C3 (69) luggage area light problem

[Rob M.]

Hi all,

For a change a question regarding the C3 1969 car. My rear compartment light stays on forever so I have to disconnect the battery each time I park the car (which is not to bad from safety perspective). Still I want this to function as intended and I would expect that something would kill the lights. Where should I look for a switch or timing device that switches the light off?

greetings,
Rob.

[Rob M.]

Re: C3 (69) luggage area light problem

Rob,

My 66 did the same thing when I bought it. All the other courtesy lights worked fine, when opening and shuting doors. I pulled the bulb, which solved the problem. You could do this as well, howerver it isn't a real fix. My problem solved itself when I replaced that bulb with a correct one (I discovered that the one in it when I bought the car was for a turn signal). You might check that yours is the correct designation. Other than that simple solution, I can't help much, but I'm sure others here will point you in the right direction.

Rob

[Joe L.]

Re: C3 (69) luggage area light problem

Rob-----

I don't understand why the rear compartment light stays on if the 2 forward kick-panel-mounted courtesy lights do not (assuming that they're both functional). These lights all work off the same circuit and "in tandem". There are switiches for the lights located in each of the forward door jamb areas. You should check these switches. The switches are GM-discontinued, but available in reproduction.

Another possibility is a faulty main lighting switch (headlight switch which also includes interior lighting function). I think this is pretty much a remote possibility, though, since "failure mode" for this component of the switch usually does not involve the lights staying on.

[Klaus Friedrich #33362]

Re: C3 (69) luggage area light problem

Hi Rob,
I know this problem too.

In my Corvette there was a wrong bulb in the light.
You'll need one with only one contact on the socket of the bulb.
If you use one with two contacts, like the bulb from the flashers, it has ground all the time an the light stay on all the time.

Good luck
Klaus Friedrich #33362
Germany