70 Fiber Optics Question

[Pat Bush]

Hello all ---

I have my center console out for some R/R and while my fiber optics have always worked, they are somewhat dim in the front interior panel of the car. I have the plate bezel out and as I look at the fiber with lights on, it appears the headlight fibers are not fully exposed -- it's like a bright sliver of light coming through rather than a full bright circular beam as with the running lights and the rear tail-light/license plate. I must assume these were either repaired at some point and not properly polished to allow a full circular light beam. The harness at the headlights is new, and there are no breaks in the optics -- and they do work, just not to my satisfaction. I am wondering the best way to polish/clean these to get as bright a light as possible before I reassemble.

Any ideas or help would be appreciated -

Thanks in advance --

Pat

[Joe L.]

Re: 70 Fiber Optics Question

Pat-----

It could be that the fiber-optics have been repaired at some point. If the cables are cut and spliced, then the cut ends have to be PERECTLY cut at a 90 degree angle and butted together so that there is FULL contact of one end with the other.

However, there can be another, more easily remedied problem. The fiber optic connectors at their origin have a sealed connection between the connector and the bulb/light source. For the headlamps, this seal is a small, foam rubber-like seal which goes between the back of the headlamp and the fiber optic lens in the headlamp connector. These seals ABSOLUTELY MUST be in place if the fiber optics are to transmit light properly. However, they are often discarded and/or un-noticed at headlamp replacement. So, may go "by the wayside".

The seals are GM-discontinued but, as is to be expected, Dr. Rebuild has them.

[Jim T.]

Re: 70 Fiber Optics Question

Joe has some better seals than what came on my late model 70. The seal between the headlight tit and the electrical connector on my original owner 70 is a black plastic. It really does not seal real well. The attachment of the electrical connector on the back of the headlight supplys the force of keeping the piece on the headlight and against the electrical connector. I have found the tit on the headlamp dirty and not illuminating enough light. A small piece of measured rubber vacuum hose would probably provide a better weatherproof seal that what was put on my car.