Diagnosing Fiber Optic Problem

[Paul C.]

Have a 71 Corvette. All the front ones work fine. The left rear one works but the license plate and right rear light one don't work. Cleaned the lenses and have cut the cable several times with a razor blade and shined light on the end no transmission of light. After cutting the end of the cable 4-5 times I noticed that there are about 16 fibers in the cable---most times after cutting it only about half the fiber ends are visible. Looks like the rest just crumble/fracture inside the cable. I think my only option is to replace the rear fiber optic cables.
Several questions:
1. do the cables deteriorate after 50 years?
2. Replaced the carpet myself and should have replaced the rear harness at that point but Live and learn. When I replace the fiber optic cable do I have to follow the follow the path of the rear harness cable OR could I just pull the cable under the carpet directly from the console to the rear wall plug and then run it along side the existing harness? Don't really want to pull the carpet out again.
Any suggestions??? Can't remember the exact path of the rear harness--thing it goes from the console and then over the left wheel well to the rear compartment wall.

Thanks in advance for your help and suggestions.

[Mark E.]

Re: Diagnosing Fiber Optic Problem

Paul,

Did you check/cut/clean both ends? Problems are usually on the ends. Use a new blade to minimize crushing/fraying when cutting.

Sometimes they become severed or damaged along their length if manhandled or during a collision. That's harder to locate but focus on the first and last few inches.

If you want to splice rather than replace, you can finds tips for repair by searching the Forum threads.