[i4abuygto]

Hello All,

I posted this question in another thread I have going but have had no response as it is an older subject but related to putting the dash back together.

Please help to identify where the metal ungrounded light socket goes to the instrument cluster behind the dash in my 79.

I attached a photo with the 4 sockets that are in the harness -

The only socket with the ground wire attached is pictured mounted in the Heater / AC Control plastic panel.

I have a cut gray wire that I believe goes to the cigarette lighter (I have to locate the small metal tube socket that fits the lighter tube).

The plastic backed - metal fingered socket goes to the center metal Fuel guage pod

Where does the other metal socket go?

Let me know - thanks.

[i4abuygto]

Anyone knowledgeable about these light locations?

[78w72]

I will have to check some parts I have to be sure, but the metal socket looks like the one that goes into the back of the cig lighter, shown here. https://www.ebay.com/itm/305289652827

The cut grey wire is most likely related to other lights somewhere on the dash or could be the lead to the shifter bezel light in the console? Those grey wires are usually for interior lights.

[burd]

Interior harness schematic is prob going to be your best friend. Look in the back of the GM manual, they are there.
What is in that, it isn’t a bulb?

[i4abuygto]

I will have to check some parts I have to be sure, but the metal socket looks like the one that goes into the back of the cig lighter, shown here. https://www.ebay.com/itm/305289652827

Thanks Burd,

The socket is to big to fit in the lighter that you sent the link to - I tried that already.

It is actually the same size as the socket that snaps into the center fuel gauge pod. I snapped both that socket and the fingered socket into the fuel gauge pod, so they both snap into a metal grounded hole that size. I determined the plastic black "fingered" socket was for the pod by looking at posted photos. I have looked at schematics and can't locate the need for the socket in question. The bulb that is in that socket is a newer LED bulb that I put in there to test.

You are correct that all gray wires are associated with interior "dimmable" light circuit controlled by the headlight switch. I believe, making them all related to the dash area.

[i4abuygto]

So I will ask this a different way.
Besides the main dash pod, the fuel gauge center pod, the cigarette lighter, and the plastic AC / Heater control panel, what needs to be lighted behind the dash that would be dimmed along with the dash lights on the 79 TA?

[johnta1]

Don't know if this helps, but it's a 78 IP which should be close to yours?

["QUICK-SILVER"]

Any chance that metal socket went to the radio?

Clay

[i4abuygto]

Don't know if this helps, but it's a 78 IP which should be close to yours?

Thank you - I have the 79 gauge cluster that is slightly different and all gauge pod lighting is done by the plastic twist bulb sockets with the T10 bulbs on the printed circuit board.

Any chance that metal socket went to the radio?

Thank you - That is a good possibility as I dont have the stock radio to confirm or verify the need of an outside bulb. I would lean against that possibility due to the fact that the stock radio connector has a gray wire on the connector along with a black ground and yellow power wire. I would think (with the radio connector configuration) that the light for the radio is likely inside the radio fed by gray wire on the stock radio connector.

When I removed the dash I should have taken photos of all harness connections as I was disconnecting everything. Pretty stupid of me, I know.

I think what I am missing is simple as I believe the sockets were located in the correct stock position when I removed them. I just cant remember where the one in question goes.

[TAKerry]

I would say a hard no that it goes to the radio. I re-did the gauge cluster in my '79 over the winter and honestly do not remember any metal light housing. I am going to go back over my pics and see if it pops up.

[78w72]

The radio didnt use a external light, they have 2 very small bulbs inside to light up the face plate.

[i4abuygto]

I would say a hard no that it goes to the radio. I re-did the gauge cluster in my '79 over the winter and honestly do not remember any metal light housing.

The only metal housing I see that has a light need is the center pod for the fuel / volts. The black "fingered" one goes there - the metal fingers grounding to the pod case. The other metal - single wire bulb socket was snapped in somewhere in need of a light.

I am going to go back over my pics and see if it pops up.

If you could check photos or behind your dash - that would be great.
Thank you.

[i4abuygto]

I have searched on line for photos and cant see enough detail in the photos to find individual bulbs other than the heater control, lighter and the center dash pod as noted above.

I have looked on all related schematics from 78 and 79 and can not find enough detail to describe. The 79 schematic i have just shows gray wire and print that states to 3 dash locations but does not give detail as to any more than the center dash pod, heater control and lighter. The 78 schematic shows more detail but only shows the gray wire going to ground at lighter, and dash pod with 2 wires gray and black to heater control with another gray wire to console and shifter but I had no light wires at console upon removal of dash and console.

I wish I had noted all light locations when I disassembled the dash.

If someone could check what they have in their 79 TA or Firebird cars or related detail that would be great.

Thank you.

[i4abuygto]

I have been online looking at photos of new wiring harnesses available for 79 in an attempt to find the description and location of the light that I need.

Is there any additional info available or where can I look - suggestions?

Thank you.

[burd]

What’s not lit up?

[burd]

Do you have a socket in your shifter?

[i4abuygto]

Thanks Burd for your suggestions.

What’s not lit up?

That is unknown to me - it has to go somewhere and light up something unknown near the gages- radio - ashtray area.
The dash and all components are currently out of the TA and I would like to know where everything is located before I start the new install of the dash.

Do you have a socket in your shifter?

I have two cut gray wires in addition to the socket in question and I believe one of those should have a black connector on it to connect with harness to the shifter and console.

The bulb in question is coming out of the harness near the gauges and the wire leading from the taped harness to the metal socket is maybe 6 inches long and is not long enough to get anywhere past the gage pods and instrument area.

[MO Olds]

Are you sure that's a cut wire? Not trying to be sarcastic. I have the same set up and I was at a loss until I read it was actually a "fiber optic" that goes to the ashtray in my case.


"The bulb in question is coming out of the harness near the gauges and the wire leading from the taped harness to the metal socket is maybe 6 inches long and is not long enough to get anywhere past the gage pods and instrument area"

[78w72]

Originally Posted by MO Olds

Are you sure that's a cut wire? Not trying to be sarcastic. I have the same set up and I was at a loss until I read it was actually a "fiber optic" that goes to the ashtray in my case.


"The bulb in question is coming out of the harness near the gauges and the wire leading from the taped harness to the metal socket is maybe 6 inches long and is not long enough to get anywhere past the gage pods and instrument area"

The fiber optic ash tray wire is connected to a special bulb socket at the gauge cluster then has a metal end on it to attach to the ash tray housing... its easy to see the fiber optic from the end if cut off.

[i4abuygto]

Are you sure that's a cut wire? Not trying to be sarcastic. I have the same set up and I was at a loss until I read it was actually a "fiber optic" that goes to the ashtray in my case.

I am familiar with what the fiber optic wire looks like by looking at photos. I believe the fiber optic cable has a socket that is powered by the circuit board on the main dash speedo pod. I don't believe my 79 TA had the fiber optic option as there are no "empty" light socket options on my main pod circuit board.

By the cut wires I mean gray wires that are missing the stock ends (I show one of the gray wires with a missing end in the above picture) - one, I believe goes to the lighter socket I am missing. I believe the other should have a connector to feed the missing console harness.

I dont have any wires that resemble the fiber optic wire as seen in the attached photo that I found online.