Shift Indicator Light - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Hair · 11-30-2009, 01:07 PM

Redone my steering column. Auto, 2 speed
I found a little fiberoptic cable in there that ran up to the shift indicator. One end plugs into a light socket and the other end plugs up into the indicator.

I cleaned everything good and put in a new bulb and expected to see a big bright lighted up indicator, but it did not happen. It's just a tiny little light that really doesn't help much. Is that normal?

Is that just as good as it works? Maybe it will show up better in the total dark, but setting in the shop, I wonder why they even bothered.

Hottrucks · 11-30-2009, 01:49 PM

LMAO I did the same thing ..subscribed to see what others say...kinda like my heater control light....

chris71 · 11-30-2009, 03:18 PM

You may want to pull the fiber optic cable out and inspect, if it is frayed at all (like mine was when I swaped columns) it wont let as much light to the indicator. there is also a trick where you can put in a different bulb in your gauge cluster to make it brighter, but I cant remember the type of bulb. a bunch of guys do this just to make their dash lights brighter. hopefully someone will chime in with this bulb info.

red71c10 · 11-30-2009, 04:54 PM

I got mine working a while back and it's not spectacular, but it get the job done. I'm not sure I would want it much brighter, it would probably be distracting.

rambler · 11-30-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

LMAO I did the same thing ..subscribed to see what others say...kinda like my heater control light....

you mean there is actually a shift indicator light and a heater control light?

LOL....

Hottrucks · 11-30-2009, 06:09 PM

yea why is it that the light for the heater A/C is on the other side of the controls oposite side of the fan which is what I wanna see ??...or is there supose o be a light on that side too??

**425HP409** · 12-02-2009, 11:55 PM

The end of the fiber optic cable needs to have a clean cut end to transmit the light properly. Take a razor blade and trim the ends smooth and it will work better.

Hair · 12-03-2009, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rambler

you mean there is actually a shift indicator light and a heater control light?

LOL....

My truck is a non A/C truck, I don't think it has a heater light. I took all the heater out too and re did all of it with new ducts, rubber, and everything and my control box "aint got no" light bulb no where. Do all heaters have lights?? If so, where is the buld supposed to be??

red71c10 · 12-03-2009, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hair

My truck is a non A/C truck, I don't think it has a heater light. I took all the heater out too and re did all of it with new ducts, rubber, and everything and my control box "aint got no" light bulb no where. Do all heaters have lights?? If so, where is the buld supposed to be??

The light is in the controls next to the levers. It lights up the words Def, Heat, Fan etc...

Hair · 12-03-2009, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by red71c10

The light is in the controls next to the levers. It lights up the words Def, Heat, Fan etc...

Then mine did not come with lighted heater controls then.

Longhorn Man · 12-03-2009, 05:40 PM

all heater controls, a/c or non a/c had lights.
Non A/C had a single bulb as described above, A/C trucks had 2 bulbs on the control panel, one left, and one right.

Hottrucks · 12-03-2009, 07:58 PM

thanx Longhorn Man I thought I had something special with just one light on my A/C controls...now I have to spend more time on my back looking under the dash and find a second light socket

*highperf4x4* · 12-04-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hottrucks

yea why is it that the light for the heater A/C is on the other side of the controls oposite side of the fan which is what I wanna see ??...or is there supose o be a light on that side too??

I have lights on both sides. However, mine looks like it has 2 bulbs on the passenger side and only 1 on the drivers side. I'm gonna have to look underneath and verify that though. It's probably just a reflection. I know the passenger side is definitely brighter than the drivers side however, sometimes I have to bump the bottom of the dash to get the pass side to come on

11-30-2009, 01:07 PM	#1
Hair Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Tullahoma, TN Posts: 406	Shift Indicator Light Redone my steering column. Auto, 2 speed I found a little fiberoptic cable in there that ran up to the shift indicator. One end plugs into a light socket and the other end plugs up into the indicator. I cleaned everything good and put in a new bulb and expected to see a big bright lighted up indicator, but it did not happen. It's just a tiny little light that really doesn't help much. Is that normal? Is that just as good as it works? Maybe it will show up better in the total dark, but setting in the shop, I wonder why they even bothered.

11-30-2009, 01:49 PM	#2
Hottrucks Redefining LowBudget Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: lebanon Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,538	Re: Shift Indicator Light LMAO I did the same thing ..subscribed to see what others say...kinda like my heater control light.... __________________ 1970 C10 CST fleetside 472 ....big dreams little cash... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335721 SunShine Syndicate.. Mikes Sandwich Fair Run OCT 8th 2011 http://www.thesandwichfair.com/html/...auto_show.html

11-30-2009, 03:18 PM	#3
chris71 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Sykesville MD Posts: 357	Re: Shift Indicator Light You may want to pull the fiber optic cable out and inspect, if it is frayed at all (like mine was when I swaped columns) it wont let as much light to the indicator. there is also a trick where you can put in a different bulb in your gauge cluster to make it brighter, but I cant remember the type of bulb. a bunch of guys do this just to make their dash lights brighter. hopefully someone will chime in with this bulb info. __________________ '55 3100 2nd series short-bed stepside '70 Corvette coupe stingray '71 Chevelle 2-dr coupe SS clone '71 C10 long-bed fleetside '83 long-haired brunette wife

11-30-2009, 04:54 PM	#4
red71c10 The Red Menace Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Roseburg, OR Posts: 577	Re: Shift Indicator Light I got mine working a while back and it's not spectacular, but it get the job done. I'm not sure I would want it much brighter, it would probably be distracting. __________________ 1971 Custom 10 - 350/350TH - Pwr steering, gauges, Chrome front bumper, Chrome hubcaps, Door edge guards, HD rear springs (current) 1968 C-20 Custom Camper - 350/350TH (orig 327), Pwr steering & brakes, gauges w/tach (former) 1968 C-20 - 307/3sp column (Dad's when I was a kid) "Driving is like coloring. Things get messy if you can't stay inside the lines."

11-30-2009, 06:09 PM	#6
Hottrucks Redefining LowBudget Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: lebanon Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,538	Re: Shift Indicator Light yea why is it that the light for the heater A/C is on the other side of the controls oposite side of the fan which is what I wanna see ??...or is there supose o be a light on that side too??

12-02-2009, 11:55 PM	#7
425HP409 425hp409 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Prosper Texas Posts: 841	Re: Shift Indicator Light The end of the fiber optic cable needs to have a clean cut end to transmit the light properly. Take a razor blade and trim the ends smooth and it will work better. __________________ Charles 68 SWB, Dad bought new, now 396 & factory ac 64 Impala SS, 409 425HP, 4 speed AC 64 Bel Air Wagon, 400 Small Block 57 Bel Air all original 283 w/Factory Air 77 GMC Sprint, 454/425HP 67 Olds 442, all original 90 ZR1 Corvette

12-03-2009, 05:40 PM	#11
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Re: Shift Indicator Light all heater controls, a/c or non a/c had lights. Non A/C had a single bulb as described above, A/C trucks had 2 bulbs on the control panel, one left, and one right.

12-03-2009, 07:58 PM	#12
Hottrucks Redefining LowBudget Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: lebanon Cow Hampshire Posts: 4,538	Re: Shift Indicator Light thanx Longhorn Man I thought I had something special with just one light on my A/C controls...now I have to spend more time on my back looking under the dash and find a second light socket __________________ 1970 C10 CST fleetside 472 ....big dreams little cash... http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=335721 SunShine Syndicate.. Mikes Sandwich Fair Run OCT 8th 2011 http://www.thesandwichfair.com/html/...auto_show.html



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