j3studio

[1985, A4, very stock]

Sometime last year, the passenger footwell courtesy light in my 1985 stopped working—a very detail-oriented NCRS judge caught it during operations last October. I figured the lamp had burned out and put it on the list of things to fix.

It turns out that the lamp hadn't burned out. Instead, one of the wires had detached from the plastic clip that connects to the courtesy light assembly. Because of the psychotic construction the two wires that connect to the clip end up getting stretched any time the courtesy panel comes off—and sometimes otherwise. There is, of course, no play in the wires and they've hardened over the last 34 years. So, even though I was able to strip the wire and get to the light to work when the courtesy panel was detached, the act of re-attaching it pulled the wire right back out.

I believe I'll need to splice and extend both wires, and I probably need a new plastic clip. While I'm at it, I should probably replace the actual light bulb. Any thoughts?

Tod Stiles

When I got my 86 I found that someone had bodged together some bell wire for that footwell light. When I finally got around to fixing it I cut out the old wires and extended it about 10-12 inches just so the wire wouldn't pull when the panel is dropped down. I can almost lay the panel on the floor now with no pulling. I was missing the wire connector to the light assembly so I just used female spade connectors. Really makes life a little easier now. Not sure what you mean by plastic clip. the two prongs from the clear section that hold the connector or the wire connector itself. Either way those lamp assm. were used on about a jillion GM cars so I don't think it would be too hard to replace them if you want to.

ChumpVette