Help with C interior light above dash

[Richard Sjolund]

I am 1,700 miles from home - where I have lots of tools, meters and reference manuals. "Ruby," my 1964 356C coupe (Ruby Red, color:6402) has a problem in the interior light above the dash. I have the Porsche tool kit and a VOM meter ...

1. If I open the passenger door with the dash light switch in the down position, the light goes on - so the bulb is OK.

2. If I open the driver's side door with the light switch down the light does NOT go on.

3. With both door closed no position on the switch turns the dash light on.

I have a new dash light assembly from Stoddard, and I have a new door switch.

Before I figure out how to get my fat fingers into the opening for replacing the door switch, I'd love to get a circuit diagram for the light assembly wires. What should I be testing ?

What wires go from where to there ?

Richard Sjolund

[Mike Wilson]

Richard: do the dome lights work as they should? Possibly you got the wrong dash light? Hopefully Greg Bryan will read this and post a wiring diagram for you.

Mike

[Richard Sjolund]

The passenger side dome light goes on - the driver's side light does not. Probably a bulb problem there.
Richard

[David Jones]

Richard, simple enough. The 3 positions should be, #1 ground is through the door switch. #2 center position, no ground so light will not come on and #3 ground through the light assembly allowing the light to come on. Test for those functions and of course for a good bulb and you should be able to diagnose. Sometime the ground at the light socket fails because of paint or head liner or similar being trapped under the grounding tab. Check that the grounding tab actually makes contact with the dash metal.

[Richard Sjolund]

Thanks for the hints. I have the driver's door with out and it was broken. If I ground the wire to the switch the light goes on.

Installing the door switch will be a major event for my fat fingers .... the antenna housing is in the way. First step is to find a connector for the wire to the new switch --- the first stop at a car parts store for today ....
Richard

[David Jones]

Richard, removing and installing that switch is a major PITA even if you have small hands and thin fingers. If you can avoid doing it until you can remove the hinge pins to remove the door I would. Does it have the latest switch with push on connectors or soldered bullet or even the bare wire connectors? No matter which it is a major PITA to do.

[Mike Wilson]

Removing the hinge cover gives you a bit more room.

Mike

[Thomas Sottile]

Use a piece of fishing line to pull the switch thru the hole

[Doug McDonnell]

+1 Personally this job should be added to the PITA thread.

[Mike Wilson]

I agree!

Mike