Hey everyone. I have a 1969 Oldsmobile Cutlass S convertible. Working on installing my new stereo system and I’d like to take care of any and all miscellaneous loose wires in the dash.
I have seen in other forums the orange wire could be for the glove box light but only see it going to the actual glove box push spring that signals to the glove box that the door is open. I noticed a plug that is white with black stripes not connected to anything. Could this be the glove box light connector?
Also there is a black wire that is not connected to anything…..I’m wondering if it goes to the empty plug on my map light? And if so why? The map light works perfectly fine without it when I open the door it comes on and turns off when the door is closed. The actual button on the light does not turn it on and off though? I moved the switch back and forth with the door clothes but nothing.
I noticed in the manual there seems to be a wire just hanging in the air and I’m wondering could this be the same wire I see? And if so why is it in the car if there is no use for it?
Thanks for any and all help with this issue.

 

I'm going to suggest (assume) you don't own a 1969 OEM GM Oldsmobile Chassis Service Manual (CSM) w/ the included color wiring diagram? You should own one if you don't already. Orange wire(s) is/are always HOT. I'll provide you a copy of the1969 A-Body V8 color wiring diagram. This diagram is located here >>>1969 Wiring Diagrams

 

The pic I posted is from the Chassis manual. I have The Chassis manual, the assembly manual, and the body manual. Neither of these is helping me with this issue. Hence the reason I posted a pic from the CHASSIS manual to see if anyone could see something I don’t see.
Also are the other pics you included for me? I don’t see what they have to do with my post.
and I have the same color copy for the wiring that you have. It’s no help. That’s why I came here. Thanks for taking the time out to respond tho. It is greatly appreciated.

 

My intention is to not beat you up w/ this but I recognize I've previously made the suggestion for you to purchase the CSM. It's your bible for everything on your car.
Get yourself a circuit tester & a magnifying glass as I mentioned in this thread >>> https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...1/#post1594979

 

I posted one picture. What "other pics"?

 

We crossed in time while posting I guess.
To your question. It's quite difficult to say w/ certainty EXACTLY which of your wires are correctly/incorrectly routed. Via a simple process of elimination (and wire labeling) you should be able to validate where that wire (and any wire goes) w/ a simple circuit light tester. You said the wiring diagram was no help? I'd suggest you follow each orange wire, label its function and arrive at the location for that orange wire. There are, I think, six locations for the orange wires, yes?

 

Note white wires in wiring diagram complete the ground circuit from the main lamp switch via the door switches, map lamps, courtesy lamps & dome lamp. Those are NO (Normally Open) switches. When a door is opened the switch is then closed, completing the ground circuit and those lamps will illuminate. They all need an orange (HOT) side wire though also for the switches, lamps (which have switches) to operate. Independent orange wires (w/ no white ground wire) remain hot all the time e.g. clock. The clock continues to run when IGN is turned OFF. Test each one w/ a circuit tester light in the various positions i.e. doors opened/closed, key ON/OFF, etc. You should arrive at an answer.

 

Regarding this:

If I recall correctly, I "think" (don't hold me to this) but I believe you're correct that lone black wire is for that map light. Again, I "think" it worked like this, someone else needs to validate. Yes, the map lamp will illuminate when the doors are opened, and turn off when the doors are closed when the lamp is not in the ON position - IOW, in the OFF position. But you're cruising down the highway with someone reading a map - so they turn on the map light. Rather than opening a door at 65 MPH to get the map light to illuminate, I "think" that black wire is a dedicated ground wire which bypasses the door switch(es) activation (which would normally be grounded via the white wires). So, when you turn on the map light w/ the black wire connected the switch gets a dedicated ground (black wire) bypassing the door switches. Did I mess that up too bad?

 

I believe I was correct regarding the black wire goes to the map light as witnessed in the below diagram from the 1969 PIM. The idea here is this, restated maybe with more clarity (I hope). Under any conditions with the doors closed, the white wires are not in the ground side circuit for door switches - NO (Normally Open) switches at the doors when doors are closed the switch circuit is NO (Normally Open). When a door is open, the door switch is closed, white wire completes the ground side circuit map lamp illuminates - caveat - when the map light is in the OFF position.
With all doors closed, there would be no manner to turn on the map light without a dedicated ground wire since the white ground side wires operate via the door switches. Therefore, you turn the map lamp to ON, bypassing the normal white ground side wires and the dedicated black wire completes the ground circuit. So, plug it into the map light and note the map light should work with all doors closed (assuming the black wire is in fact grounded correctly per the diagram (below).

 

Thanks for all your help. So the ground wire is definitely for the map light. I just need to know if my model car actually came with a light for the glove box because if it did where did it disappear to? 😂😂 There’s no orange wire or light harness anywhere in there.
So I Just have to solve the mysterious white wires purpose and find or maybe install a new glove box switch for a light and wires.
I will be investing in a magnifying glass tomorrow. Thanks for the tip.

 

It’s late on my phone can’t view images well but you have the orange wire to the glove box switch. Albeit, that switch is for the glovebox lamp. 👌

 

Figure it out tomorrow likely.

 

Black dots on a wire in the wiring diagram are a ‘splice’, BTW.

 

Is there a bulb/lamp contained in the glove box switch? If there is but it isn't working check the wire for continuity. If there isn't, well....

 

I don't have a 1969 CSM, but in the Electrical Section (12?) is a list (chart) of all lamps & lamp usage. Don't know the exact number for the glove box lamp. Oldsmobile used several type switches/lamps over the years. Just check the CSM for the chart.

 

That chart (I think) is in both the Owner's Manual & the CSM

Light Bulb Chart

 

Sorry had a busy day so I didn’t get time to check my car. There seems to be different types/models for the 69?

This is mines in my car. I’m not sure if there is space for a bulb in that little piece. But I will check tomorrow.

This is one from Fusick which resembles the one you posted. But also sorta looks like mines in my car.

This is one from the forum which multiple people are saying is the correct one

This is from the forum

This is what it would look like completely installed.

This is from the forum

 

Did you have a specific question about this image?

 

That pic is a pic of the mystery white wire from inside the dash.

 

Oh, OK. It looks like a gray wire in the photo. I'll take your word for it's white. Not sure exactly what it's for from the image alone.

 

Your issue 'might' involve modifications made to the glove box lamp switch currently installed on your car as well as the glove box (liner) itself; so, keep that in mind. Lots of folks found reasons to modify areas of a car for many reasons, often ending up w/ a ramshackle solution i.e. using a different model, year, make glove box &/or glove box lamp/switch. The best I can do is provide you w/ the known OEM lamp switch part numbers contained in official Oldsmobile documentation. As witnessed below (1969 PIM) apparently two switches were available for your vehicle & I am not 100% why two switches were available: one (3870209) listed as an option (OPT.) the other likely standard (3859328). Was one for an upgrade lighting pkg.? I don't know. Note: part numbers may have been updated over the years & replaced original part numbers. None-the-less you have two official part numbers if your intent is to use original glove box switch lamps. I might find why the difference in the two part numbers later on in a parts manual.

 

If I remember correctly, the white wire with the black tracer plugs into the console wiring and optional interior lighting at the bottom of the dash. Cars with the console/accessory lighting got a special door jamb switch on the drivers side, with 3 pins. One pin for the overhead dome light, one for the console/axxessory lighting, and the 3rd for the key buzzer.

Only reason I can think of why Olds did this was to isolate some of the interior lighting from the headlight switch. Turning the headlight switch to the full right will turn on the dome lamps, but not the console lights.

 

Wow, never thought about this or ever knew about it. Makes sense I suppose if you have a center console. I don't think I was even aware that plug was contained in the wiring loom even if there was no center console; although, we're talking about a 1969 model year & I'm more familar w/ '71/'72. Good feedback, Matt

 

Thanks for taking time to respond. Since I have a convertible it’s obviously not a dome light 😂 but I have seen in other forums that there is actually a light that goes next to the ashtray in some models?
I have the Chassis Manual, The Fischer Body Manual, and the Cutlass Assembly manual and don’t see this particular cord anywhere. It’s white with a black stripe.

 

So I took time to pull it out and I believe you’re right again!!! Looks like a tiny bulb does fit inside of here to me. I’m pissed because I destroyed the glovebox liner 😂😂 luckily a new one is only $25/30 bucks. Thanks again for your knowledge and help!!

 

They’re tiny - hope it works.

 

No white w/ black stripe wire contained in the wiring diagram I am aware of. So, what’s different about your car? The wiring for the convertible top is located in the Fisher Body Service Manual. It is not contained in the CSM or the CSM wiring diagram. I might very vaguely recall a white w/ black stripe wire from the Fisher Manual. Does your top work?

 

‘Generally’ speaking a white wire is a ground wire. As Matt calls it, it’s a white tracer wire I think he said. The black stripe I believe indicates a ‘switched’ ground e.g. IOW much like that map lamp switch. Whichever device/accessory that wire is connected to gets energized when a switch is selectively engaged to ground the device INDEPENDENT of any/all other grounds. Best guess.

 

Any idea the size of the bulb for the glove box? I’ve been searching Google for the last hour with no luck. There should be a lamp chart in my chassis manual but I don’t see it.

 

Chapter 12? In the electrical section I think at the end of electrical.

 

Yep found it. Thanks again! 1893 bulb. Real tiny.

 

I think the white/black tracer is outlined in the service manual in the accessories section. I’m at work now, or I would look.

 

Those glove box lights are pretty fragile. Seems like any time I work on the stereo of glove box I damage it.

 

My 1971 CS convertible had the lamp separate from the switch - w/ a larger socket/bulb. Can't say I've ever attempted to keep track of the specific lighting changes, lighting pkgs. &/or components for the various years - they changed several times.