Broken fiber optics
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 320
Likes: 0
From: Upstate New York
Broken fiber optics
Is there a way to splice a broken fiber optic cable or does it have to be replaced? I have a broken cable that goes to one of the rear lights and would like to repair/replace as long as the console is apart.
thanks....Rick
thanks....Rick
7th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Diamond Springs Ca
fiber optic repair
I had fairly good luck with just cleaning up the broken ends, cutting the strands to a uniform length, inserting them in a little bit of brass tubing, pushing the ends in until they bottom out against each other, then crimp the ends to hold the cable in place. a piece of heat shrink might also work. You may loose a little bit of brightness but its a lot cheaper than getting a whole new cable.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 8
From: Illinois
How bright are the fiber optic spots on the console supposed to be. Mine are all working but they don't seem very bright--are they easily seen on a bright sunny day. Is there someway to make them brighter? Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 6,640
Likes: 287
From: Ann Arbor Michigan
Here's the repair kit.
http://www.zip-products.com/Zip/prod...8F6F55D288337B
Last edited by Duke94; Feb 3, 2008 at 09:03 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,345
Likes: 3
To get the best splice I make up an aluminum tube that will provide a press fit with the OD of the fiber optic cable. Shrink tube will not hold it rigidly enough to get the best light transmission.
Clearly clean ends are also critical....
Clearly clean ends are also critical....
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,118
From: Crossville TN
Try the website below for inexpensive repair kit for Corvette fiber optics cable system:
http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/fiberoptic.html
http://www.watsons-streetworks.com/fiberoptic.html
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7th Gear
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Diamond Springs Ca
I just used a "fresh" razor blade, you are only cutting the individual cable. It might work to have someone watch the output at the console while you are doing the repair, move the optics around to otain max brightness and then crimp the tubing
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,408
Likes: 792
From: Redondo Beach, California
Two of the fiberoptic cables going to my front headlights had been cut. During bodywork, someone probably thought they were electrical wires. I discovered this after I bought the car.
It was really annoying to me to be driving at night and see the two dead fiberoptic light indicators on the shifter console. So, I just stuck some the cut fiberoptic cable into a small section of rubber tubing, and then got a minilight bulb and stuck it in the other opening of the rubber tube. I then wired the minilight bulb in parallel with the headlamp. (I did this for both cut fiberoptic cables.) Now when I turned on the headlights, all my fiberoptic console indicators worked. Happinness. OK, it was a little fakey, but it looked good in the car.
I since replaced the entire front harness, including fiber optic cables. Everything is now factory correct. (Lectric Limited harness.)
It was really annoying to me to be driving at night and see the two dead fiberoptic light indicators on the shifter console. So, I just stuck some the cut fiberoptic cable into a small section of rubber tubing, and then got a minilight bulb and stuck it in the other opening of the rubber tube. I then wired the minilight bulb in parallel with the headlamp. (I did this for both cut fiberoptic cables.) Now when I turned on the headlights, all my fiberoptic console indicators worked. Happinness. OK, it was a little fakey, but it looked good in the car.
I since replaced the entire front harness, including fiber optic cables. Everything is now factory correct. (Lectric Limited harness.)
