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Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay????

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Old May 18, 2003 | 11:18 PM
  #1  
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Default Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay????

I know that it's orange, and I have search all over under the dash. I have over-looked it somewhere. Does anyone know where it is on an '81 Vette? PLEASE HELP!!!!!!! :confused:


[Modified by KitCar, 4:19 AM 5/19/2003]
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Old May 18, 2003 | 11:20 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (KitCar)

I think that's the one behind the glove box, you need to pull the glove box out to get access.
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Old May 18, 2003 | 11:44 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (BacaBill)

I did pull the glove box today. I followed the wires from the passenger side courtsey lamp into the wire loom. The wires should lead to the delay relay. All the wires for the interior lights and the wires for the interior lights coming from the headlamp switch end up near the fuse box. I have yet to trace the door jamb switches, they also should lead to the delay relay.
I have pulled the glove box, center instrument panel, center console, and the speedometer/tach panel. There is no orange relay anywhere to be seen. Could it be that my car somehow wasn't equiped with this item? My interior lights come on with the headlamp switch but not with the doors being open. I'm just looking for the reason why. Sorry for the rant.
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Old May 18, 2003 | 11:54 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (KitCar)

Hey Mark,
These "Theater dimmers" had a pretty high failure rate so it might have been removed already. What you are looking for now is a black or white 5 prong connector that has 4 or 5 wires coming out of it, orange white and possibly black. It IS behind the glove box, and if I remember correctly you can put a jumper wire between two of the white wires and your door light switches will work just like any other car, without the theater dimmer. You'll know you have it right when the interior light comes on while you have the passenger door open. If you get it wrong you will only pop a fuse.
Good luck, Greg
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Old May 19, 2003 | 08:43 AM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (KitCar)

If you look on my interior page (the picture with the dash removed about half way down the page) you can see the orange box on the right side, that is where it is on my 81. www.angelfire.com/al/swhite7/interior.html Hope this helps.

YBNormal...drive a vette
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Old May 19, 2003 | 09:45 AM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (Ybnormal)

I know that on the '78, the dimmer was part of an option package...I don't know about the '81's...
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Old May 19, 2003 | 10:45 AM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (mvftw)

The RPO ZX2 convenience group option available in 1978 and 1979 disappeared in 1980 so I suspect it became standard in 1980. And just as point of clarification: ZX2 included a time delay on/off switch that kept the courtesy lights on 30 seconds after the car was shut off. It did not include a dimming/theatre function as you see in modern cars.
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Old May 19, 2003 | 11:42 AM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (paul79)

:bb That's correct.
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Old May 19, 2003 | 01:14 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (KitCar)

Funny this should come up. I was just looking at that orange box in my 81' yesterday. Now I know what it is for. :lol:

Mark
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Old May 19, 2003 | 01:26 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (Greg)

:yesnod:
These "Theater dimmers" had a pretty high failure rate
:yesnod:

In my case, I was looking for the little orange plastic box to the right of the glove box liner. What I found was a little scorched brown/orange/black box to the right of the glove box liner... :cuss
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Old May 19, 2003 | 01:30 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (mvftw)

... and, just as a FWIW kinda thing, on early production '78's, the delay box was located under the dash on the driver's side. Sometime during '78 production, it was moved to the right side of the glove box. :chevy
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Old May 19, 2003 | 06:03 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (Gator81)

Well I guess im glad im not the only one getting upset over not being able to hunt down the relay. :lol:
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Old May 19, 2003 | 06:11 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (Gator81)

What I found was a little scorched brown/orange/black box to the right of the glove box liner...
Yup! That's what they usually look like :lol:
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Old May 19, 2003 | 06:41 PM
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Default Re: Where's The Interior Light Delay Relay???? (paul79)

Hmm, mine's dead too, though it looks fine. Does anybody know the part number for this? There's a number on the back that comes up as "CONTROL" on GM Parts Direct for 30 dollars, which seems a bit much.

Also, anybody know of anybody that sells a replacement unit that would give the theatre/dimmer of modern cars? I'd rather have that than just something that stayed on for 30 seconds.
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