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Empty Interior Light

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Old May 15, 2010 | 02:52 PM
  #1  
shaggyowl's Avatar
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From: Ramsey, MN
Car: 1991 Z28 Convertible
Engine: 5.0 V8
Transmission: auto
Empty Interior Light

I just picked up a '92 Z28 with Ttops. While replacing the dash speakers I noticed what looks like an empty light bulb socket in the center of the underside of the dash pad and directly above the heater controls. After removing the dash pad, I fished around in the dash for a light bulb pig-tail but did not find one. Is this a courtesy light bulb of some sort? I find it odd to have a hole in the dash but no bulb/pigtail present.
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Old May 15, 2010 | 09:46 PM
  #2  
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From: Cary, North Carolina
Car: 1992 RS
Engine: Carbed 350
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.42 posi
Re: Empty Interior Light

From what I've read, this is the mystery light. Seems like most cars have the cut out for it, some cars have the light, some don't. IIRC, it's more of a straight wired light (not something usually found in the aisle at auto parts store) - but it' been a few years since I've looked at mine. They shine so dimly that there's not much use for it really - the thought is that it lit up the ashtray area and maybe the shifter area - but it never did a very good job since most folks don't ever even notice that it's there.
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Old May 15, 2010 | 10:21 PM
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Car: 88 (SOLD) & 90 Iroc convertibles
Engine: 5.0 TPI, 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 5 speed & auto
Axle/Gears: 3.08 & 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

I do believe its the ashtray light mine has it but dosent work ,you cant get them from GM it is a one piece unit and as far as I know there is no bulb that could be replaced and the ones that I did find at the wreckers were either broken or didnt work
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Old May 16, 2010 | 03:12 PM
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Re: Empty Interior Light

Originally Posted by irock88
I do believe its the ashtray light mine has it but dosent work ,you cant get them from GM it is a one piece unit and as far as I know there is no bulb that could be replaced and the ones that I did find at the wreckers were either broken or didnt work
The bulbs are still available at your local parts. Its a very small bulb. I just replaced mine last week. Got the bulb from AutoZone. All it does is shoot a beam of light down towards the ash tray so you can see it at night.
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Old May 16, 2010 | 07:42 PM
  #5  
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From: Maryland
Car: 1987 IROC-Z
Engine: 5.7 TPI
Transmission: 700-R4
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

Originally Posted by aldaran
The bulbs are still available at your local parts. Its a very small bulb. I just replaced mine last week. Got the bulb from AutoZone. All it does is shoot a beam of light down towards the ash tray so you can see it at night.

Aldaran do you remeber what the bulb part number was from Autozone?
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Old May 16, 2010 | 07:53 PM
  #6  
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From: Barrie, On
Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4spd Auto
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

I'm kinda doing the same thing but not! I'm replacing the "mystery light" that my car has with a pair of cold cathode tubes that will go to music or stay on/come on with interior lights. ....cutting the bulb from the end of the pigtail, hooking up the 12 volt source from the light set I bought that was designed to plug into ciggarette lighter, but I disassembled it to two wires..... join them up with the pigtail, leave one cathode light <which are 6" each> affixed to the centre console, the other light is going under the vents in the centre of the dash. Dead light bulb solved/upgraded/gayed up to some.

You could merely put ANY 12V lightbulb on the end of the pigtail if you wanted. Just gotta figure out which is +/- !
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Old May 16, 2010 | 07:56 PM
  #7  
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From: Troup, Texas
Car: 1989 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: ZZZ# 0607 of 1200 produced
Transmission: Pro-Built 700R4/Vig.2400
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW 9 Bolt PBR Disc
Re: Empty Interior Light

I'll snap some pics of the ashtray light on mine tomorrow. My 86 did not have it, but my 89 does.

Will
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Old May 16, 2010 | 08:45 PM
  #8  
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Car: 88 (SOLD) & 90 Iroc convertibles
Engine: 5.0 TPI, 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 5 speed & auto
Axle/Gears: 3.08 & 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

Originally Posted by aldaran
The bulbs are still available at your local parts. Its a very small bulb. I just replaced mine last week. Got the bulb from AutoZone. All it does is shoot a beam of light down towards the ash tray so you can see it at night.

if you got pictures it would be great it would have to be one of the smallest bulbs known to mankind,at GM dealership they told me its a one piece unit with wire tail attached with no serviceable bulb
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Old May 16, 2010 | 08:52 PM
  #9  
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From: Barrie, On
Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4spd Auto
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

Here's a pic of the bulb... You can have mine. I replaced it with this. I can give you step by step and photos if you want. Its simple











These can stay on or goto beat of music. They can not dim, however being that they are fluorescent. Doesnt bother me, looks great! Much brighter in person, taken with a cellphone

Last edited by WHITE88IROC; May 16, 2010 at 08:57 PM.
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Old May 16, 2010 | 09:17 PM
  #10  
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Car: 88 (SOLD) & 90 Iroc convertibles
Engine: 5.0 TPI, 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 5 speed & auto
Axle/Gears: 3.08 & 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

Originally Posted by WHITE88IROC
Here's a pic of the bulb... You can have mine. I replaced it with this. I can give you step by step and photos if you want. Its simple











These can stay on or goto beat of music. They can not dim, however being that they are fluorescent. Doesnt bother me, looks great! Much brighter in person, taken with a cellphone
wow very different than mine ,mine is a one piece unit see pics and size compared to the dime
Attached Thumbnails Empty Interior Light-ashtray-light-001.jpg   Empty Interior Light-ashtray-light-005.jpg   Empty Interior Light-ashtray-light-013.jpg  
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Old May 16, 2010 | 09:39 PM
  #11  
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From: Barrie, On
Car: 88 IROC
Engine: 305 TPI
Transmission: 4spd Auto
Axle/Gears: 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

lol...good old GM. 17 different bulbs/configs, one car. As i said, use anything you want to, as long as its 12v and you're sure of polarities. F the GM parts unless you're going for Concours award winner stock!
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Old May 16, 2010 | 11:04 PM
  #12  
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From: Troup, Texas
Car: 1989 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: ZZZ# 0607 of 1200 produced
Transmission: Pro-Built 700R4/Vig.2400
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW 9 Bolt PBR Disc
Re: Empty Interior Light

Originally Posted by irock88
if you got pictures it would be great it would have to be one of the smallest bulbs known to mankind,at GM dealership they told me its a one piece unit with wire tail attached with no serviceable bulb
It's a very serviceable bulb, we have them at our shop, I'll get some info tomorrow
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Old May 21, 2010 | 05:32 PM
  #13  
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Car: 88 (SOLD) & 90 Iroc convertibles
Engine: 5.0 TPI, 5.0 TPI
Transmission: 5 speed & auto
Axle/Gears: 3.08 & 2.73
Re: Empty Interior Light

Originally Posted by norcalz28
It's a very serviceable bulb, we have them at our shop, I'll get some info tomorrow

Did you get a chance to get the part number for the bulb
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Old May 21, 2010 | 09:54 PM
  #14  
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From: Troup, Texas
Car: 1989 Camaro IROC-Z
Engine: ZZZ# 0607 of 1200 produced
Transmission: Pro-Built 700R4/Vig.2400
Axle/Gears: 3.27 BW 9 Bolt PBR Disc
Re: Empty Interior Light

forgot all about it, I'll check monday
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Old May 23, 2010 | 08:53 PM
  #15  
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Re: Empty Interior Light

Originally Posted by irock88
Did you get a chance to get the part number for the bulb

The one that fits my 1988 Camaro is a 74. It is the same mini-bulb used in 4th Generation Camaros to light up the interior door handles at night. My 2000 Camaro has them.
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