71 Interior Courtesy Light Problem
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
71 Interior Courtesy Light Problem
Was working on getting the fiber optic system in order. That went well however when I was dimming dash lights to see the optics glow I noticed that the courtesy interior lights are not coming on when headlight **** rotated counter clockwise. The switch is fairly new. Interior lights all work when either door is opened so I don’t think it’s a grounding issue. Any thoughts would help before I go through the hassle of removing and testing the switch.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Was working on getting the fiber optic system in order. That went well however when I was dimming dash lights to see the optics glow I noticed that the courtesy interior lights are not coming on when headlight **** rotated counter clockwise. The switch is fairly new. Interior lights all work when either door is opened so I don’t think it’s a grounding issue. Any thoughts would help before I go through the hassle of removing and testing the switch.
So.. You might have a defective switch, you may have a loose or corroded terminal in headlamp switch connector. The best way to test this is to ground out the white wire at the connector and see if the lamps come on.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Be careful pulling the column down and pulling the screws from the dash pad. The weight of the dash pad on the column can break the U collar over the column and you don't want that. If you are careful you can pull it off.
Willcox
Last edited by Willcox Corvette; Oct 31, 2017 at 05:46 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 23,375
Likes: 1,067
From: Virginia USA
That is the ground path for the courtesy lights when turning them on from the headlight switch.
Notice the brass/copper looking metal strip in the switch picture I posted. When you rotate the headlight switch to turn on the courtesy lights the center brown plastic piece has a cam on it and it pushes the metal strip to come in contact with the silver outer housing of the switch. The housing gets it's ground from #7.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
[QUOTE=theandies;1595868954]Ground strap!
That is the ground path for the courtesy lights when turning them on from the headlight switch.
Notice the brass/copper looking metal strip in the switch picture I posted. When you rotate the headlight switch to turn on the courtesy lights the center brown plastic piece has a cam on it and it pushes the metal strip to come in contact with the silver outer housing of the switch. The housing gets it's ground from #7./QUOTE]
Thanks and Understood. I haven got to removing switch yet... but switch has been working interior courtesy lights perfect up till yesterday. Switch new bout year ago. As soon as I get into it I will look for this strap.
That is the ground path for the courtesy lights when turning them on from the headlight switch.
Notice the brass/copper looking metal strip in the switch picture I posted. When you rotate the headlight switch to turn on the courtesy lights the center brown plastic piece has a cam on it and it pushes the metal strip to come in contact with the silver outer housing of the switch. The housing gets it's ground from #7./QUOTE]
Thanks and Understood. I haven got to removing switch yet... but switch has been working interior courtesy lights perfect up till yesterday. Switch new bout year ago. As soon as I get into it I will look for this strap.
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Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
Well I did a quick ground test from chassis to grounding the neck of the pull switch and courtesy lights came on when pull switch rotated. Thanks to all for pointing me in the correct direction. Over the weekend I’ll remove lower Dash a see what’s happening behind it.
Former Vendor
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 76,656
Likes: 1,853
From: Jeffersonville Indiana 812-288-7103
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
http://repairs.willcoxcorvette.com/w...ad-removal.pdf
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Rotate the headlamp switch dimmer control ALL THE WAY (I think to the right, but not positive); when it reaches the limit, turn it a bit harder to engage a switch that then turns on the interior lights.
Last edited by 7T1vette; Nov 1, 2017 at 01:35 PM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 38
From: Long Island NY
Problem Solved....headlight switch had lost ground with the strap. Wirewheeled strap and tightened switch and now courtesy lights work perfect. Thanks to all for the help and pics! Hope this post may help others.