Cargo lamp help.. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Tuff 1986 · 07-07-2014, 03:06 PM

My cargo lamp does not work.. I have the right bulb in and I'm getting power to the cargo lamp switch.. When switch is on off only one wire is hot and when I switch it to on both wires are hot.. When switch is on I stick my tester behind the bulb switch and it's a hit and miss sorta thing.. It will light up so time and sometimes it won't.. Could it be a ground somewhere by the bulb pig tail?

Your41Plague12 · 07-07-2014, 03:56 PM

Possibly a bad socket for the lamp itself. I've never looked at the wiring diagram for a cargo lamp, but if it's anything like the dome lamp, it would be hot all the time and the ground is switched. If that's the case, look elsewhere. It could be a ground problem. If it's a conventional switch that switches the 12v side of the circuit, then you're on the right track. You have power on both sides of the switch when activated, so the switch works. If you're only intermittently getting 12v at the socket itself, then that sounds like your problem if you have a constant 12v at the wire/s going to it.

Oldriginal86 · 07-07-2014, 09:57 PM

Remove the bulb then check for power. One side will have power, other will be grounded through the switch.

Tuff 1986 · 07-09-2014, 04:13 PM

Thanks guys for your help..

bilfman · 07-10-2014, 12:47 AM

I had the same issue with mine it was a bad ground . Rather then trace that all the way back I just made a lead and grounded it by the light it self.

Tuff 1986 · 07-13-2014, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bilfman

I had the same issue with mine it was a bad ground . Rather then trace that all the way back I just made a lead and grounded it by the light it self.

Can u tell me where exactly did you put the lead at? I want to see if this will solve my problem..

chengny · 07-13-2014, 03:02 PM

The cargo light is back to back with the dome light. Pull the dome light base and ground the white lead from the cargo light to one of the dome light mounting screws.

Tuff 1986 · 07-13-2014, 03:27 PM

Thing is I don't have a dome light.. I have a light under the glovebox and ashtray area.. Behind my bench seat is a white and a orange wire can I do anything with those wires?

Just call me Sean · 07-13-2014, 04:15 PM

Those are the dome light wires.

Tuff 1986 · 07-13-2014, 05:17 PM

Thanks guys!! I got it to work.. I ended up soldering one end of a wire to the white wire at the base of the bulb socket and wraped the other end to the mounting bolt.. Now it works fine..

07-07-2014, 03:06 PM	#1
Tuff 1986 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Posts: 78	Cargo lamp help.. My cargo lamp does not work.. I have the right bulb in and I'm getting power to the cargo lamp switch.. When switch is on off only one wire is hot and when I switch it to on both wires are hot.. When switch is on I stick my tester behind the bulb switch and it's a hit and miss sorta thing.. It will light up so time and sometimes it won't.. Could it be a ground somewhere by the bulb pig tail? __________________ Will I ever finish my 1986 stepper..

07-07-2014, 03:56 PM	#2
Your41Plague12 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,009	Re: Cargo lamp help.. Possibly a bad socket for the lamp itself. I've never looked at the wiring diagram for a cargo lamp, but if it's anything like the dome lamp, it would be hot all the time and the ground is switched. If that's the case, look elsewhere. It could be a ground problem. If it's a conventional switch that switches the 12v side of the circuit, then you're on the right track. You have power on both sides of the switch when activated, so the switch works. If you're only intermittently getting 12v at the socket itself, then that sounds like your problem if you have a constant 12v at the wire/s going to it. __________________ Steve Member of the Foot Pedal Club '83 Chevy K20: 6" Rough Country, 3" Performance Accessories BL, Bushwacker Cutouts, 38x15.50 Mickey Thompson Baja Claws, 350 HP 350 crate engine from Jegs, Turbo 400

07-07-2014, 09:57 PM	#3
Oldriginal86 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Pasadena, Maryland Posts: 160	Re: Cargo lamp help.. Remove the bulb then check for power. One side will have power, other will be grounded through the switch.

07-09-2014, 04:13 PM	#4
Tuff 1986 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Posts: 78	Re: Cargo lamp help.. Thanks guys for your help.. __________________ Will I ever finish my 1986 stepper..

07-10-2014, 12:47 AM	#5
bilfman Registered User Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Regina, SK, Canada Posts: 622	Re: Cargo lamp help.. I had the same issue with mine it was a bad ground . Rather then trace that all the way back I just made a lead and grounded it by the light it self. __________________ 1979 Chevy Dually Crew 4X4 454, D60 Tru-trac, D70 Detroit Locker, 3.73, 4L80E/NP205 1971 GMC 3/4 Ton 4X4

07-13-2014, 03:02 PM	#7
chengny Registered User Join Date: May 2007 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 349	Re: Cargo lamp help.. The cargo light is back to back with the dome light. Pull the dome light base and ground the white lead from the cargo light to one of the dome light mounting screws. Last edited by chengny; 07-13-2014 at 03:09 PM.

07-13-2014, 03:27 PM	#8
Tuff 1986 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Posts: 78	Re: Cargo lamp help.. Thing is I don't have a dome light.. I have a light under the glovebox and ashtray area.. Behind my bench seat is a white and a orange wire can I do anything with those wires? __________________ Will I ever finish my 1986 stepper..

07-13-2014, 05:17 PM	#10
Tuff 1986 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Posts: 78	Re: Cargo lamp help.. Thanks guys!! I got it to work.. I ended up soldering one end of a wire to the white wire at the base of the bulb socket and wraped the other end to the mounting bolt.. Now it works fine.. __________________ Will I ever finish my 1986 stepper..



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