my shift indicator is not alowing any light through it and i cant see what gear i am in at night i took the panel off to look at it and it seems like i am missing a yellow plastic piece with the red strip on it and there seems to be a strip of metal blocking the light from shining through the letters however the whole assembly seems like it was never replaced is this supossed to be like this stock?
ill try to get pics up in the next hour or so
thanks in advance

 

nevermind i was just told that it is stock and that the light doesnt shine thu it is only there to pass DOT specs

 

Bumping this, even though it's old i have a question.

Does anyone know exactly which year shifter plates allow light to pass through, I've seen some.

For the record, My 1985 Camaro doesn't allow light through

I'm thinking the shifters with the grooved plate under the shifter allow light through

 

Mine is only two years newer than yours, but there should be a light that attaches to the housing.

If you still have the thing off, look at the top of the 'ramp' piece on the bottom of the plate. On mine, there is a section for the bulb assembly to attach to which should allow sufficient light to pass through. You can twist the socket to remove the bulb housing and then turn on the headlights; if the bulb doesn't light up, replace it.


http://www.auctiva.com/hostedimages/...0,0,0&format=0

 

when you look through the light in mine (bulb works) There's a metal plate behind the lens, so its physically impossible for light to go through it. I came to the conclusion that its there on mine to light up the ashtray? since there's the little fiber optic cable leading to it.

But I've seen pictures where the letters light up on some.

 

Mine is the same way. When I bought my car the panel didnt light up, but when I removed the bezel and twisted the bulb socket out and turned on the lights, the bulb lights up. Put the bulb in, turn over the bezel, and no light passes thru the letters PRND.

 

The metal plate is suppose to be there.Other wise you would have a bright spot on the text right above the bulb.The lense is wider than the plate.So it over hangs bout 1/8 to one side, this is where the light passes through.The metal plate also spreads/reflects light upwards.

The fiber optic cable feeds light thru directly from the bulb into the ashtray, kinda useles though.Thats why its mounted very close to it.Later years have a red strip that slides under the letter/s.Giving you a red indicator for the gear your in.

Berlinettas used a plastic strip (blk) with blue paint under white.This makes the letters appear white with no lighting, but blue when lit up.I took said strip, made my own lense (plain) w/ a blue LED for a "custom" look.I still used the metal plate.

 

88-92 camaros had the lit indicator strip so you could see the gear position

 

Thanks, Guess ill be on the hunt for one from a 88+ then.