My trunk light is not working so I checked the bulb. It turned out good but is not getting power. I decided to check the other lights and found the ash tray lights are also not working. I don't know if the bulbs there are bad. Are these lights on the same fuse or circuit?

Sounds like a fuse is blown but remember that the courtesy lights are hot wired into two different circiuts. Try switching out the ash tray light with a known good one after going through your fuses.

I found that article on the courtesy lights so you'll have the information you'll need to double check the circiuts.

Here is an excellent read on Pontiacs electrical blunders....
http://www.fieros.de/en/articles/screwup.html

They are not on the same circuit/fuse

Trunk light is on the CTSY fuse and the ash tray lights are on the TAIL fuse

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 08-09-2010).]

ash tray light... Bulb is likely blown.
Trunk light... What year car? it matters

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quote Originally posted by theogre: ash tray light... Bulb is likely blown. Trunk light... What year car? it matters

The car is an 88. All the ash tray light do not work. If one is out shouldn't the others work?

Yeah it does. That is what my Haynes manual shows.

You can download one here under TECH. There is also an 86 and 88 service manual downloadable there.
http://www.fieronews.net/fusion/downloads.php

The wiring diagrams in the Haynes are simpler, but also not year specific.

BEST way to check fuses - is with a test light. Turn on the circuit in question, make sure the clip of your test light is properly grounded and touch one of the two metal parts on the back of the fuse with the probe of the test light. The light should light on both sides of the fuse. Only one side lights = bad fuse Neither side lights = no power to the fuse.

The Haynes manual also says the dash lights are fed first through the TAIL fuse and then after the dimmer through the INST fuse. So if the TAIL fuse was out you would have no dash lights. You would also have no tail lights.

The Haynes manual says the CTSY fuse also controls the trunk light, the dome lights and the reading light.

The BAT fuse controls the Courtesy lights (lights that come on with the dome light but are at your feet), the cigar lighter, and the memory of the digital clock/radio.

The Courtesy lights and Dome lights are controlled by the same switches, but different fuses. This will give strange things happening when one of the two fuses is burnt out.

TAIL, BATT and CTSY fuses should be hot at all times. The INST fuse should be hot whenever the dash lights should be on.

I am having the same problem with my trunk light. I have tried to trace back the hot wire but have been unable to find power yet. My car is an 85 notchie.

Firebird - So do you have power on one side of the trunk light switch? - If you need help start a new thread and ask it there and we will get it figured out.

Download the Haynes manual and look at the wiring diagram in it.

[This message has been edited by phonedawgz (edited 08-10-2010).]

Phonedawgz, my dash and tail lights are working fine so my problem may be with the ash tray bulbs themselves. My dome lights and map reading lights also work. I am going to check fuses and test for power tomorrow and see what I can figure out. Thanks for the info and tips!