OK so I am still new at this corvette stuff having come on over from a 300zx. I have a 86 coupe and will have many questions but lets start with some really simple ones regarding interior lights. For starters the lights on the doors. Pasanger works drivers does not, so I start doing surgery on the door to replace the bulb. well ... half hout later I am putting the screws back, do i need to take the whole F@#$ing door apart to replace a bulb? (I NEVER GOT TO IT) I don't want to go hard on the plastic being all the plastic in this car seems very brittle. OK so I go onto the lights under the hood, very cool feature (if they really worked) took the lenses off cleaned them up real nice, replaced the bulbs, cleaned the contacts ... nothing??? OK I figure i'll deal with that another day. is there a switch for these? Take my first night drive tonight, open the door, DARKNESS in the car. The interiors go on when i turn the headlight **** but nothing when i open the door. Now I have been driving for 25+years and I know every car I have owned has a dome light with a 3 position switch .. am i missing something here. Hours waisted on stupid s#@t and nothing accomplished

 

First, welcome and congrats on your new Vette. I owned and '86 and now have an '87. You can turn the door lamps off/on by pushing on the light itself. The two 'dome' lights behind the seat should always come on -- If there is a way to manually turn them off, I have yet to find it.

As far as replacing the lights in the doors, I've never had to so I can't really tell you how. Someone else might be able to chime in with an answer -- other then removing the whole panel

 

Well if its like my `87, the prievious owner disconnected the hood lights, because they will kill the battery if the hood is left open at shows, in the driveway, etc. there are two plugs for the hood lights at the bottom of each side of the hood (when the hood is open), next to the headlights. the plugs are weather packs. Most folks unplug them. I have not messed with the door lights, but if yours is the same as mine, they double as map lights. to turn them on & off, you push on the front of the lense. Do yourself a favor, & get the service manual for your car. Also get an owner`s manual if you don`t have one. These are great cars, but they will keep you busy

 

I had a similar problem in my 93 coupe. The interior lights worked with the headlight switch but not when I opened the door. The problem was
a blown fuse. The repair manual showed a ctsy fuse controlling the circuit. The ctsy fuse was ok, but another fuse (I forget which one)was blown that was not on the circuit according to the repair manual. I later found out any one of 3 fuses would keep the interior lights from working. I would check all the fuses. This may fix the underhood lights too. If this doesn't work the drivers side door switch may be broken. It can be checked with a continuity light. But you need to take the door panel off to get to it. Be careful to remove all screws. On mine one is behind the door lock button. I think the door light cover will pry off (it does on mine) just be careful not to break it.

 

The interior lights are controlled by a timer relay. It will be taped to the wire harness coming from behind the fuse box. You have to remove the lower dash panel on the passenger side and stand on your head to see it. If it's the same as my '84 (and I think it is), it has been discontinued by GM. I used one from http://www.webelectricproducts.com/ the DLD-1

I hope this helps.

 

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1031006

another recent thread on how to repair this... great info

 

Congrats on the 86. I was looking for a 300ZX until i opened the hood of one at a car lot. How did you manage to work on the motor.
I could have dropped a marble anywhere in the engine bay and it would not been able to find a way to the ground. C4 is a whole different story
You got some good answers already so i will add that i have the 86 service manual on my hard drive. If you want some electrical schematics or other, let me know and i can email you them.
Good Luck