72hardtop

I found this light dangling behind the dash on my '73 Omega, not sure where its supposed to go, but I do not have any lights on my heater/AC controls. At night with the headlights on, that panel is dark. I assumed this light went to that panel, but can't seem to figure out where/how it plugs in. Then another issue is that I can't get the bulb to light up. I replaced the bulb, (having to guess which replacement to use as there were no numbers on the old bulb), but even with the headlights on, still nothing.

mrolds69

That looks like the ashtray light. It's a fiber optic deal. The bulb goes in the back of the speedo housing somewhere, it grounds through that, then the optic cable carries the light to the ashtray. Should be a 194 bulb, I think.

jaunty75

That socket looks like it screws or presses into a socket or a printed circuit. A chassis service manual would likely help here. What bulb number is needed should be listed in the owner's manual.

jaunty75

I don't think it's an ashtray light. The '73 Chassis Service Manual mentions ashtray lights only on the 88, 98, and Toronado, not on the Omega or Cutlass. It could be a clock light. It could be a glovebox light. It could be a map light.

Where behind the dash, exactly, was it dangling?

As far as bulb usage, the service manual lists the following for the '73 Omega:

all of the following use 194
brake warning light
engine temperature light
generator warning light
oil pressure warning light
high-beam indicator light
seat belt warning light
turn signal indicator light


others

courtesy lamps - 631

dome lamp - 211

glove box and heater or A/C control panel - 1895

AM radio - 293

all other radios - 1893

trunk - 1003

underhood - 93


Interestingly, the service manual mentions removal of the clock light, but there is no listing for a clock light bulb in the listing of bulbs. Under the Cutlass section, the clock bulb number is 1816.

No mention of fiber optics anywhere, either. I would be surprised to find that technology on a '73 Omega. Maybe on a Cadillac or 98 of that year, but the Omega was too low-end for this kind of technology, at least in 1973, I would think.

72hardtop

it was hanging down right in the center between the heater / A/C control panel, radio, and the ash tray. I did see that the chassis service manual says that there is a twist bulb socket holder that attaches to the bottom / side of the heater / AC control, I figure that must be where is needs to go, but I'll still have the issue where I replaced the bulb, and the light does not turn on with the rest of the instrument lights. I'll try to purchase a 1895 bulb, maybe that is why it's not working with the new bulb I purchased

Thanks!

72hardtop

That's interesting that the manual shows glove box and heater or A/C control panel both use 1895 for a bulb. Yesterday I also noticed that my glove box light was not working so I pulled that bulb and it's a different one from the hanging one. the glove bulb has a metal base with the two small posts on each side so you can push it in, then twist. The bulb for the hanging one that I found is an all glass bulb that is a straight push into the socket.

mrolds69

Right...it goes in a printed circuit. It's very easy to find out what it does, just follow the optic cable and see where it goes. Could be a cruise indicator, or wiper switch, de-fogger...see where the optic cable goes. But...it's got to go in a printed circuit some place to work. The ashtray light was not a guess. I had a 1973 Nova SS new, and a 1974 GTO (Ventura). Both had fiber optic ashtray lights.

Yellowstatue

I would be surprised to find that technology on a '73 Omega. Maybe on a Cadillac or 98 of that year, but the Omega was too low-end for this kind of technology, at least in 1973, I would think.[/QUOTE]

My '64 GMC Pick-up had fibre optics to light up the ignition switch

joe_padavano

Once you realize the Omega is a Nova, go a Google search. Among other things, you'll find this thread on a Nova site.

P1010033.jpg

mrolds69

There you go, Joe found the info for you. The bulb goes in the cluster where the clock is (or would be). Somebody may have changed the cluster, somebody may have put a regular socket + bulb in. The bulbs first purpose is to light the dash, and a small amount of residual light travels through the cable to light the ashtray. That light was part of an optional light package I ordered on my SS. It included under dash courtesy, hood, trunk, ashtray, etc., lights.

Koda

Even lowly Chevrolets had fiber optics in those years.

72hardtop

Thanks Joe! Yes, looking at the other end of the wire in the upper right corner of the picture, that end is mounted in my ash tray door! I guess the reason the light didn't work after I changed the bulb was that the other end wasn't plugged into the back of the instrument panel.

mrolds69, I might have ended up with the same package you had on your SS, I've got the under dash courtesy, hood, trunk (hatchback), ashtray lights.

Thanks again everyone! I'll look to plug in that light but I'll also need to see if there is another one hanging as I still need light to my heater/AC control.

mrolds69

I think the light for the heater control has a wire, it's not a socket deal. Maybe a grey wire.....it could be metal or a plastic bulb holder I forget. Nice looking car! There's one kicking around here with the rare tent option.