Found a lamp socket that is hot all the time.. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

valk_ryder · 01-02-2004, 04:14 PM

These two lamp sockets were hanging down like this when I bought the truck (72 fleetside). There's a hole on each end of the back side of the A/C control and it's pretty obvious that they are for the lamp sockets.

But one of the sockets is hot. Lights off, doors closed, and it is still hot. This can't be right, can it? The other socket only gets voltage when the instrument lights are on and it varies with the dimmer as I would expect.

It's the hot wire I'm wondering about.
Does the A/C control get 2 lamps, one on each end?
Is there any reason this one socket is hot all the time? If it had a lamp in it then the battery would run down.

The wire is gray and comes out of the factory harness.

thanks,
John

*rage'nrat638* · 01-02-2004, 04:22 PM

check down at the fuse box...for something plugged in to the unfused hot terminal....think it's gray ....should be plugged in to the dash light side.......
the only thing that would make it hot all the time would be there

AT THE FUSE BOX

Perchjerker · 01-02-2004, 04:32 PM

Mine only has one.

70c10 · 01-02-2004, 04:49 PM

I thought it was only one gray one for the heater/air controls. The other one appears to be tan. Is it?

valk_ryder · 01-02-2004, 05:14 PM

The mystery wire is gray and the same gage and identical socket as the other one. But it is wrapped in a different part of the harness. It is wrapped with a large gage orange wire.

Looking at the fuse box I found the gray wire and the large orange wire coming together and plugged into a hot terminal on the fuse block as rage'nrat638 said it would be.

Maybe someone tried to add an under-dash courtesy light and didn't quite get it right.

The wiring diagrams and the owners manual also appear to indicate that there is only one lamp for the A/C controls. It sure looks like there are two socket holes in the back of the control.

I still don't know what the extra socket is for but now that it appears it does not belong I can disable it. That must be where the sparks were coming from when I hit a big bump

as always,
thanks for the help,
John

AndrewDT · 01-02-2004, 05:27 PM

I think that's the Battery Auto-drain indicator light!

Bamm · 01-02-2004, 06:14 PM

Maybe it was someones attempt at under dash gauge lights? Be thankful, most wiring problems are nowhere near that easy to solve.........Jerry

*rage'nrat638* · 01-02-2004, 06:48 PM

quote:
Looking at the fuse box I found the gray wire and the large orange wire coming together and plugged into a hot terminal on the fuse block as rage'nrat638 said it would be.

i'am the man

been all over my truck...geting the reverse lights to work...
they work now

cdowns · 01-02-2004, 06:58 PM

it could be that the light was for the glove box where they'd have a switch that went to ground when the glovebox door opened. i think your orange wire would be for the cig lighter

01-02-2004, 04:14 PM	#1
valk_ryder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Moore, Oklahoma Posts: 57	Found a lamp socket that is hot all the time.. These two lamp sockets were hanging down like this when I bought the truck (72 fleetside). There's a hole on each end of the back side of the A/C control and it's pretty obvious that they are for the lamp sockets. But one of the sockets is hot. Lights off, doors closed, and it is still hot. This can't be right, can it? The other socket only gets voltage when the instrument lights are on and it varies with the dimmer as I would expect. It's the hot wire I'm wondering about. Does the A/C control get 2 lamps, one on each end? Is there any reason this one socket is hot all the time? If it had a lamp in it then the battery would run down. The wire is gray and comes out of the factory harness. thanks, John Attached Images

01-02-2004, 04:32 PM	#3
Perchjerker Beer Power!!!!!!!!!! Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nacogdoches, TX Posts: 280	Mine only has one. __________________ Rather be fishin'

01-02-2004, 04:49 PM	#4
70c10 67-72 Addict! Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: The TAX State! Posts: 7,857	I thought it was only one gray one for the heater/air controls. The other one appears to be tan. Is it? __________________ Jim 1970 C/10 Fleetside w/Ghost Flames Lowered 4.5" front and 4" rear (Raked) 355/350 Turbo w/shift kit 10" Redneck Performance Verter w/2500 stall Hooker Super Comps part#2808-1 Performer RPM Air-Gap 12 Bolt w/3:73 gears- Eaton Posi Comp Cams XE262 with 1.6 Crane Energizers, Road Demon 625 and Brodix IK 180 heads

01-02-2004, 05:14 PM	#5
valk_ryder Registered User Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Moore, Oklahoma Posts: 57	It's not hot any more... The mystery wire is gray and the same gage and identical socket as the other one. But it is wrapped in a different part of the harness. It is wrapped with a large gage orange wire. Looking at the fuse box I found the gray wire and the large orange wire coming together and plugged into a hot terminal on the fuse block as rage'nrat638 said it would be. Maybe someone tried to add an under-dash courtesy light and didn't quite get it right. The wiring diagrams and the owners manual also appear to indicate that there is only one lamp for the A/C controls. It sure looks like there are two socket holes in the back of the control. I still don't know what the extra socket is for but now that it appears it does not belong I can disable it. That must be where the sparks were coming from when I hit a big bump as always, thanks for the help, John

01-02-2004, 05:27 PM	#6
AndrewDT Registered User Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: North Woods, Minnesota Posts: 196	I think that's the Battery Auto-drain indicator light! __________________ '72 Suburban 4X4 "Save the Earth, kill yourself"

01-02-2004, 04:22 PM	#2
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	check down at the fuse box...for something plugged in to the unfused hot terminal....think it's gray ....should be plugged in to the dash light side....... the only thing that would make it hot all the time would be there AT THE FUSE BOX

01-02-2004, 06:14 PM	#7
Bamm Cowboy Fan for Life!!!!!! Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Amelia, Virginia Posts: 2,921	Maybe it was someones attempt at under dash gauge lights? Be thankful, most wiring problems are nowhere near that easy to solve.........Jerry __________________ 1967 ShortBed Fleetside 3/4 Drop 350/700R4 Tilt wheel 18 x 8 Torque Thrust II's Future mods: All new gauges & wood bed My Zip is 23002 I ship UPS, USPS

01-02-2004, 06:48 PM	#8
rage'nrat638 Account Suspended Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: THE FALL GUY CHICAGO IL Posts: 5,883	quote: Looking at the fuse box I found the gray wire and the large orange wire coming together and plugged into a hot terminal on the fuse block as rage'nrat638 said it would be. i'am the man been all over my truck...geting the reverse lights to work... they work now

01-02-2004, 06:58 PM	#9
cdowns Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: daytonabeach Posts: 22,956	it could be that the light was for the glove box where they'd have a switch that went to ground when the glovebox door opened. i think your orange wire would be for the cig lighter __________________ 71c-10 350/2004r/4:11 lowered3/4 longbed/dead by hurricane MEANING OF DEATH::::: SOMEBODY ELSE GETS YOUR STUFF DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU THINK TAKE MY ADVISE;I DON'T USE IT ANYWAY



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