Street Rat

I just installed a modified center gauge console. My lighting works great on the new gauges. I have no power to light over the a/c control. I have tried a few different light bulbs in the fixture but none work. Even the correct bulb doesn't work. I'm thinking this light may be on a different fuse then the gauges.

Craig

0Willcox Corvette

Craig,

The center lamp in the console is on the same circuit as the rest of the dash lamps.

One issue is the actual socket, have you probed it to see if you have power in the socket? If you do, the fingers inside the socket are pretty much the same as the ones we use to make the low fuel warning module, and we have fits with them (the terminals) all the time.... Each module is actually fitted to a gauge housing and tested with a new bulb before it is shelved in the parts store. If you do have power then what you can do is if you look at the wires on the bulb you are using, tweak them slightly away from the bulb a tiny bit, then take a small pick or really small flat blade screw driver inside the actual socket and tweak the terminals tighter.

Street Rat

I have power to the wire when the instruments lights are on. I can't get to the darn light socket without pulling the gauge housing. I have the glove box out and can't get to it. I have installed a new housing, socket, and bulb. Just my luck.

The bulb is going to have be out until I pull the gauges again.

Thanks for the timely response.

0Willcox Corvette

Sadly, the only way I know of to get in there is to remove the center console... Even then you have to be careful not to hit the dash top pad when you pull it, I've seen people do this and the socket catches and rips the vinyl.

If you have power on the wire then your issue is probably just as I described above... you'll need to pull the socket and manipulate the terminals... or you'll need to replace the socket.

Ernie

SwampeastMike

When you do replace the lamp be certain to get the proper one. It may look like the others in the dash but it is different. There is a lens cast into the front tip that focuses the light. As the lighting for the HVAC controls isn't very good even with the proper lamp you may want to disassemble the lantern (as the assembly is called) and slightly enlarge the plastic aperture.

The trade number for the lamp is #558. Auto parts houses are very unlikely to carry them but they're sold by most of the vendors and on-line lamp sources. If it hasn't been done within a few years don't forget to replace all of the lamps in the gauge pack when you have it removed. They look identical but there are two different lamps--3 lux for the gauges and 2 lux for the warnings.

Street Rat

Yes Sir. I picked up a few of the correct bulbs from Wilcox Corvette.

0Willcox Corvette

Ironically, we're having issues getting these bulbs.... Delco is packaging them wrong... They are putting a standard 194 bulb in the boxes and have been for the last year. I'm not sure after we run out of stock if we'll ever get the correct one again.

Willcox