73 interior light problem
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: staten island
73 interior light problem
Have a strange problem with my 73 all the interior lights only work when you open either door. Already tried 3 headlight switches. The first time this happened the interior lights were staying on all the time. Change the headlight switch then everything was working fine. Now the other day interior lights went on While I was driving. Change the headlight switch again now the interior lights won't go on when you rotate the head light ****. The instrument cluster lights dim and get brighter as you rotate but no interior lights come on. The only way to get the interior lights on is to open driver or passenger door. Every other function of the headlight switch is working fine. Any help or suggestions would be appreciated thank you.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,615
Likes: 150
From: Forth Worth TX
It may be a loose or open wire that goes to the headlight switch. You'll need a wiring diagram, see which interior light wire goes to the headlight switch. With everything connected and the headlight switch rotated counter clockwise (to turn on the interior lights) start moving/jiggling the wire that goes to the interior light circuit. See if the lights flash or come on. Other wise, it's a VOM and wire by wire trouble shooting.
Last edited by Revi; Jul 28, 2016 at 07:55 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 22,201
Likes: 4,187
From: Kannapolis NC
The only thing the switch does to turn on the interior lights is supply a ground to the same circuit that the door switch does. You need to find where the connection is lost from the switch to the ground, or from the wire to the switch.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: staten island
Do u know which wire on the headlight switch supplies power to the ground? Because I thought it's the white wire that supplies power when u rotate the **** to turn on Interior lights.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: staten island
I was thinking of running a new wire from the white lead on the headlight switch right to the door jamb does anyone know if that will work? Like I said before interior lights come on when you open eithet door but they don't come on when you rotate the headlight switch.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 7,431
Likes: 1,561
From: mount holly NC
2025 c3 ('74-'82) of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2019 C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods)
Are both ends of the bracket connected?
Yes! The WHITE wire is the courtesy lamp circuit.
When you spin the **** all the way to the left the finger on the switch becomes grounded to the metal switch bracket (see number 7 in view 'B')
When you spin the **** all the way to the left the finger on the switch becomes grounded to the metal switch bracket (see number 7 in view 'B')
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: staten island
Hard for me to see the pic you posted . So if I understand you right the white wire actually is a ground. And if I run a wire straight from that white wire lead to the driver side door jamb pin white wire. I should be able to turn the interior lights on when I rotate the **** just like the way it's supposed to work.
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: staten island
And now that I was able to open the picture that you sent me I realize that that metal bracket number 7 is broken in my Dash. So I guess what's happening is it can't make a ground. Don't know if I can order that part or try to fix it. Or figure out a different way to ground switch.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 606
Likes: 48
From: Mystic Ct.
Yup, you can buy just the strap:
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...50g&ukey=27778
Hope this helps
Russ
http://www.parts123.com/corvettecent...50g&ukey=27778
Hope this helps
Russ
Thread Starter
Heel & Toe
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 22
Likes: 2
From: staten island
[I]Took the dash apart today and i realized i never put the ground strap on the headlight switch. looks like the bolt that was attaching the ground strap to the speedometer was missing. I found the strap at the bottom of the dash pad. I attached it and now when you rotate the headlight **** the interior lights go on as they are supposed to. Problem solved thanks to all that helped.
Last edited by soprano64; Aug 2, 2016 at 10:39 PM.