Ive had this problem for a while now and I dont know what it is. I changed the bulb and still nothing, Does anyone know why?

 

check the contacts, make sure they aren't dirty or rusty, if so clean them up, you might want to use a steel brush or something, if that doesn't work, you need to get a volt tester to make sure you are getting voltage there...is there anything else in the car not working, go through a check list of all your electrical things, make sure the prongs on the bulb you are using are lined up and not moved to either side, check fuses, ect.

Past that your other option...not sure of 89+ but i do know 82-88 had a second set of wires for a courtesy light for your glove box, if you aren't using that or don't have that option, check that socket (a little farther back, should be wired near your e-brake wire) for 12V and then you can cut the socket from your shifter plate light wire and wire it into the other set of wires. Just make sure to cover up what WAS your shifter light wires if you cut them with electrical tape, knowing your luck they would get voltage down the road and possibly start a fire, so be safe with that and cover them.

 

if dash lights are working then it's not a power problem ... there is a ground wire under the console ... and the console harness could have been disabled due to a glove box light staying on and draining the battery. I know the connector to the main harness is up by the ashtray if I'm not mistaken.

Sorry I was wrong about the connector near the ashtray ... in 90-92 the power supply for console lights came from the harness under the door sill plate in which the tail-light harness is ... Dont see where it can be unhooked from the main harness so you probably just have a ground wire loose. One ground was in front of the drivers seat under the carpet and another ground wire was under the console.

 

Thanks Ima check that out right now.

 

yea you can check the ground by using the volt meter anyways, check the socket after cleaning it, check it with the two wires in the socket, and then check it by putting the red lead of the tester on the orange prong and then find a screw or bolt that would ground out the curcuit to the tester and if it works, then grounding is the issue and can be handled a couple different ways.

 

I have the same problem on my 91. The automatic shifter plate light and the glovebox light are out. But, my dash lights work.

You said that if the glovebox light stayed on, the console harness could have been disabled. How I re-enable the harness?

 

Did you ever fix the problem? If so, what was the solution?