<VV> courtesy lamp question II
Shelrockbored at aol.com
Shelrockbored at aol.com
Thu Mar 15 16:33:19 EDT 2012
Early dashes are not too difficult to work on. I did my first one last
year and since then have done several late's as well as two 70's and 80's
vintage Plymouths (the 72 Plymouth was the hardest).
The Corvair early dash cluster removes fairly easily by unscrewing the
screws around the top of the dash overhang and as I recall two under the dash -
maybe more (you will see after careful study). Carefully record where all
wires go. This will aid in reassembly. You will have to unbolt the
steering column but this is easily done and easily put back into place. Once
apart the whole assembly will become very obvious to you and you will see
how everything works. If everything is as messed up as you say you might
want to consider replacing the harness which is available from Clark's. It is
however, not a simple unbolt and replace. It is also not cheap. Try to
get hold of the wiring schematic available in the tech manuals. It will
greatly aid your task.
As for your courtesy lights staying on all the time; I'd check for a
ground somewhere in the wiring. Someone mentioned checking the door jamb
switch. I'd start here. As someone else posted the way they work both under
dash and in the dome is that the orange wire is always hot. Whenever you turn
the light switch or open the door this grounds the circuit through the
white wire and illuminates the bulb. You will notice that there are two wires
to each light fixture (one hot and one ground) as distinct from say the
taillights with only one wire as they ground out on the body.
Interior lights ground in one of three places. The headlight switch, the
right door jamb, or the left door jamb. This is so the light(s) will go on
whenever any one of these switches or any combination of these switches
is/are closed thus enabling the ground. There is either a bad switch or the
ground wire is grounding in a location other than where it is intended to
ground.
I agree with the recommendation someone else gave that you should not
remove the glove box cardboard. Once you take it out, you will probably be
unable to get it back in or it will crumble due to its age. Replacements are
available though.
Hope this helps.
Steve Sassi
Long Island Corvair (LICA)
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