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I'm troubleshoot the left high-beam fiber optic. I tried disconnecting the plug behind the lamp and shinning a bright light and don't see it lighting up in the center console. all my other fiber optics work and the car has been fairly recently restored so i'd be surprised if the line was cut although it is possible i suppose. since i don't see any visible break in the line (haven't fully traced it) i figured before going there i'd check at the center console at the fiber optic bezel to make sure the cable hasn't disconnected/dropped from the little plastic receptacle where it plugs in.
What's the easiest way to get in there to verify the fiber optic cable is attached to the bezel? It has been a long time since i had the interior apart in a C3 and i'm hoping i don't have to drop whole center cluster etc as i remember it being a PITA. I'm wondering if i can remove the shift plate and maybe unscrew the heating controls just enough to shine a light in there to see what's going on and potentially get my fingers under there if needed. Or perhaps remove the rear ebrake center console, and slide the main one back a little? I'm trying not to open too big of a can of worms and to check the simple things like this first before going further (or maybe it isn't so simple)
If you pull out the shifter plate and HVAC controls as a unit, you should have close access to the front F.O. lens unit.
There are 2 nuts that hold it to the console that you could remove if you need to remove the lens.
If not needed, you may be able to spot the problem with the lens intact.
To make things more robust the last time I had the console dis-assembled on mine, I took the time to trim the ends of all the F.O. lines so they were nice and clean (use a very sharp razor knife on a backing board and go exactly perpendicular to the line to cut a good 90 deg. cut).
Then I used some heat shrink tube on each end to build up their O.D. enough to fit snug in the lens openings. Be sure not to cover the end cut and block the fibers.
Insert the line into the lens opening, and I dabbed some glue around the outside of the joint to make sure they stayed put.
If you pull out the shifter plate and HVAC controls as a unit, you should have close access to the front F.O. lens unit.
There are 2 nuts that hold it to the console that you could remove if you need to remove the lens.
If not needed, you may be able to spot the problem with the lens intact.
To make things more robust the last time I had the console dis-assembled on mine, I took the time to trim the ends of all the F.O. lines so they were nice and clean (use a very sharp razor knife on a backing board and go exactly perpendicular to the line to cut a good 90 deg. cut).
Then I used some heat shrink tube on each end to build up their O.D. enough to fit snug in the lens openings. Be sure not to cover the end cut and block the fibers.
Insert the line into the lens opening, and I dabbed some glue around the outside of the joint to make sure they stayed put.
Good Luck!
Thanks. I've read some other threads where others were recommending trimming the ends of the fiber optics as well. Question on that...mine have a metal ferrule (not sure about at the console yet but at the other end where it makes contact with the lights) so i don't see how i'd trim it back without cutting off the ferrule. . Should i cut off the ferule to expose fresh fiber optic cable? I could attach as you suggested in the console, but if i do the same at the other end wondering if i should be replacing the ferrule. The ends so far have looked clean, but haven't checked the ones under the console yet obviously. Thanks for your reply.
If the ferrules are still in place, and you can see the ends of the cables/fibers, check to see if they are clean. Check the light transmission as well while you're there.
If they look ok, you can leave them intact.
I've also heard some say that they took the cable ends and "polished" them with some very fine sandpaper. You want the ends of the fiber bundle to appear smooth and shiny like a single glass conduit. If the ends of the fibers are jagged, dirty, or in dis-array, they won't transmit nearly as much light.
'70 Fiber optic question
