1961 courtsey wiring

[David S.]

Need some help on wiring issue with courtsey light on 61 Corvette. Replaced with new part, listed below are the issues. I have checked all the wiring with the diagram and seems to be correct.

1. Light is on all the time with the car running or key in on position.
2. Light does not come on with either door being open.
3. Light switch does dim by moving switch to the right with the lights on.
4. If the light switch is off, then dims going to the left, which is opposite when lights are on.

If anyone know how to fix, please reply. Any help appreciated.

[Bill B.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

David- Sounds like a possible power wire on the wrong terminal. Its hard to speculate so I can only suggest. Do you have a copy of the wiring diagram? Check diagram from ST-12. Make a copy if you can trace out the wires you have removed and retrace and make sure they land on the proper terminals. If you can get someone to assist that is electrically inclined that is, if what I first suggested doesn't work.

You can also check your door switches by disconnecting the wires to see if the interior lights go out. Its about process of elimination so if you have a copy of the electrical diagram highlight with a bright marker to mark the wires you have checked so you wont be chasing your tail.

Good luck, Bill


1961 Black/Silver/Red Int. 283/315 FI
power windows. Frame off 65% completed.
1989 White/hard top/Grey Int. daily driver 167,000 miles

"The problem with Liberalism is that eventually you run out of other people's money" - Margaret Thatcher

[Jack H.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

"I have checked all the wiring with the diagram and seems to be correct."

I don't believe you verified the wiring against the diagram properly....

Power flows from the fuse block to the courtesy light on the 20G Orange wire. The ground path from the courtesy light (20G White wire), branches THREE ways:

(1) To/Through the RH door jamb switch to wiring harness cluster ground (20G Black/White).

(2) To/Through the LH door jamb switch to wiring harness cluster ground (20G Black/White).

AND

(3) Around the LH door jamb switch to/through the HL switch.

So, disconnect the HL switch and go work the problem. Find out where your wiring harness is 'hosed' since the courtesy lamp should fire indepently of the HL switch via the door jamb switches (On/Off at full brilliance). Get that working, then go see waz happonin' with the branch around the LH door jamb switch to/through the HL switch...

[David S.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

Thanks for the replies. Looks like the wires are wrong in the light switch. I only had 7 of the wires in the light switch, look like the 8th might be a black for ground? I have disconnected all the wires and removed them from the light switch. The original owner put in a new dash pad and I think he wired back wrong. Anyway can someone tell me how to read the diagram, looks like it only accounts for 7 of the eight terminals in my light switch. I have attached a picture of the light switch and the diagram...thanks.

[Bill B.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

David - I believe you are correct that its a ground. But to be sure do you have a multi-meter or test light? If not you should borrow or buy one it's a good investment for these older Corvettes. I would test the end of the black wire through the meter or test light to see if there is continuity from the black wire to ground if so then ground it, if not you need to look elsewhere for the proper 'gauge wire' (very important) and trace backwards looking for it's continuity. When you find it check with the print and land it in its appropriate location. Its a process as I stated before, keep checking and rechecking before landing any wire.

Good luck, Bill

[David S.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

Thanks Bill for the fast reply. Any idea from looking at the picture of the switch posted is the extra terminal not shown in the diagram? The drawing is missing one of the terminals, one in the middle has to be the ground, my books do not show anything. Switch has 8 and drawing has 7 listed.

[Bill B.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

David - What gauge is the black wire? Does the wire in question have a connector on the end? If so what type is it? There is a black wire already connected to the light switch, correct? Which of the two testers did you borrow or buy? Did you trace the black wire back to where it originated from? Does the diagram show the same result as what you have tested?

Bill

[David S.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

Hi Bill,
Maybe I am asking the question wrong here. I have both types of testers at hand. Let me ask a different way. The diagram has a total of 7 connectors, the switch has 8 connectors, not sure if the extra one is needed, but here is the issue. I pulled off all the connectors from the block, not sure which wires go to which side because of the extra pin is not shown in the diagram. I have to pick between the two of them for either the light blue or orange wire, depending which side I start the wiring rotation with the installation of the wires. The diagram does not match the switch configuration. Hopefully this made sense.

[David S.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

Hi Bill,
I did find a picture in "The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide" which shows nothing in the picture going to the terminal in question. It woiuld be nice if the other shop manual for wiring diagrams showed this extra post and said not in use. Oh well thanks for your help, back to looking for the issue on the courtsey light not working correctly. I have replaced the light switch to take this out of the picture of trouble-shooting.

[David S.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

Thanks Jack you seem to be on the correct path, I got side tracked with the HL switch.

[Bill B.]

Re: 1961 courtsey wiring

David - Most switches always have extra terminals depending on the accessories of the car, and more often then not the diagram only shows what terminals that are used for that car. So this switch was probably used on many different cars in its day.

But as I stated often not always.Thats why I requested to trace the wire back and check to the diagram. I'm glad you found what you were looking for and hope your electrical dilemmas are in the past.

Good luck, and enjoy your car, Bill