[Deadhead]

Maybe someone can explain this to me. The cargo light in wagons has a 3 position switch. Center is 'off'; one outside position is 'on' grounded to the body with a lead; 2nd outside position is 'on' grounded to the body of the switch/to the body with screws. This makes no sense. I assumed that mine was added later and that since there was no wire, it could not be switched to the doors/dome. I added a white wire to one of the rear doors so it would switch with the dome, thinking this is how it should be.

After, I took out a spare cargo light I have, and it is wired same as the one in the car. Why the 2 different 'on' positions? Anyone have one wired to the dome switches? Seems like this would be the way it should be. The bulbs have 2 terminals on them and also use the bayonet for the body Gnd.

I also learned that the cars with the reading lights have switches have 2 spade connections on them which allow the reading lights to come on individually on each side depending upon which door is opened.

[Heybuck]

Years ago I had an XC Ford Falcon Wagon. Loaded.

It had a cargo light which from memory operated off the headlight switch so if you turned it right round, the dome light came on. But you could also turn it on at the cargo light plus you could turn it off completely at the cargo light. So it had a 3 position switch.

Man, that's 30 years back but I think that's how it worked. Maybe that's how the Pontiac one works.

Just one more thing Bruce, DON'T you go messing with the wiring on this car. I want to buy it from you and I don't want it all messed up......

Ian

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by Heybuck

DON'T you go messing with the wiring on this car. I want to buy it from you and I don't want it all messed up......

Ian

Not to worry. It is all properly color coded and put together. The way it is now it will work as your Falcon did. I forgot about being able to turn it on with the HL switch. That is also very handy for the cargo space. Before, both were to the same Gnd effectively and only operable at the cargo switch. Weird.

[66 Wagon]

The switch on my cargo light is broken.
Anyone know where to find one or can i replace it with a switch from another car?

How did the cargo light functioned when it was new? Did it turned on when the taillight opened
and/or could it be turned on by the headlamp switch?

[Deadhead]

The ones I have were set up to only come on when the switch was turned on manually. As far as I know, there is no switch on the gate.

[joeg]

Is this the courtesy lamp on the RR quarter?

[66 Wagon]

On some canadian Pontiac wagons and Chevy wagons I've seen a window button just above the cargo light so the rear passengers could lower the rear window. Was that an option for american built Pontiacs as well or is it a chevy thing only?

[Deadhead]

Originally Posted by joeg

Is this the courtesy lamp on the RR quarter?

LR yes.

[66 Wagon]

I tried to upload pics of the cargo light in my Bonneville earlier this day.
So pardon me if it turns out to be a double post.

[joeg]

I looked in the chassis shop manual page 12-8 and it shows the wiring for the wagon courtesy lamp. From what is show it's just a switch that turns the light on or off.