C2 courtesy light

[John Pickens]

My 65 roadster has a courtesy light under the dash near the AC vent on the driver's
side which stays on constantly. Even with the door closed, still on. The c. light on passenger side works fine. I assume the circuit is set up so that closing the
door somehow grounds the current to the door frame, as I see no doorjamb switch.
No shop manual yet. Any solutions? Thanks

[ronnie Robertson # 36786]

Re: C2 courtesy light

The switch is triggered by the curve in the upper door hinge. The switch is back in the hinge cavity and can be unscrewed with a wrench (3/8). You will understand the operation when you see it.

[ronnie Robertson # 36786]

PS

The courtesy lights should work together. If fixing the switch does not enable all courtesy lights (dome and footwell lights), you will have to check bulbs and wiring as per the electrical diagram in the manual.

[Jack H.]

Re: C2 courtesy light

Advice Ronnie has given is on the money. To clarify, closing the door open circuits the switch and causes lamps to turn OFF. Opening the door allows the spring loaded plunger to move forward/out and complete the path to ground turning lamps ON.

[Wayne W.]

Re: C2 courtesy light

The strange thing here is that that the LH one stays on while the RH operates normally. This is not possible unless there is some kind of a break in the normal wiring. Or possibly the wrong bulb is installed. Normal operation would dictate that when the RH one operates that the LH would also. Check, just to make sure, that the correct two prong bulb is installed.

[ronnie Robertson # 36786]

Re: ??? light

I don't see how this could operate unless the wiring were modified. I my experience, courtesy light operation was relative to the need for open doors and "No Light" situations.

[John H.]

Re: C2 courtesy light

John -

This is a "loop" circuit, which feeds battery power to the bulbs at all times; either jamb switch grounds the entire "loop" when either door is opened, turning the bulbs on. Your symptom indicates a local ground (short) only at the left side bulb in the 20-ga. black/white wire from the bulb socket (the other wire from the socket, a 20-ga. black/orange wire, is the power feed). Most likely the black/white wire has been cut and is touching ground, thus not grounding the rest of the "loop", but turning that bulb on.