Swapping the cracked dash out (on going resto) and never knew this "night light" ever existed in any of my past Z's...guess they were burned out as im certain this one is...

 

That's an interior accent light which goes on when the headlights are on. It's on the later cars. My '89 and '92 have it, my '85 doesn't. So I guess you could deduce it was introduced between '86 and '89.

 

The dash im swapping is from an '87 Z and it has the spot for it but not the light.. If my '89 had it, i never knew it.. comical because you think you know these cars too

 

It's a very lower power light which sort of puts a slight glow over the HVAC/radio area. I never knew it was there either, until I noticed my '89 seemed less dark inside than my '83.

 

Yep, they are handy to have. My '91 Camaro had one, as does my '88 T/A.

 

I just checked my '88 IROC...there's a little square there with a white square, which I'd assume is a lens.

That's a neat thing...I never had noticed that even being there!

 

Pulled the cover on mine...it's a tiny bulb. Anyone got any idea what sort of bulb it is? Mine is blown, which would explain why I didn't have any idea it was there.

 

Let there be light! A little different on a '91, it had a pigtail and enclosed bulb. I took it apart and spliced in a led.

 

on an '89 it is a "74" bulb

i used one of these and it works fine, as said very little light but it is noticeable and it adds ambiance to the interior
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-3-Blue-T5-5050-SMD-Wedge-58-70-73-74-Car-Dashboard-LED-Light-Bulbs-/201396300985?hash=item2ee427acb9

 

Yep my 89 got one

 

Birds have a similar light above the radio pod. I pulled the bulb on mine long ago. It annoyed me to have the light there when the Radio and HVAC had their own internal lights that were much more visible at night.

 

Does anyone make these or should i just splice in a led bulb/connector?

 

Its probably a standard connector like for the other lights, I never actually looked at it when I had the dash panel off.

 

Way back in the day I drilled mine out larger and put a red gel over the opening and it shone on a figurine that sat on top of the hater controls. The.n I went to something dangling there, but after I my car was stolen and then took what I had dangling I never replaced it. I feel like it's purpose was to illuminate the ash tray.

 

Just when you think you really know these cars... learn something new every day!