68 trunk light issue

Discussion in 'Sparky's corner' started by matt68gs400, Jul 28, 2018.

  1. matt68gs400

    matt68gs400 Well-Known Member

    C96834C9-FE20-4DBB-8D18-09057D4C075E.jpeg 8B3A5218-FB54-43DA-A891-FCCE2D204920.jpeg Hi, I’m not getting the trunk light to turn on. I have power all the way to the light fitting. But I have no power on the center piece (red arrow), just the edges (green arrow and green dash lines in the picture).

    A couple questions:
    1. Is this the original for a 68 skylark?
    2. It appears to be a worn out contact and not getting power to the bulb, correct?
    3. Looks like they have only entire trunk harnesses for sale, where I can get just a lamp holder ?

    Thanks much,

    Matt
     
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2018
  2. BadBrad

    BadBrad Got 4-speed?

    Only one point of contact is hot; the other is ground. You need to confirm ground continuity between the non-power contact and the body or frame; and when the entire fixture has been removed like that continuity is totally kaput.
     
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  3. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    Didn't those work with a mercury tilt switch or something like that? Otherwise it would always be on?
     
  4. matt68gs400

    matt68gs400 Well-Known Member

    That’s what I’m wondering, is there a switch like the doors have on them? What’s closing the circuit when the trunk opens so the light turns on? I just have one orange wire, one pin, going all the way to the light.
     
  5. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    No switch. I have never taken one apart but I always assumed they were a mercury tilt switch. Was mercury considered hazardous in '68?
    If not mercury, it may just be a steel bearing that moves around or something similar.

    As explained above, the orange wire will be 12V and the ground is the bracket. Make sure you are grounding the bracket to the car when testing and move the switch around (up/down) like it would move when the trunk opens and closes. If all else fails, soak it a rust dissolver to see if you can clean the internal contacts or whatever moves inside.

    Pmail "Cole" on this board, I bet he has an original one since he is always parting out cars.
     
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  6. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    I just checked mine, it turns on/off when the trunk lid is 1/2 way open. I have not had a bulb in it for 15 years due to leaving the trunk open at shows and not wanting to kill the battery.
     
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  7. pbr400

    pbr400 68GS400

    I always presumed it was a mercury switch. Mine operates the same way; tilt open turns it on. My first car, an ‘80 Regal, had an underhood lamp like that. Sometimes on a steep hill like our driveway it would come on when parked. Forty years later I realize it needed adjustment.
    Patrick
     
  8. matt68gs400

    matt68gs400 Well-Known Member

    Thanks guys, knowing that it’s a tilt switch is a huge help. I sprayed it with PB blaster, now it works, but the light won’t turn off. Constant on.... lol
     
  9. Mike Trom

    Mike Trom Platinum Level Contributor

    Let it dry out, maybe the PB blaster is electrically conductive and its completing the circuit. Or you could soak it longer to see if it removes any additional corrosion in the socket. Give it a good shake to see if that breaks anything loose.
     
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  10. matt68gs400

    matt68gs400 Well-Known Member

    Exciting times here.....

    The metal bracket was bent incorrectly. Just had to adjust that so the light would turn off when the lid is part way down. So simple!
     
  11. matt68gs400

    matt68gs400 Well-Known Member

    Good idea! The Stuck switch with an incorrectly bent bracket was the problem.
     

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