Rear Dome Light

[Les G.]

I POSTED YESTERDAY ABOUT MY REAR COMPARTMENT LIGHT. I GUESS MY TERMINOLOGY WAS OFF. I WAS ASKING ABOUT THE REAR DOME LIGHT ON MY 1970 CONVERTABLE. I CHANGED THE BULB AND STILL NO LIGHT, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO TROUBLSHOOT MY OTHER INTERIOR LIGHTS WORK. COULD IT BE A BAD GROUND WHERE THE LIGHT IS MOUNTED TO THE BACK PANEL? IT IS SCREWED INTO THE REAR BULKHEAD THROUGH THE CARPET. COULD I NOT HAVE A GOOD ENOUGH GROUND?

[Harmon C.]

Re: Rear Dome Light

First make up two lengths of automotive wire with alligator clips on both ends.Hook one end of each wire to the battery and check the bulb by putting one end of a wire on the side of the bulb the other on the contact.If the bulb lights reinstall it.If you think you have a bad ground hook a test wire from the battery ground to the housing of the bulb. If it lights you have a bad ground. Buy a 12 volt tester that will have a bulb in it and a sharp end like an ice pick to test for + power. Hook it to your ground from the battery to test the lead to the bulb remove the bulb and put the end of the pick on the center wire only and the bulb in the test light should come on.
NEVER LET THE TEST LEADS COME TOGETHER OR HIT ANY METAL BECAUSE THEY GET REAL HOT AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE.

If you have a Corvette thease tools will be needed often.

[Les G.]

Re: Rear Dome Light

Lyle, this socket has 2 contacts in the base.I don't remember the bulb part number, but I took it out of the owners manual.

[Terry M.]

Re: Rear Dome Light

Does the "dome" lamp light if you turn the headlamp switch all the way counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise for some of you)?

How about the under-dash "courtesy" lights? Do they light at any time -- that is with the door(s) open or the headlight switch counter-clockwise? Make these tests with first the only the driver's side door open, and then with only the passenger side door open.

Let us know the results of this simple troubleshooting and we can proceed from there.

If above is yes, you are missing a ground from the door switches. If the above is no, it is more likely (but not certain) that you are lacking power to the circuit.

[Les G.]

Re: Rear Dome Light

The lights under the dash wrong either with the headlight switch or the door opening. Its just the Dome light in the rear is giving me problems

[Paul O.]

Re: Rear Dome Light

Les it sounds like a bad ground if I remember correctly that light can get power from the door switches or the headlight switch. As Lyle said get a long single wire with alligator clips find a good ground connect one end to ground and the other to the base of the light socket if the light now works you have a bad ground. Hope that helps. Paul 18046

[Harmon C.]

Re: Rear Dome Light

Les it sounds like a bad ground if I remember correctly that light can get power from the door switches or the headlight switch. As Lyle said get a long single wire with alligator clips find a good ground connect one end to ground and the other to the base of the light socket if the light now works you have a bad ground. Hope that helps. Paul 18046

I agree with Paul and a good ground when working on a Corvette is the battery -. It has never failed me and it is close to the light you are working on.

[John H.]

Re: Rear Dome Light

The wiring diagram shows that rear compartment light on exactly the same circuit as the courtesy lights for both power (orange wire) and ground (white wire). Either it isn't getting power, or its ground wire is broken; quick check with a test light will tell you which.