Underhood/glovebox lights.

[bandv93]

I copied this off someones web page and was wondering how regals differ so that I can make the changes in my car. I would like my glove box light and underhood lights to work all the time not just with the headlamp switch.

Glove Box Lamp/Underhood Lamp Tip: You can't understand why the glove box light will not work. The wiring appears intact, the fuse checks out and the lamp is good. Kind of a puzzler. You had no trouble checking out the Buick Regal glove box lamp. It seems that all G-Bodies are not wired the same. Some G bodies are wired so that the glove box lamp circuit is hot all of the time and power is simply controlled by the glove box switch. On the Cutlass (85, 86 for sure) power is routed through the headlight switch to the glove box switch. The underhood lamp is also wired through the headlight switch. In other words, neither the glove box lamp nor the underhood lamp will light unless the headlights/parking lights are on.

 

[jamier]

underhood light???

the way my hood light works on my 87 turbo t as well as my old 86 cutlass and 81 regal was this. the housing for the light was some type of a switch which turned on and off the light as the angle of the hood changed. as the hood went down the light turned itself off and the opposite as it opened. My light doesn't have anything to do with the headlight switch. my light comes on in the day with the headlights off as soon as the hood goes up, the only thing I did was put a splice in the wire so I can disconnect the light if I'm working under the hood for long periods of time.

 

[bandv93]

That is how I would like mine to work. My underhood and glovebox lights only light up when the headlights are on. I want to rewire or figure out what connectors to rewire in order for the lights to work the way I am thinking they should and not the way they do.

 

[MeanBuicks]

Hmmm. I have an '84 Cutlass but it's been a while since I've used it so I can't recall how the glove box and underhood lights are wired. Personally, I don't recall a GM car wired so those lights only work through the switch.

If yours is like that, you may need to harvest some equipment off another G body in the junkyard because the Regals have a plunger switch that works off the glove box door and a mercury switch in the hood light since they are hot at all times.

 

[bandv93]

Cant think of how to type what I am trying to say.

"In other words, neither the glove box lamp nor the underhood lamp will light unless the headlights/parking lights are on."

My 84 regal was different than my 84 cutlass. It is just as the other members link stated not all g's were wired the same.

The lights are hotwired through the headlight switch meaning they will only work when the headlights or parklights are on. And I want them hotwired "Normally" ie... when the lights are on or off.

 

[MeanBuicks]

I understand what you're trying to accomplish. What I'm saying is, you probably can't just move your power wire to those two lights to a 'hot at all times' source because they'll stay on all the time. That is, unless they are the same as the Regal units that have their own 'automatic' switches.

Check to see if there is a little plunger switch in the top of your glove box that also controls that bulb. You can also run a temporary hot wire to your hood light and then slowly close the hood to see if a mercury switch is present or not. That way you'll know if you need to visit the boneyard.

 

[bandv93]

yes they do have their own seperate switches. that I've confirmed before posting my question for help. Thanks for replying. Do you have a wiring schematic that shows where these get their power and is it something you can email me so that I can compare it to the cutlass one that I have
84cutty@sbcglobal.net

 

[salvageV6]

They get their power from the CIG/CLK fuse which is hot at all times.

Provides power for things such as the dome lamp, footwell lamps when you open the door etc.

If you have footwell lamps in the cutlass there is most likely power there already in a red or orange wire to them.

They turn on when you open the door through pin switches that puts a ground on the lamp to complete the circuit.

Or steal power from the cigarette lighter socket wire behind it.

Don't just add this new power wire you must cut off the original powering lighte circuit that runs it, or your lights will be on all the time or you will blow the fuse.

You should have the cutlass factory wiring diagram for those two circuits on hand before making this change.

 

[bandv93]

Don't just add this new power wire you must cut off the original powering lighte circuit that runs it, or your lights will be on all the time or you will blow the fuse.

You should have the cutlass factory wiring diagram for those two circuits on hand before making this change.

Yes I am aware of that, I would like a wire schematic of a Regals to compare it to mine, and make the changes.

 

[turbofish38]

I think you have problems elsewhere. The Cutlass and the Regal are the same. Use the same glovebox and underhood lamps. Those lamps are wired into the cig light circuit. They have power to them all of the time. Did somebody cut up the harness to install stereo equipment? Maybe something on the battery(BATT) circuit is grounding out? Lots of things to check anyway.

 

[bandv93]

No the cutlass according to my car and the Oldsmobile electrical service manual it has its hot supplied through the headlamp switch , I have spent a couple hours researching this, and think that I will use the non existing clock, that has all its wires in the dash to provide the power that the glovebox needs and seek an under hood constant for the underhood lamp. It is kinda strange the way they did the cutlass. I could scan and post a pic for those that would like to see the page in the electrical manual.

 

[bandv93]

Here is a link to a picture that I took out of my electrical manual http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/84cutty@sbcglobal.net/detail?.dir=/e4a8re2&.dnm=dd70re2.jpg&.src=ph I am thinking of using the clock's power wire for the glovebox and looking under the hood for the hood light should that work?