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door ajar and light switch jeff grice i have a convt all of the interior lights work however i can't seem to get the lights to turn on when the door opens what is the principal of the switch does it disconnect the power upon closing or does it short the system upon closing i've remove the lead from the switch and the lights don't go on does this suggest that the problem is not with the switch same type of problem on door ajar any advise is appreciated ty jeff
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Electrons
electrons tom buddie first and obvious did you check the fuse it's been a long time since i had to mess with the pin switches i have replaced them but it's been a while if my memory is correct the corvette uses two conductor switches because of the non conductivity of the fiberglass body the ground circuit back to the negative side of the battery via the frame body is not dependable to counter this the pin switches have two wires leading to them and the switch is in what's referred to as a nc or normally closed condition when the door is open and the spring loaded switch plunger is out at rest when the door is closed the plunger moves in and the switch dis connects the two wires to interrupt or open the circuit when the circuit is closed completed door open it can either provide volts to the lights or provide a path to ground for the lights or for a relay in any case removing the wire from the switch will not help you i have a ' and a ' so i am not sure which type of switches you have on your ' if the switch only has one wire attached to it then it is definitely using the frame as a ground providing a completed circuit back to the battery v if it has two wires it could be providing volts or a ground circuit v to operate the lights to test a two wire switch just carefully provide a connection between the two wires paperclip to test a one wire switch run a separate wire jumper either to a known good chassis ground point or better yet to the negative terminal of the battery if the lights still do not work the problem is elsewhere expect a very small arc when you make the connections almost too small too see if the lights turn on it ain't gonna hurt ya but if you do run a jumper to the battery connect the battery end first and then the other end because of the possible existence of battery gases no sense taking unnecessary chances -
Clarification
clarification tom buddie oops i forgot to say where to connect the jumper on a one wire switch connect it from the wire on the switch to the negative terminal of the battery or groundComment
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Re: 68 Door Ajar and Light Switch
re door ajar and light switch dick whittington jeff the switch completes the ground circuit to test the circuit one of the easiest things to do is to remove the switch and jumper the wires together be careful when removing the switch so as not to break the wires off turn the hex portion of the switch while holding the center plunger i have seen several switches that were just dirty where they make the connection a slight cleaning of the switch will sometime cure the problem some of the reporduction switches do not seem to have enough tension on the plunger to make good contact if the lights work by rotating the headlamp switch knob then the fuse and lamps are ok if they do not then check the fuse i hope this has been of help
Dick WhittingtonComment
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Re: 68 Door Ajar and Light Switch
re door ajar and light switch dick whittington correction the light switch completes the or positive circuit i sometimes suffer from ncrs never can remember squat disease this is what happens when you turn and play with corvettes too long sorry for any inconvience that i may have caused
Dick WhittingtonComment
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