Center console light

[JohnGalt]

None of the lights in the center console work around the temperature control levers. I had a 124 many years ago and if I remember correctly they are lit by a single bulb that feeds a fiber optic line. Is this correct and if so where is the bulb?

[vandor]

Correct. The bulb is under the dash, above, or a bit to the right of the ignition switch.

[JohnGalt]

Thanks Vandor

[JohnGalt]

Well, the light bulb over the ignition switch works but even with a slightly brighter bulb there is no light getting under the center console that I can see. I've already got the upper part of the console out for cigarette light replacement so I guess the next step is to pull the center console.

side note, the cigarette lighter assembly Vicks offers for the 124 is about .070" larger in diameter than my 79's lighter requiring a bit of Dremmel work to the steel hole it slips into. Replacement works well.

[JohnGalt]

Went under the console to discover that all of the fiber optic ends had become dislodged or never put back from the previous owner. Things are well lit now and for some reason I can't explain the dash lights are now also brighter. I did tinker with the grounds and slightly cleaned up the modified wiring I found in there so maybe I inadvertently fixed a tiny short on the dash lighting.

While I was at it I went ahead and mounted two small red leds in both the driver's and passenger foot areas for a bit of light down in the foot wells.

Car drove beautifully tonight.

[RRoller123]

Check that ground pod under the dash on the driver's side? (above throttle pedal). Cleaning and tightening the Fastons there can make a big difference, as it is one of the three major ground pods on the car, and is often overlooked.

[JohnGalt]

The cigarette lighter shares the ground with the light and now works. I wonder if the new lighter unit just came with a bad bulb