Console light problem

[IvanH]

Hi folks, 65 Barracuda and cant figure out how to get the center console light to work. New bulb and still nothing. Any of you pros got some troubleshooting ideas?

 

[Dana67Dart]

the orange is the power feed ultimately from the headlight switch. the black is the ground. verify you have power and ground on those two wires.

ALSO do your dash and radio lights work and dim properly?

Edited I goofed

that bulb should have 2 contacts at the bottom like this (just a random photo from the web)

 

[IvanH]

Oh man, that might be it. My bulb has one contact. Can you send me that bulb link by any chance?

 

[Dana67Dart]

I was wrong...

Looks like the second wire is a ground BUT the bulb is a single contact so the ground only contacts the side of the bulb.

sorry for the wild goose chase.

53X

 

[Dana67Dart]

do your dash and radio lights work and dim properly?

 

[IvanH]

The dash lights do work as well as the radio. They do dim as well.

 

[Dana67Dart]

So the problem is in the wiring to the plug, the plug, the bulb or from the plug to ground.

 

[IvanH]

Thank you! By no means do I have electric skills. Any advice on how to isolate the problem?

 

[Dana67Dart]

First check for power at the plug center.

Be careful not to short anything out, you could put a small piece of tape or tubing over the probe tip.

If you have voltage there then manually trace out the ground wire till you can see that it is grounded.

If you don't have voltage there then trace back that feed wire till you find where it connects to

If you haven't already go to mymopar.com and download your cars Factory service manual and associated wiring diagrams.

Look at classiccarwiring.com they have full color wiring diagram best 25.00 I ever spent.

 

[CFD244]

Follow the harness back to the A pillar. There should be 1 orange wire connected to the under dash wiring, and 1 black wire with a ring terminal.

Disconnect the the harness from the one orange wire coming from the dash. Use a known working test light and connect it to a good ground (dash mounting bolt).

Turn on the lights and probe the single orange wire that is coming from the dash. If you get power there, your problem is in the console harness. If no power there you've got other problems under the dash.

If you have power in the orange wire coming from under the dash, reconnect the console harness and make sure that ring terminal is grounded well.

Now here's where it gets weird........On my 1971, it is actually the side contact inside the console light socket that supplies power to the bulb (so try testing that with your light), and the center contact is the return path to ground. Not sure if yours is the same being an older unit, but something to think about. Good luck.

 

[Dana67Dart]

Now here's where it gets weird........On my 1971, it is actually the side contact inside the console light socket that supplies power to the bulb (so try testing that with your light), and the center contact is the return path to ground. Not sure if yours is the same being an older unit, but something to think about. Good luck.

That is WEIRD!

From the looks of the socket the black is connected to the bulb center contact (straight in line with the bulb) while the Orange is off to the side.

I would love to get a clear shot down the inside of the socket.

 

[Dana67Dart]

https://promo2.classicindustries.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/1960-76_A_Body_Bulb_Guide1-1.png

 

[Dana67Dart]

Something to note a 53 bulb is 1/2 the wattage of a 57 and as such produces less heat so be mindful if you use other than the OEM specked bulb. I have melted lenses doing that

 

[CFD244]

That is WEIRD!

From the looks of the socket the black is connected to the bulb center contact (straight in line with the bulb) while the Orange is off to the side.

I would love to get a clear shot down the inside of the socket.

That orange off to the side is a little bent tab that makes contact with the bulb base.