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Just replaced spare tire bulb under rear of car. Turned headlights on and no light. When Does this light supposed to go on? License plate light is on and all other exterior bulbs are working.
It comes on with the forward courtesy lights. If its a 90-91 and the photo cell is inhibiting courtesy lights in bright light, it won't be on even if the door is open.
Doesn't 'dimmer' require 'full up' position regardless to light the spare lamp for these years and later? Earlier years the H/L rod turned past the 'detent'.
No, the spare tire light comes on with the other courtesy lights regardless of which control-source is used. The spare tire light's wires are parallel to the forward courtesy light wires. Orange hot at all times, and the white 'grounded' side. Yes, the dimmer switch dome light control will turn on the spare tire light just like it does the other courtesy lights. Opening the rear hatch will not turn on the spare tire light because rear hatch switch does not turn on the forward courtesy lights. Only the halo lights.
Originally Posted by WVZR-1
Doesn't 'dimmer' require 'full up' position regardless to light the spare lamp for these years and later? Earlier years the H/L rod turned past the 'detent'.
^^^^^^^^^
BUT - that operation will/would/should 'turn on' a spare tire light if there is one? What fool would prop the door open for a 'tire change' on the roadside!
..... and the OP was 'troubleshooting' sorta owning it appears an '85
My '90 functions precisely the way that the FSM says that it's supposed to function.
Additionally, from the Owner's Manual...
Alternatively, the 1990 Corvette Owner Orientation video also explains that the spare tire light is ''controlled by the instrument panel dimmer switch.'' The video is entitled ZR-1, but both the base coupe and the ZR-1 are covered therein.
Another mistake in the manual. Another owner that doesn't know how his car works.
The spare tire light is in the COURTESY LIGHT circuit. If the forward courtesy lights are on, so is the spare tire light. I've done Operations Checks on several hundred C4 Corvettes. If the courtesy lights in the door are on, the spare tire light is too.
Here is a 1988 Coupe Diagram. You can clearly see that the spare tire light is PARALLEL to the forward courtesy lights. The same controls that turn on the forward lights turn on the spare tire light.
1988 Interior Courtesy Lights, Coupe
Here is a 1990 Coupe. Again, the spare tire light is in parallel with the forward courtesy lights. If the CCM OR dash board switch is commanding the courtesy lights on, the spare tire light will be too. 1990 Interior Lights, Coupe
Check your car instead of guessing.
I looked at the diagram also in the electronic FSM after i posted this....So my general FSM is wrong in the description. Correct in schematic. Have a drink on me! Dam French to English translation....
My spare is long gone.....My socket for that light was beyond corroded so the wires are terminated on mine..
The spare tire light is in the COURTESY LIGHT circuit. If the forward courtesy lights are on, so is the spare tire light. I've done Operations Checks on several hundred C4 Corvettes. If the courtesy lights in the door are on, the spare tire light is too .Check your car instead of guessing .
Hey Dave
I'd think that even the NCRS guy with 'several hundred' operations checks that he's participated in would pass on to someone only 'troubleshooting' that correct diagnosis if asked HOW TO CHECK they'd suggest the more direct check rather than this and this and this swing open door and it will 'light'. Lamp interior control past detent to courtesy 'ON' will 'if no issues' light the damn lamp! It ain't the idea of know how it's wired but how to most directly confirm operation.
.... and there ain't no guessing involved!
The OP only needed to be instructed as to when, what and how the damn light might light!!!
You gots that 5 spoke A-Mold ID confirmed with snapshots yet?
YOU ARE WRONG. Go open the damn door. If the light in the door is on, go look under the back of the car!
You don't know how to read a wiring schematic. The spare tire light is wired IN PARALLEL with the courtesy lights. How in hell can the spare tire light be on and the forward courtesy lights NOT be on ? They're wired in parallel. Look at the damn diagram! Opening a door turns on the forward courtesy lights, so it ALSO turns on the spare tire light.
I have a 1990 also. Mine works the way it is wired to do so. So is yours. Stop arguing, and go try it.
Yes, the dimmer switch "controls the spare tire light". But it is not the ONLY way to turn on the spare tire light. Opening a door also turns it on. If the courtesy lights are on, so is the spare tire light. Try it!
There is no way that you are an NCRS judge with the way you are responding to people.
Natty; I thought of, and VERIFIED another way to turn on the spare tire light in a 1990. (I'm sure it will work in a 91 and 92 also). Turn either outside door key to the rear of the car with the round key. The interior lights come on for about 30 seconds. Guess what else comes on? Yep, the spare tire light.
Chump said "open a door" in post #3. He's right. I added "for a 90-91 the photo cell can't be keeping the courtesy lights off in bright ambient. I'm right. WVZR asked if the dimmer switch has to [must be] be on, No, it does not HAVE to be on, but the dimmer will turn it on.
ANYTHING that turns on the courtesy lights, turns on the spare tire light. That is how it is wired.
Yeah, I went out a few minutes ago and shined a light on the photo cell to see if that made a difference. Also covered it completely. It didn't make a difference.
And I did see that it's wired parallel. I can actually read an electrical diagram kind of okay. Heh heh. Enough to get me around the car anyway.
I'll try the key tomorrow and look at the tire light, I don't feel like walking back and forth out there. The courtesy lights do come on that way, too. So no problem there.
Hey CHUMP:
I may be wrong about the A-mold. ii still haven't had a chance to inspect the car where I think I saw this. So fukin what?
BUT AM I WRONG ABOUT THE WAY THE SPARE TIRE LIGHT OPERATES?
I don’t care if you are wrong or right. I don't like the way you are disrespecting Natty. A true NCRS judge is polite and educational. You are caustic.
Alright, I went out there again and did the door key, just because it's bugging me at this point. This time I got down on my knees and looked under there instead of just waving my hand under it.
If I open the doors, the light does come on. But not bright enough to see. Just very faintly. I had to actually get down under there to see the faint illumination.
But then when I go flip the dimmer on full up, the bulb lights up all the way.
Spare tire light?
Dam French to English translation....
