Overhead console lights (Page 1/1)
mrjay47 FEB 24, 03:58 PM
Hi. I am just changing the headliner with a Fiero Store product. I am putting in the new healiner and changed the bulbs in the overhead lighting console. I plugged them back in to test and nothing. Checked plug and there is 12+ volts there. Took the part to the bench and enrgized with a power probe. Powering the plug/connector I can get the courtesy center lights to turn on, but no power to the map lamps. If I power the small black wires going into the map light switches, it will light them. Plug the whole thing back into the car harness and nothing. I am at a loss right now. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Rich
1985 Fiero GT FEB 24, 06:07 PM

quote
Originally posted by mrjay47:

Hi. I am just changing the headliner with a Fiero Store product. I am putting in the new healiner and changed the bulbs in the overhead lighting console. I plugged them back in to test and nothing. Checked plug and there is 12+ volts there. Took the part to the bench and enrgized with a power probe. Powering the plug/connector I can get the courtesy center lights to turn on, but no power to the map lamps. If I power the small black wires going into the map light switches, it will light them. Plug the whole thing back into the car harness and nothing. I am at a loss right now. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

Rich



The ground for these are through the mounting bolts into the roof, from what I remember, without those grounded, nothing will work, at least not correctly.
da.slyboy FEB 27, 01:20 PM

quote
Originally posted by 1985 Fiero GT:


The ground for these are through the mounting bolts into the roof, from what I remember, without those grounded, nothing will work, at least not correctly.



That is correct. I helped a gentleman with the same issue. Sometimes the screw mount can get a little corroded and the ground won't pass through (really only grounding through a thin contact patch of sheet metal) so you can screw the screw in/out a couple times to create a better contact patch.
mrjay47 FEB 27, 05:54 PM
Thanks for the answers. The problem ended up being that the led lights would not work with the car. Once I put the old incandescent bulbs back in and everthing was again right in the world. I could get the bulbs to light with my power probe, but not attached to the car power supply. I even chassis ground the area that you both mentioned and it failed to work also with the LED's. Now I just need to finish putting in the headliner. That's going slowly trying to match up the screw holes. Thanks for your help.


Rich
Vintage-Nut FEB 28, 09:05 AM
FYI

Incandescent bulbs are Non-Polarized

LED bulbs are Polarized