Courtesy light

[FordPrefect]

First, I'm very grateful for all the help to be found here, this forum is a godsend.

Second, while my blinkers work, the only function the hazard light switch has (other than to glow a pleasant green) is to turn off the blinkers. While investigating it, a little curiosity next to it caught my attention which I've determined is a courtesy light.

I pried the little non-functioning sucker out, and found it isn't connected to anything, and has some sort of alien lightbulb inside. This also isn't necessary to fix, but I wonder if it is difficult to get behind that console to see what's going on back there.

I've read that the light should activate when the doors are opened, but that seems a bit optimistic at this point. In fact, I get along without it just fine, and would probably just upset the delicate electrical balance by wiring it, but it would be nice to get a light of some sort working.

[TulsaSpider]

It's very easy to remove that part of the console. Be prepared to see a gorgon of wires back there! Have a wiring diagram handy. On mine it didn't really give that much light, it didn't work when the doors were open, just when I turned it on manually, then it broke so I haven't bothered replacing it. I plan on re-wiring the door switches to some type of lights I am going to mount under the dash on both sides when the weather warms up. This should give better, more functional light, and I always carry a small flashlight!

[danaspider]

What year is the spider? My 79 has the courtesy light in the sloped part near the cig lighter. If that is the panel you are talking about then you can remove the section with the radio, by removing the screws in the footwell holding that box in. Should be 2 on each side (optimistic). When the screws are out you can tilt the center box out. Lots of wires.

If the area is in the upper bar then the wiper adjust switch and dashlight dimmer switches have a knerled ring that can removed and pull panel.

If new model not sure. Interesting that your hazard light is green. Mine is red.

[mdrburchette]

The courtesy light is a pretty easy fix and has a wire that goes from the hazard switch to it. I was able to get mine to work after cleaning the bulb and switch contacts. On my 72 two black wires go to it from the door jamb switches. A white wire comes from the hazard switch terminal "V" and a black and white wire comes from the cigarette lighter. If your switch is toast, you may still be able to get a replacement from one of our vendors. One that I replaced was a tad larger than the original so I had to enlarge the hole.

[rlux4]

I use the door jamb switches (82 has one on each side) to power footwell courtesy lights that I fabbed in. My wife likes it that when the door opens it's pretty well lit up for her to see to get situated.
Ron

[TulsaSpider]

That's exactly what I want to do Ron. When mine broke the little BB came out and grounded to the face of the console so it blew the fuse. I had to get in there and retrieve it. I am not going to bother replacing it.

[ga.spyder]

The other day I opened up my pass. door,and the courtesy light came on.I had never seen it on,except manually.Closed the door and reopened...nada! Pretty cool that it did work once!! I have driven the car at night twice since I have owned it,so I think we will leave well enough alone.
Craig

[pope]

Craig, did you ever replace the courtesy bulb? Sometimes the filament is broken, but every once in a while, it goes and touches itself at the break. Just a little door closing can cause it to break apart again.
Could also be in the door switch not grounding even when it is open.

[ga.spyder]

Hey Pope ,
it works just fine with the switch so the bulb is fine.I really havent looked into it too much,just thought it was funny that out of the blue it works...well,once!I am hoping to get my front end rebuild done(hopefully this week) and am chasing a little oil leak.So many projects,so little winter.Put in 2 hours of top down driving today,though.
Craig

[rlux4]

Pope's right Craig. The door switch completes the ground side of the circuit. Sometimes if it comes out too softly it doesn't make a solid connection. Try pushing the button down and letting it snap out, see if the light comes on that way.
Ron

[mbouse]

it's aways fun to discover new things about our old cars. which is one of the funnest things about taking your car to a meet.

craig now has a new project for this winter, which he never dreamed he'd have. More'n likely, the switch is sticking or needs cleaned.

[3wheelernut]

Hopefully someone sees this, I didn't want to start a new thread this one is soooo close. Its been a while since Ive been on. I had a job end, then an exciting electrical storm with my 71, 76, 78 FrankenSpider. Wiring is 76. I would love to wire in footwell and console lights (LED) along with a switched trunk light set up, but Id like to do away with the old light all together. For the life of me I cant figure out how Id wire it to work off a manual switch and the door jambs switches without that funky little switch set up in the OEM light. Any takers on this one? Its probably a simple thing Im missing, but Ive been staring at dashboard wires since October of 2014, I may be a bit snow blind.

[seabeelt]

Ignoring the courtesy light in the middle console, you can run power to whatever kind of light you choose and splice into the wire that goes to the door jamb switches to complete the ground circuit.. If you want to be really creative use that ground circuit on the coil side of a relay and thereby separate the power sources from the courtesy light and any new lights you install.
r/