On all 4 GTs I have the front compartment light does not come on when I open it or turn courtesy lights on. I must be missing something or stupid. Does the rear compartment have to be open?

Bruce

The front compartment light only works when the headlight switch is on. (park light position will work to I think) If it's not working then you might check the switch that is located by the hood latch. I had one get rusted and wouldn't let the light come on.
Kirk

I went through that same thing, trying to get the stupid underpowered light to come on. I got the schematics out to troubleshoot the problem, and discovered what has already been mentioned. I can not for the life of me figure out why they wired it that way. Anyone have a clue? It does not make sense in my opinion to have that much of a drain on the battery just to light up the front tire area.

quote Originally posted by BQUICK: On all 4 GTs I have the front compartment light does not come on when I open it or turn courtesy lights on. I must be missing something or stupid. Does the rear compartment have to be open? Bruce

Many of the grounds that the schematic shows the hood pin switch gives the trunk light are bad. I just disconnect the black wire from the connector, and then give the light a good ground from something nearby. A screw on the jack/washer tank bracket seems to work fine.

As for a draw on the battery, if you have your lights on without the car on, the headlights themselves are more of a drain than just a little 8W 194 bulb

quote Originally posted by FieroJoe: As for a draw on the battery, if you have your lights on without the car on, the headlights themselves are more of a drain than just a little 8W 194 bulb

That is the draw on the battery that I am referring to. The light in the front compartment will not come on unless the parking lights, and/or headlights are on.

BQUICK,
You might just get one of those AA Maglites and velcro it under the hood. Then you would have a real brite lite when/where you need it!! LOL
Kirk

There's supposed to be a light under the front hood?

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Kills:
97 Neon R/T

AIM: phool88fiero

If you want a brighter lamp, try the #916. It's the parking lamp for an 86 Caravan. Same base, brighter lamp. I think 194 is only a 3w lamp. I'm not sure if it clears in the official factory optioned hardware for the thing. I just anchored the lamp socket to a nearby bracket on mine since it wasn't the factory option.

The hood pin switch goes bad fairly easy. It wasn't really made to be exposed to weather like it is.

BTW, The hood pin switch isn't the same as the door ones... The threaded part is in a different spot on the tube. If you use a door one, you'll have to make a spacer on the hood to make up the difference in height.

A replacement might be to use a trunk ajar switch on the hood latch. I'd have to look in daylight to see if it would fit.

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11-Sept-01, The day the world as we knew it ended.