the headlamps back out today and re-investigate that as well as continue searching for the FO cables to the turn signals. Thanks guys. Y'all are the BEST!

 

Hi pd,
You're experiencing exactly what I do.... 1 step forward and 2 steps back.
If things seem to go well it's because something is wrong but you don't know enough to realize it!
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks for your help, Alan (***edit and Easy Mike***). Much appreciated

Martin

 

I have a 70, went through similar problems years ago.

The lens for the direction lights shouldn't make any difference. What I recall is there's a boot with a small lens on the top of the housing for the parking/direction light. Much like the lens found in the stop/direction light housings in the rear. There should be one fiber optic for each side. If they're not there, it could be Bubba thought they were wires and cut them off during a repair, thinking he'd splice them later. At a glance they look like wires.

The fiber optics are bundled with the front wiring harness. If they have been cut off you could replace the entire harness or possibly just the fiber optic bundle (not sure whether it's offered separately).

I repaired mine before vendors were offering replacements. The fiber optic bundles are generic, manufacturer name on the sleeve. I was able to buy it in bulk from Edmund Scientific, many years ago. I took my harness out, unwrapped it, and replaced bundles as needed.

If the bundles are intact, the most common problem is dirt. The ends need to be very clean to pick up the light. If necessary, maybe cut just a very tiny bit off the end with a razor blade, keep it square with the end.

Other problem I've had is mice. They chewed through my rear fiber optic bundle once, under the console. This time I replaced the entire rear harness. I'm keeping the console shift plate off until I'm nearly finished, discourage mice from hiding in there.

 

Petdoc,
I just repaired my rear F/O while I had the tank out. My car has been hit in the rear, and the F/o was pinched and torn in multiple places. In one spot Bubbe thought it was a wire and crimped the two ends together. I would make sure the collection and distribution ends are good and clean, and start looking for pinches or tears.

 

Thanks for all the input guys. I fear the FO's for the front turn signal/park lamps may have fallen victim to Bubba's side cutters. I cannot find anything exiting the bundle in the area where I think they should exit. There's nothing...nada....

The good news is that the one headlight whose FO is not working does appear to have an intact FO at the plug end...hopefully, it's just dirty.

All the kids have just left to go back to college.....time for a nap and then back under the vette

 

You might want to start at the firewall where the fo cable comes through and follow it forward from there.

 

Yeah I know.... That sure is a lot of unwrapping tho....Bubba kinda over-did the tape wrap thing, you know!

 

Okay, here's what I got! This pic is of the unwrapped harness just forward of the point where the alternator wires exit the bundle. I am thinking I should see 6 F/O leads here correct? I see 4 brown leads that are identical in size and color. I think this is bad news for my turnsignal F/O's....

 

Paragon sells the front fiber optics harness for $182 if you need one..

Are there six bundles coming through the firewall? The fiber optics come through the firewall separately.

 

I don't think so. At this point (where I have removed the tape....see pic) in the wiring harness, I "assume," from what I've read, six FO cables should be within this bundle......Correct?

 

Hi pd,
Yes, there should be six cables.
They're part of the front lighting harness and come out of it right under the vacuum storage tank behind the drivers side wheel well. They then go through their own grommet at the firewall.
Regards,
Alan

 

Thanks Alan....I will delve into that tomorrow... Got frustrated w/ the vette today and resumed color sanding my old Camaro...because it was something I understood......freakin' vette.... fiber optics....aaaarghhhh!

 

Ho pd,
The cars with the vacuum headlight doors, wiper door, and fiber optics are a bit of trouble to work on but are pretty cool when everythings working.
Regards,
Alan