No Power To Console Light Bulbs

[tthomas5118]

Hi, I am new to this forum. My name is Tyler Thomas and I have a 1970 Monte Carlo SS. There are two light bulbs inside my console which aren’t getting power. I used my test light on the grey and black wires leading to the bulbs and there was no power. I also turned on my headlights and tried again….Nothing….I checked all of my fuses and they were good as well. Any suggestions on what I should do? Does anyone know which fuse only turns on when the headlights turn on? If so, I can probably just tap into that fuse 

[420ponies]

Those lights should have power from the headlight switch when pulled out to the 1 st position. Do you have dash lights? I know there is a ground wire for the shifter also. I'm sure someone will chime and get this corrected for you. It's gotta be something simple.

[tthomas5118]

420ponies, thanks. Yes, my dash lights work. I’ll check to make sure it’s grounded

[willie]

First Welcome to the club Tyler!!!!             Thats what i am guessing, you said console. Just for heck of it check to see if the console harness extension is connected or if you are getting power to the ext harness???   

[tthomas5118]

Thanks Willie, I will check that as well. I appreciate your help.

[Dtret]

That’s exactly what I was going to say Willie. If you have dash lights the fuse is good. The shifter lights run with that. The backseat console light should come on when the door is opened, if I remember correctly. 

[tthomas5118]

Thanks Willie, I will check that as well. I appreciate your help.

[Dtret]

3 minutes ago, tthomas5118 said:

Thanks Willie, I will check that as well. I appreciate your help.

Check that ground. It looks pretty rusty. 

[Dtret]

By the way Tyler welcome to the best thing going in first gen Monte Carlo groups. 

[tthomas5118]

I’m only getting power to the dark green wire at the harness. I need power to the grey wires. Those are the ones that feed the power to the light bulbs. Can I just tap a wire directly from the fuse box to the grey wires for the lights to have power? Maybe the 20A taillight fuse? Then when I turn the lights on that should trigger the bulbs to come on as well…Thoughts?

[tthomas5118]

Thank you Dtret

[Michael Boyte]

Welcome to the First Gen Monte club.   This club is much like a family, these members are always there and willing to assist in any way that they can. If you have questions about your Monte, Someone here will definitely have the correct answer . Again welcome Tyler !! 

[Dtret]

Did you try and see if your getting power with the key on? I realize this shouldn’t matter because you’re dealing with the console lights that are powered by the headlight switch. But was curious 

[tthomas5118]

I wire brushed the ground very good. I used it to test other wires and it was fine. I have a good ground, but no power to the grey wires on the harness. 

[tthomas5118]

Dtret yes, I tried with the key on and off and with the lights on and off.

[willie]

Hey Tyler, i wouldn't jump it just yet!  That connection that you have there its in the console?      If yes, if i am not mistaken (its been awhile) there is another connection closer to the firewall, checkback that far as you are losing juice somewhere, you have to keep going further and further back until you find juice!!

[willie]

1 hour ago, Dtret said:

That’s exactly what I was going to say Willie. If you have dash lights the fuse is good. The shifter lights run with that. The backseat console light should come on when the door is opened, if I remember correctly. 

Since when do i beat you to the punch Dennis??  lol

[tthomas5118]

Thanks for all the help. I just ended up running a fused wire to the lamp tab in the fuse box. This was a shortcut way to address my issue. The console bulbs work appropriately now.
 

[Michael Boyte]

I'm glad to see that it worked out for you.  Does that lamp tab energize only when the headlight switch is on ? 

 

[tthomas5118]

Michael Boyte, thank you. Yes it only energizes when the headlight switch is on. 😊

Edited November 13, 2024 by tthomas5118

[Scott S.]

Welcome to the club Tyler...

Quick question.... Are the under dash lights working as well ?

All the interior lights have full time power that activate/illuminate when grounded. So the "hot wire" will work as long as you've got good grounding. ie. door switches or light switch.

I'd say that you've got a broken "power in" (+) wire, probably under the carpet between the console and under the dash.

You should check it just to be sure that it doesn't have any chance to find a grounding point under there, just to be safe.

Scott.

 

[Dtret]

These lights should have nothing to do with the door jamb switches. That’s why I asked about the back console light when the door was open. To see if there is much going on with the entire harness. It looks like the neutral switch is connected to all that too. 

[cbolt]

3 hours ago, Scott S. said:

 

All the interior lights have full time power that activate/illuminate when grounded. So the "hot wire" will work as long as you've got good grounding. ie. door switches or light switch.

I'd say that you've got a broken "power in" (+) wire, probably under the carpet between the console and under the dash.

 

 

I suspect a broken power in wire as well. It could be something right there in the console itself, maybe something rubbed through from shifter movement if the clips holding the harness secure got loose. Did you inspect the wiring in the console carefully? 

[Scott S.]

On 11/13/2024 at 1:22 PM, Dtret said:

These lights should have nothing to do with the door jamb switches. That’s why I asked about the back console light when the door was open. To see if there is much going on with the entire harness. It looks like the neutral switch is connected to all that too. 

Sorry for the confusion by grouping the different circuits together, but the "ground to illuminate" principal is common for both. 

[cbolt]

14 hours ago, Scott S. said:

Sorry for the confusion by grouping the different circuits together, but the "ground to illuminate" principal is common for both. 

This is a really clever electrical pun! 🤣