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So I’ve replaced my rear bumper and am nearly content with final adjustments but as I’m putting things back I have noticed I have 2 license plate lamps with wiring. I followed both back into the harness and neither one appears to have been spliced in for as far as I traced them. One was mounted where it should be and the other was mounted to the rear bumper bar. Both had identical part#s on them and although the picture isn’t the best it shows they both make it to the location of the normal light. Any ideas what happened? Or why taillight replacements are so ridiculously priced.
The 2nd light is for when its dark, wet, and stormy you have adequate light to remove your spare tire. Part of the convenience group package.
Have you seen something in literature that says that? I see nothing in the manuals I have and have a hard time believing someone wouldn’t take issue with a light shining under the vehicle at all times.
I've never heard of that on the '77's either. My '87 had that nifty little license plate light mounted under the rear bumper...when the lights were on it wasn't really noticeable unless you were standing right at the back of the car looking down. I could definitely see the benefit of that light if you (God forbid) EVER had to pull the spare at night.
I have just about every drawing it's not there, or I can't find it. I have a late 77 the drawings are a little different early to late.
If you look at the license plate lamp the wire colors are black and brown, part of the park/license/turn/hazard warning/stop light circuit. The spare tire lamp wire colors are orange and white, part of the courtesy lights circuit. Door open it's on, door closes the lamp turns off. Now, if your interior light timer is connected and working the light will turn off at the delayed time. Also, if your headlight switch is rotated full left (interior lights) it will be on all the time.
I have just about every drawing it's not there, or I can't find it. I have a late 77 the drawings are a little different early to late.
If you look at the license plate lamp the wire colors are black and brown, part of the park/license/turn/hazard warning/stop light circuit. The spare tire lamp wire colors are orange and white, part of the courtesy lights circuit. Door open it's on, door closes the lamp turns off. Now, if your interior light timer is connected and working the light will turn off at the delayed time. Also, if your headlight switch is rotated full left (interior lights) it will be on all the time.
ok I’ll check that out, I’ll follow the wire colors as with my luck I would get them swapped and then fail my yearly inspection for not having a license light or get pulled over for a light out, till I opened the door of course.
I'm researching when the spare tire light was added. I have a 77 VIN#13090 and it does not have the spare tire light or mounting holes for the light. I'm aware some late 77's have the light. I'm trying to narrow down when this change was incorporated. If you could provide me with a build date or a VIN and let me know whether you have the light or not would be appreciated.
I'm researching when the spare tire light was added. I have a 77 VIN#13090 and it does not have the spare tire light or mounting holes for the light. I'm aware some late 77's have the light. I'm trying to narrow down when this change was incorporated. If you could provide me with a build date or a VIN and let me know whether you have the light or not would be appreciated.
It was part of the ZX2 convenience group package option. 40,872 or so 1977 were built with this $22.00 option.
Last edited by bmotojoe; Feb 16, 2020 at 09:15 AM.
Just to clarify. My 77 has the ZX2 package and does NOT have the spare tire light or the mounting holes. My 77 is a Nov build date. I'm trying to figure out when the spare tire light was added into production. Some where between Nov 76 and June 77 the light was added. Just trying to narrow it down.
The 1977 Corvette Electrical Troubleshooting Manual is dated 01-77 and there are no drawings supporting that light in the courtesy light circuit. So if someone has a 77 with the ZX2 option built before or after 01-77 up until the end of April of 77 and has that light please chime in.
Last edited by bmotojoe; Feb 17, 2020 at 09:52 PM.
The 77 AIM shows the spare tire light in View A and it shows a revision date of March 77. I do not have an earlier AIM to see if it was added at that time or not.
The 77 AIM shows the spare tire light in View A and it shows a revision date of March 77. I do not have an earlier AIM to see if it was added at that time or not.
Good find!
According to build records, 29,041 1977 were built by the end of March 1977. It is also known that the cutoff between 1st & 2nd design was at or around the 27,372 number.
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License light question.
