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There is no "pickup", per se, with the fiber optic system. The other end of the light fiber strand feeds inside the designated lamp housing (and probably a colored/transparent end-piece) so that light from that lamp can be transmitted to the panel. There are 9 F/O panel lenses; so there are 9 strands that go to their respective lamp housings around the car.
Right, but I’m not sure where the fiber optic picks up the light for the headlight. Is it in the bucket someplace or elsewhere? I know where the are for brakes, turn signal, and license plate light. I’m wanting to be sure what and where to look before I start going into the headlight system.
Often times the headlight bulb has been replaces with one that does not allow light out at the back of the bulb- see the ones that do below- notice the nub on the back between the spade connectors.
Very possible. There is supposed to be a short plastic tube (about 3/8" dia) which is fitted between each headlamp and the center of its electric socket. It acts as a 'block' for external light getting into that F/O end; but it also prevents dirt, etc from fouling the end of the strand in the sockets.
Nearly everyone who owned a C3 and changed a headlamp lost those little 'tubes' because they never knew they were there in the first place. So, suspecting that dirt is blocking the light is highly likely.
If you are missing those tubes, you can easily make some using some pieces of 3/8" "shrink-wrap" tubing as replacements.
