Fiber Optics
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,720
Likes: 12
From: Chattanooga TN
Usually cut or broken fiber cables. You just have to start at one end and trace each one. The front are part of the fwd lamp harness, but come through the firewall near the fuse box. The rear are part of the rear lamp harness. Repair kits are available from the major catalogs. Lectric Limited is a good source for complete harnesses.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: NC
1. The glass **** on the back of the headlites get very dirty. Wipe clean
2. Wipe clean the end of the FO cable on the female connectors that attch to the headlites
3. Take off the rear tailite lenses: Clean the end of the FO cable. Do the same inside the front turn signals
4. Take off the console FO indicator (Be patient, its a pain, as you must remove the shift console. A lot of these FO get disconnected here
5. Do the same with the license plate end
Note: If the cables are cut, dont bother splicing. You loose 50% of light transfer with each splice on a system that doesnt transmit much in the first place
FO harnesses are expensive. You can get Fo cable of the net in spools, for very cheap. Be advised you will need the brass ferrule boots that clip on the ends so they fit in the console end, available at most vette vendors
Note
2. Wipe clean the end of the FO cable on the female connectors that attch to the headlites
3. Take off the rear tailite lenses: Clean the end of the FO cable. Do the same inside the front turn signals
4. Take off the console FO indicator (Be patient, its a pain, as you must remove the shift console. A lot of these FO get disconnected here
5. Do the same with the license plate end
Note: If the cables are cut, dont bother splicing. You loose 50% of light transfer with each splice on a system that doesnt transmit much in the first place
FO harnesses are expensive. You can get Fo cable of the net in spools, for very cheap. Be advised you will need the brass ferrule boots that clip on the ends so they fit in the console end, available at most vette vendors
Note
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 141
Likes: 0
From: Hillsborough NJ
An easy way to see if the fibers are cut or broken is to shine a laser pointer into one end of the fiber and have someone see if it comes out the other end. DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE FIBER.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 88,393
Likes: 2
From: eville in
Originally Posted by jamesx0
An easy way to see if the fibers are cut or broken is to shine a laser pointer into one end of the fiber and have someone see if it comes out the other end. DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE FIBER.
the FO cable doesn't make looking at safe ????
Drifting
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 1,608
Likes: 3
From: Canberra AUSTRALIA
St. Jude Donor '05-'06
Whilst James has given you the right advice "DO NOT LOOK DIRECTLY INTO THE FIBER" I cannot endorse this method.
It takes a very short time to harm an eye when a laser hits it straight on. Also laser pointers are notorious for being underated, they are barely safe if at all. The problem is not the amount of power but the concentration of power over a very small area.
USE A TORCH to shine down the Fibre. It will work just as well. The car is using regular light bulbs.
COMP - The FO is so old it probably has no rating on it for attenuation, so to err on the side of safety we must assume it cannot attenuate a laser enough to reduce the power.
Oh Yeah, did I mention I used to be a Laser Safety Officer....
It takes a very short time to harm an eye when a laser hits it straight on. Also laser pointers are notorious for being underated, they are barely safe if at all. The problem is not the amount of power but the concentration of power over a very small area.
USE A TORCH to shine down the Fibre. It will work just as well. The car is using regular light bulbs.
COMP - The FO is so old it probably has no rating on it for attenuation, so to err on the side of safety we must assume it cannot attenuate a laser enough to reduce the power.
Oh Yeah, did I mention I used to be a Laser Safety Officer....
