What in the world is this darn thing? I spent a bunch of time wiring it up to the dimmer and the darn thing doesn't even light up my finger until it's like an inch away. What gives? Is this just the most useless piece of plastic or what? Has anybody installed any other kind of light with a little more power then 1/100th of a watt? I'm going to do it just because it bugs me and my friends laughed at it when I showed it to them.

------------------
, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list), getting new engine in summer

 

Yeah, I have no clue what that is for. I have always wanted to know. It is so damn dim I can't think of any possible use for it. What size bulb is that? That might look sorta neat with a colored bulb.

[This message has been edited by jm91rs (edited December 28, 2000).]

 

it's supposed to light up the ashtray.
that's it, nothing special

------------------
Proud owner of the slowest L98 in the North East
1987 IROC 5.7 - 16.43 @ 82 the project
1986 S10 4x4 w/93 Vortec 4.3 - the nitemare
1988 Formula WS6 - the Cow

 

are you serious? That thing doesn't even come close to lighting the ash tray. Wouldn't possibly light anything

 

I believe it is more to give some ambient light so you will have some depth perception to where the dash is at night. It has a tiny pin-hole for the light to get out and will only provide some soft fill light.

 

If you look at your right hand when it's on the shifter during nighttime you'll notice the light. It's definately an "ambience" light not anything serious. A blue bulb would be cool though huh

------------------
92 Z28 L98 350
---------------
Ported stock heads, XR270HR-10 cam, TES headers, Crane AFPR, Flowmaster catback, MSD ignition components.
Best ET 13.5@105 mph
"Take that auto, drop it in first, hold the brakes, stomp the gas and grin from ear to ear! :-)
Click here to see my car at Truspeed.org

Check out TruSpeed at http://www.truspeed.org
Check out the Bin Archive at http://www.truspeed.org/bins.html

 

It is kinda weird. I had an 89 that had one, and an 88, but I have talked to about 10 other people with the same years that didn't have them (all cars were Camaros). Any idea why not? Was it a plant-specific thing? And I thought it was to light the ashtray, but mine pointed at the shifter...? Mass production downfall I suppose....

Vman

------------------
1969 Camaro
383, Corvette heads, 700R4
Resto is in progress

1988 Toyota 4-Runner
aka the Parts Hauler

Previous owner of an 89 RS Camaro
2.8L V6, 700R4

 

Maybe those people had them, but didn't know it. Mine is so invisible. The light doesn't actually point to anything cause it is so dim. The only way I know I even have one is cause I wiped off my dash at night one time and that whimpy light shined on my hand. So what is it actually for and what size bulb is it?

------------------
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows

 

It is some little tiny bulb kinda like the $8 ones for the 3rd brake light on a standard 3 piece 87-89 spoiler. It might even be one of those.......shudder

Vman

------------------
1969 Camaro
383, Corvette heads, 700R4
Resto is in progress

1988 Toyota 4-Runner
aka the Parts Hauler

Previous owner of an 89 RS Camaro
2.8L V6, 700R4

 

Just for the hell of it I have this little fat buddha ceramic thing that I stuck on the top of my stereo/AC holder and I put a red light in the light socket you guys are talking about so at night it shines down on the buddha. I think it looks pretty sweet at night with a little glowing red buddha. But before I had him, I didn't even know the light existed....

------------------
**FOR SALE***89 Camaro RS 2.8 V6 auto
Exterior: White Interior: Black
T-tops, power-windows, locks, hatch.

Also, the new owner of the MeanYellowZ

 

This has to be the funniest little light ever. I know that in my 86 it had some kind of fiber optic light from the shifter ind. light to the ash tray. I didn't even know it was there until I was tearing everything apart. It's just funny that they'd provide the light even though it gets drowned out by the shift light and the guage lights. I feel like I've discovered something and others have been struck with curiosity to look more closely at it. I know I didn't discover it but still, I think it's cool and messed up in the same sence.

------------------
, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list), getting new engine in summer

 

i just found out last night that i also have that little light under the air ducts. what's the deal, it only turns on when you switch on your park/head lights right? what do i have to remove in order to maybe change the bulb???

------------------
Danny "clueless"
'89 Iroc-z28
5.7 automatic
all stock

 

There should be 2 7mm bolts on either side of the clear plastic plate the light comes through. Take those out, and the assembly should fall out.

Vman

------------------
1969 Camaro
383, Corvette heads, 700R4
Resto is in progress

1988 Toyota 4-Runner
aka the Parts Hauler

Previous owner of an 89 RS Camaro
2.8L V6, 700R4

 

oh crap, i feel so stupid. i didn't even see those bolts till now, thanks Vman

------------------
Danny
'89 Iroc-z28
5.7 automatic
all stock

 

I had no idea that light was there until I read this post. Now I'm just as confused as everyone else. Ambient lighting? I don't think so. It's not even that bright. Maybe a brighter bulb could be popped into that socket...

------------------
'88 IROC 305 TPI
Crappy 700R4 slushbox
Gutted airboxes
180 degree T-stat
Advanced base TPS voltage
Relocated IAT sensor
Momo steering wheel (gotta luv it)
Ram-air setup coming soon
Flowmaster muffler (puke)
Taylor SpiroPro wires
Accel cap and rotor
Kills: '94 Z28, Olds Aurora V8, bunch of Mustangs, T-birds, ricers, and others who assumed a 12 year-old car would be too slow.

 

the bulb itself is pretty bright, it's just that dinky pin hole that doesn't allow the light to project through. maybe just make the hole bigger, but even at that, what could we use this light for anyway? i took the cover plate off mine showing just the light, with the bulb tucked up in there, and to me it's kinda annoying while driving, like it doesn't belong there. owell.

 

My '87 RS has one too. Throws just enough light that I can see the ashtray at night, which I suppose is what it's for.

 

i'm assuming that those lights are different in 91 and 92 camaros than the other lights. I know in my 91 rs and my brother's 92 rs, there is no way it could light the ashtray. And there are no bolts holding it in, just a cover that pops off if you pry it. I took the original bulb (with the cover and all) out (there is a plug holding it in). I wired a 194 bulb holder to it, plugged it back in, and mouted the holder to the plastic cover that you need to pop off. Now i have a red light in there, but it is a bit bright so i am going to rig up a cover for it so it only shines on the dash and straight down., not out at the passengers.

------------------
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows

 

Yeah, I wasn't sure what they were talking about the pinhole and bolts holding it it. My 91 was just clipped in and had a smoky yellow lens for the light to shine through. So you guys put a red bulb in and it looks okay? I was thinking about doing that. I have red bulbs in my guages/shift plate and they look great.

------------------
, Jon (91 RS too many mods to list), getting new engine in summer

 

yeah...it looks good, but i want to mount the red bulb up in the holder a little farther so it doesn't shine so brightly.

------------------
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows

 

it is my 89 rs with the two hexegon screws holding a small plate with the small pin hole to the underneith dash. i haven't looked at my 91 rs yet to see what that has. didn't know they were different

 

Take the piece down, pop out the square plastic lens, use it as a template to cut one from thin CLEAR acrylic, drill out the hole that the light shines through to a bigger size, glue the square of acrylic back in, put it all together, and I betcha it'll light up a whole lot more.

Mine makes a circle of light that lights up the whole ashtray/shifter area. "Ambient"

Just another one of my lesser known mods...

 

I have another idea, instead of using a light bulb. if you install a Light Emitting Diode in there, they provide more directional lighting, also if you cut a flat spot on the end of the LED and glue it to the underside of the pin hole it may not be so annoying. I noticed that little light last year when I had my dash off. I plan on adjusting it to direct the light on the section of the dash above the heater controls, I'm using this area to add switches.


------------------
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
89 RS Camaro, 305 TBI
Currently All Stock


[This message has been edited by FastElectrics (edited January 14, 2001).]

 

Where'd you get the red bulbs to put in there? Are they something you can get at an auto parts store?

KAM

 

In our camaros, it is just 194 bulbs in there...you can get them at an auto part store no problem. But i went with xenon cause its brighter and will not dim over time.

------------------
91 rs, convertible, K&N, Edelbrock open element cleaner, 3.73, B&M mega-shifter, goodmark cowl-induction hood,tinted windows

 

The wire that powers the bulb had enough juice to power the CB radio that I use on long trips.

 

Hey Vortex,

Those lightbulbs in the third brake light are like 2$ at Walmart. I had to replace everyone of mine. But i need a new lens and they are very expensive from the dealer. Time to scout out the boneyards....


Drove it like i stole it and had to buy another one.

89 RS Conv 305 700R4
Edelbrock intake
Holley 600
Hedman Hedders and Y pipe
Flowmaster
Accel HEI coil

[This message has been edited by Chvywolf (edited January 24, 2001).]

 

I always thought it was to cast just alittle light on the HVAC ***** so you can tell where they are. I mean, on my 87 TA, I can see the ***** with the light on. I cleaned the lens up real good, and that made it even brighter. Not much...but alittle. Anyway, for the most part it is pretty usless. just my thought..
Justin

 

do you realise you just replied to a post almost a year old????

im going to take the small piece of plastic out and get a piece of laxan anc get blue cellophane and put it up...

 

The little light under the heating ducts is part of the courtesy light package... If you have the lights in the foot wells of your car, you should have one under teh vents as well. The old style dash has a cover affixed to the dash via bolts (as mentioned) and the new dash has the cover clipped in. On my car the light was absoloutly useless (we didn't even know it was there for 10years) so I took out the cover & drilled a hole about 1/8" in size. Now it lights up the ashtraty like it was intended to :-D

I know I repeated most of what was said earlier, sorry

 

I had one of those lights on my 92 RS. I though it was useless so I took it out and ran the wires for my shiftlight through the hole where the light was. I mounted the shiftlight under the vents pointing towards me. Perfect spot.

Joe

 

ya i was playing around with mine, and i noticed that is the only thing that it helps with. if i cover it up, i can't see where the ***** are. with it i can see them just fine.

 

That just indicates he's doing searches. Would you rather see a brand new post about this same topic?

Also, instead of using cellophane, use what is known as a "gel". You can find them at theatrical lighting supply places. They're used to color the stage lights and are made to withstand heat for long durations without fading. Cellophane won't color the light without stacking several layers and then you end up degrading the light output pretty badly.

I have red gels in most of my interior lighting. Plus if I ever need bright white light I just pop the cover off the dome light... No bulb switching needed.

 

yea i know that.. i didnt wanna call them gels cause then id get 5-6 people asking me what a gel is.. and second if you wanna get technical their brand name is roscos.. i prefer like a rosco 40 -49 i think thats right. anyway i use those in my rearview mirror.

 

Okay. When you said cellophane it sounded like you were talking about like colored Glad™ wrap.

I also like to stay away from using brand names. Sort of like calling nitrous "NOS™" or cotton swabs "Q-Tips™".

I've been meaning to ask: what exactly is your avatar? :sillylol:

 

well its very hard to find good gels that dont melt under those.. waht are they like 1000000000watt bulbs in spot lights.. rosco is like the best brand you can get.. i do however hate those brand name bull crap things.. but then again they had to get somewhere to get such a great name instated..

my avatar is one of those lil hand puppets.. i got it at a carnival and all it is is a mouth and tongue so i got some goofy looking ***** and painted them and put em on my fingers then i took like 4 shots with my digital camera and formed them as a gif.. its just a lil hand puppet thing