Hi Gang -
Several months ago I started struggling putting together the interior on a '74 T-Top coupe that we bought in boxes - so as a result I didn't know what went where on most everything. I'm happy to say, that we are making progress and now have much of the interior completed, having FINALLY got the center gauges, console, and e-brake console installed:



Newly installed center console

Now I'm working on getting all of the interior and t-top panels/trim in place, all the while making sure I'm not covering up some wiring or other important pieces of the puzzle in the process. One discovery has me confused and was pretty sure that some of you know the answer. I found a wire in the t-top center that led back to the below-pictured dome lights:



Overhead Dome Lights

In checking the wiring diagram, it only refers to "courtesy lights", which are switched by the headlight switch and the doors opening/closing. However these switches have their own switches on them (one for each), and with only one wire coming thru the t-top, there's no way they can be switched by the doors (or the headlight switch for that matter). I did connect 12v positive to that wire and both lights worked properly with their individual switches. So now I'm thinking that these overhead lights are perhaps aftermarket? The only info I could find about courtesy lights indicate that they are located in the back compartment somewhere. Anyway, any help would be most appreciated!

Thanks much!

Wayne

 

The overhead 'dome' light is aftermarket, it is no doubt grounded to the body so it needs only a positive to turn on.

The factory courtesy light switches screw into the front door jamb.


Five stars on the center console, looks good, but you may have the door sill plates inside out.

 

Thanks for the response. That confirms my thoughts on the dome light. Although I do know that the stock door switch lights mount on the door jambs, where do the stock courtesy lights mount . . . and what do they look like? Will also double check the sill plates, thanks!!

 

Just to clarify an earlier response, you can't ground anything to the body, you have to find a ground, such as the frame.

 

That's definable a 70s JCWhitney special. You would find those lights mostly in vans or a pick up truck. Be careful if you have a battery run hot wire running around under those panels. I would take them down while you have everything out, just to see what was done. Your worst nightmare would be old Bubba wiring that's always hot

 

Thanks for the ground reminder. But yes, when I found the single red wire running thru the t-top frame, I very delicately touched 12v positive to it, knowing one of 3 things could happen: 1) I'd get a spark indicating that the wire was actually a ground wire; 2) the lights would work with their individual switches; or 3) nothing would happen, possibly indicating that the lights weren't grounded properly. Fortunately #2 was what I got :-). So evidently the t-top frame IS grounded to the chassis.

 

You are correct, a poor choice of a word on my part.
I should have said frame or overhead section of the bird cage.

 

They mount here:


And here:

 

Thanks for the printouts on the courtesy lights - they're supposed to be under the dash - that's why I couldn't find the wiring!!

Can you (or someone else with a C3), post a pix of what these lights actually look like and specifically where they are located under the dash?

Thanks again!!