rear body panel switch
#1
rear body panel switch
I am just beginning to dig through this 88 IROC I just bought, and was wondering what the flat contact switch was for on the rear body plastic panel. It has a matching partner on the hatch, and they obviously contact when the hatch is closed. Is this part of the hatch pull down? My upper switch has a broken pin, and I am wondering what it is and whether or not it is still available new, or not. Thanks, Oldtimer.
#2
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Car: '91 Z28 convertible
Engine: TPI
Transmission: T5
Axle/Gears: 3.27 posi disc
Re: rear body panel switch
The contact plate should have 4 contacts. They are for the high-mount stop light (HMSL) and the optional wiper (if I'm not mistaken - if I am, somebody please correct me).
Hope this helps.
Lou
Hope this helps.
Lou
#3
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Car: 89 TransAm
Engine: 305TPI
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: rear body panel switch
You are right. There are 4 contacts. My 89 TA has only 2 in use, for the tail light in the spoiler
#4
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Re: rear body panel switch
Correct. Early cars used it for the optional rear wiper motor. When the HMSL moved from the top of the hatch to the spoiler it was used for that. Just used two contact pins on the top piece from then on since that is all that is needed to power the HMSL.
Lon
Lon
#5
Supreme Member
Re: rear body panel switch
yeah apparently theres four contacts but only an X numberof them were actually used on a given car
i found that out on an 88 camaro i stripped that had a third brake light but nothing else back there
weird stuff
or interesting
sort of
i think i still have the contact plates laying around somewhere in the building here, i rmemeber seeing one in the basement earlier this year, but dunno where now
maybe
unless i finally tossed them in scrap
goood luck
i found that out on an 88 camaro i stripped that had a third brake light but nothing else back there
weird stuff
or interesting
sort of
i think i still have the contact plates laying around somewhere in the building here, i rmemeber seeing one in the basement earlier this year, but dunno where now
maybe
unless i finally tossed them in scrap
goood luck
#6
Re: rear body panel switch
Thanks, guys. It looks like only 2 of the 4 were used here, too, as the car does not have the rear wiper. One of the two tabs on the hatch is broken off, but I haven't checked to see if the light works or not. I don't recall my 82 having the plate, but it was a non wiper, pre hmsl car. Thanks, Oldtimer.
#7
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Car: 1988 Trans Am
Engine: 305 TPI - LB9
Transmission: 700R
Re: rear body panel switch
Interesting... I have two contacts - but no center brake light or wiper in the back. I had assumed it was a sensor for the hatch pull down.
I'm curious - did all 1988 T/A's come with a center brake light? I know it was around that time they were optional, I forget when they started to become standard..
I'm curious - did all 1988 T/A's come with a center brake light? I know it was around that time they were optional, I forget when they started to become standard..
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#8
Re: rear body panel switch
Overcast32, the hmsl became federally mandated starting in the 86 model year. They resided on the top of the hatch the first year, and moved into the spoiler area after that. Later on, they moved to the inside of the rear glass, but I do not know if wiring was the same through the years. If a post 85 car has no hmsl, it was removed by someone, or a hatch/spoiler was swapped somewhere along the line. Oldtimer.
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