Light Switch....77 Spider

John Donohue · Post by **John Donohue** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 6:58 pm

Last weekend, I replaced all the fuses in my 77 Spider, and this weekend my battery was stone cold dead. As I charged it up, I noticed that the small rectangular light on the dash below the radio was on. I figured that I must have missed that this was on, so it killed the battery. However, when I tried to turn it off, it stays on no matter which way the toggle switch is pushed. I got it to go off by finding a spot "in between", but dont trust this. I suppose it is time to find a new light switch - ebay?

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:04 pm

I don't know cause my light never worked, but I thought that was a "courtesy light" that came on when the doors were open. did you try shutting the doors? Someone speak up here!

Hjulen · Post by **Hjulen** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:44 pm

I think you are right, when the doors are open the light should come on. Have never looked at my wiring diagrams to confirm this though.

The cars also had a door buzzer to tell you the door was open too...either mine all broke or were disabled in the past.

Bill Pottle · Post by **Bill Pottle** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:45 pm

John,

Doesn't this have a switch on it? I think mine does. Electrical connections get caroded and often you take it apart swab a little dielectric grease on the connections and you should be good to go. Make sure you check the door switches too... I wriggle and check fuses and flick all buttons repeatedly each spring. Weird but never fails to do the trick. Don't forget the trunk light too.

My dads Volvo had a glove box light stick on when closed and pull the battery dead. Finally they put it on a tester which led them to go over the everything.. low an behold the damn glovebox light was stuck on!

Later,
Bill

Danno · Post by **Danno** » Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:46 pm

Hjulen wrote:The cars also had a door buzzer to tell you the door was open too...either mine all broke or were disabled in the past.

but only when the key was in the ignition, right? that light would be on with an open door key or no key, right?

pertyfly · Post by **pertyfly** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:24 am

That's right. One position is on, and the other position is door activated. This always annoys me, as I believe there should also be an off.

mdrburchette · Post by **mdrburchette** » Mon Apr 17, 2006 7:54 am

It's a simple switch. If you take it out, you can see if moving the switch back and forth will break contact. I've repaired one before, but I've also had to replace one. The newer ones are slightly larger, so I had to cut the aluminum plate to make it fit.