1969 corvette
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,173
Likes: 4,250
From: Westminster Maryland
Hi ta,
The fiber-optic system is really pretty straight forward…. no moving parts or electrical connections.
Saying how much work it will be to repair with looking carefully at the system is impossible to say.
Some cars have parts of the system not connected or missing, but that can't be determined with out looking at the car.
For example, cars that haven't been well maintained sometimes have had the harnesses butchered which can affect the operation of fiber-optics.
Regards,
Alan
Here are the typical parts used at the parking light housings:
The fiber-optic system is really pretty straight forward…. no moving parts or electrical connections.
Saying how much work it will be to repair with looking carefully at the system is impossible to say.
Some cars have parts of the system not connected or missing, but that can't be determined with out looking at the car.
For example, cars that haven't been well maintained sometimes have had the harnesses butchered which can affect the operation of fiber-optics.
Regards,
Alan
Here are the typical parts used at the parking light housings:
Last edited by Alan 71; Oct 28, 2017 at 02:07 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
Likes: 111
From: Tolland CT
Could just be the ends need to be cleaned up or may have been popped out of their sockets. If the car sat, may be some rodent damage, had it happen to my 70. Or as Alan said, I've seen backyard mechanics chop them off thinking they were a wire.
Replacement wiring harnesses come with new fiber optics. Worst case scenario.
Replacement wiring harnesses come with new fiber optics. Worst case scenario.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 978
Likes: 254
From: Bethlehem, PA
Sometimes fixing can be simple. My car was painted before I bought it. The tail lights lens were removed for painting and the fiber optic lens got painted over. I removed the paint, which prevented to light to shine through the lens and the rear optics then "worked".
Could just be the ends need to be cleaned up or may have been popped out of their sockets. If the car sat, may be some rodent damage, had it happen to my 70. Or as Alan said, I've seen backyard mechanics chop them off thinking they were a wire.
Replacement wiring harnesses come with new fiber optics. Worst case scenario.
Replacement wiring harnesses come with new fiber optics. Worst case scenario.
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 3,079
Likes: 314
2024 C3 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
That $26,000 original drivetrain car can easily turn into a $68,000 car...and still have the silver paint you are looking at. I know this from experience. Mine only had 56k miles some 13 years ago when I bought it. I am still dumping thousands into it for a restored interior. Enjoy the journey or pay big bucks for one already done. 
Racer
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 488
Likes: 43
From: Vancouver British Columbia
I would have to say that fiber optics are probably one of the easier repairs on these cars. If the car still has the cables and have not been cut. A flashlight at the beginning of each light collector helps determine if it is;
1. a problem in the source
2. a broken cable
3. a problem in the display at the console
More than likely though, you will have to pull your console out to get proper access.
AS BBCorv70 said, worst case it about a 300 dollars wiring harness that will solve the problem completely.
1. a problem in the source
2. a broken cable
3. a problem in the display at the console
More than likely though, you will have to pull your console out to get proper access.
AS BBCorv70 said, worst case it about a 300 dollars wiring harness that will solve the problem completely.
