Going out on a limb
August 22nd, 2016, 08:35 PM
#2
Registered User
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Indianapolis
Posts: 4,845
Definitely not, probably part of an aftermarket alarm system? The correct light/switch is mounted towards the front of your trunk lid on the driver side. You will see two small screw holes where it mounts. I might have a good working one if you're interested? $30.00 shipped?
August 22nd, 2016, 09:20 PM
#3
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Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 79
Thanks for the info - The trunk light is there - mounted to the trunk lid where you indicated it would be - and the wiring runs to this switch. Was the OEM switch part of the light - like a mercury switch - or a different type/place? It doesn't work as is and I haven't played with it at all to try to figure it out yet. Don
August 23rd, 2016, 08:53 AM
#4
Old(s) Fart
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Northern VA
Posts: 47,259
Thanks for the info - The trunk light is there - mounted to the trunk lid where you indicated it would be - and the wiring runs to this switch. Was the OEM switch part of the light - like a mercury switch - or a different type/place? It doesn't work as is and I haven't played with it at all to try to figure it out yet. Don
The plastic trunk light that mounts to the trunk lid hinge has a small arm that rides on the hinge arm to activate the light.
August 23rd, 2016, 10:14 AM
#5
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 79
Thanks Joe - mine is the metal can style light so I'm guessing that perhaps the mercury switch wasn't turning it off so they installed that fancy contact switch to keep the battery from running down. I'll test the light to see if that's the case. Don
August 30th, 2016, 05:17 PM
#6
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Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 79
I think Oldspackrat hit it - I was able to track down the owner previous to the one I bought the car from in Florida and this was one of the questions I asked him. I found a receipt with a guy's name on it from an auto parts store in Alabama for a battery purchased in 2000. A little Google detective work produced an email address. I sent an email, received a response 20 minutes later, and 20 minutes later he called and talked to me about the car for an hour. Seems he bought it in 1979 for $400 with 86,XXX miles on it from a lady he saw driving it down I-81 in Virginia. He said the car had an alarm system in it at the time with a key switch in the driver's fender, a big and loud "Andy Griffith" siren in the grill, and door and trunk sensors. Most of the wiring, the siren, and the switch are all gone now. Upon further inspection, the wire from this switch runs with and wraps around the trunk light lead, but doesn't actually connect to it. So - this post inspired me to track down the guy and learn a ton of history about the car he owned for more than 20 years. Thanks guys. Don
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