I recently completed restoration of the interior in my 65 Starfire including a seat kit, carpeting, headliner and console overhaul (chrome, stainless, carpet). Prior to restoration, everything on the console worked including the tachometer, tachometer light, side console lights (front passenger foot wells), shift indictor light, console compartment light, and rear foot well light.

After getting the car back from the upholsterer, I noted that the tachometer no longer worked and the only lights that now work on the entire console are the console compartment light and rear foot well light.

I've attached a factory diagram showing the wiring harness and am somewhat stumped -- how can the lights at the end of the harness work? I've pulled bulbs and checked fuses and everything looks OK.

Even though there is a single large male/female connector at the front of the console (comes up through the carpeting), is it possible that these lights are on different circuits/paths within the same harness?

Appreciate the help in advance -- electricity has never been my strong suit!

 

Yes, I think its possible that they're on different circuits. I believe the console in the pictures below is the same one you have. The plug shows one orange wire, but three white with black stripe wires. One for each light I believe.

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Nope, I just looked a little closer and two of the white with black stripe wires go to the same fork, second from the end. Those two should be on the same circuit.

 

OK, it looks to me like the two side lights are one circuit, then the tail and compartment lights are on another. Then the tach is on its own as well. Can you pull the plug to see if the connectors are clean?

John

 

Thanks for the reply and photos, very helpful. I plan on taking a look at the connector, cleaning, and testing with an ammeter. I took a look at the fuses in the fuse block and they all look good -- no blown fuses. I also checked the inline fuse for the tach and that was good as well.

 

Sounds like a grounding issue to me. Something is on carpet and used to be on metal. Could be one wire for everything that's out. Take a piece wire ground it and touch it to the side of one of the lights that's out might light the whole thing or half work your way from there

 

You probably have 3 circuits involved, 1 is standard gauge/panel lighting, 2 is courtesy lights when the car doors are open, and 3 glove box door lighting. #1 circuit is looking for 12v from headlight/instrument dimmer switch, #2 is looking for a ground and works the same as the dome light, and #3 is looking for 12v from a switch in the console.