SE domelight expertise

[chevyconvert]

Just pulled my dome light down from the overhead console. When I got the car the little metal cover around the light switch was missing. I found a light on ebay to get the metal cover. Wish it had been in better shape!
Questions:
Picture 1. When I pulled the light there is an unused grey wire with a connector up in the console. What's it for? All three console lights work.

Picture 2. Back cover of new light on right has a plastic cover. My existing light has a metal cover.
              Which is correct for 70 Challenger ?

[sccarts1]

its the ground lead for the seatbelt indicator light

[chevyconvert]

Thanks for the feedback. Funny thing is, that light works now... Where would the grey wire be grounded too normally?

Anything on which cover is correct? I'm assuming mine. Wonder what the other one came out of. Same p.#'s on back...

[sccarts1]

SEE IF YOU CAN DISCERN ANY PRODUCTION DATE. THAT/S YOUR BEST BET. sorryfor caps

[miketyler]

Look closely at the topside of your dome light assembly. There is a male terminal that I believe that wire goes to.

[chevyconvert]

Thanks I'll have a look. Since the light works without it, do you know it's purpose?

[miketyler]

cant say that I do but you can clearly make it out in the large side-by-side shots you posted

[chevyconvert]

actually, there isn't a male plug. It just looked like one in the pic.

[Killer_Mopar]

That ground plugs into the bezel. I remember having a hell of a time trying to get it off when I took my light off. I will search for my light tommorow and take a picture of where it was connected.

[chevyconvert]

actually, there isn't a male plug. It just looked like one in the pic.

Oh I see the male plug now! Thanks Mike. Definitly a ground then.
Thanks for the help guys.
Time for me to rethink getting glasses.

[chevyconvert]

killer, I have a different question for you...
how do you keep the little decorative metal cover around the switch on? It has 4 little tabs.
it has to be removeable to change the bulb so you don't have to remove the housing.

 

[chevyconvert]

 

[miketyler]

I thought you had to drop the housing to change the bulb?

[miketyler]

you definitely have to drop the assembly to change the bulb. The brushed stainless cover is fixed and not removable.

On another note; how is the domelight in an overhead console supposed to behave? I hooked mine up today and its acting wacky.  I assume the light should come on when the doors open and then also can be manually controlled by the switch on the light. Should it also be controlled by the dash dimmer switch? 

Right now the light comes on with the door opening ok, but when operatedd manually, the light comes on when the switch is in the off position and the light is shileded from the the main lens.

After all of the wiring hurdles, I thought the dome light should be plug and play.   

[chevyconvert]

Mike.. First of all, based on my car the dash switch is not involved at all.
The light comes on when the door opens.
The sliding manual switch on the dome light from what I can tell (and I'm still playing with mine) is kind of weird how it works. It seems like it relies on the metal rotating shield part of the switch to make contact with the surronding metal frame to complete the circuit and turn on the light when its rotated all the way "on". Without the decorative brushed cover in place, I can short the rotating metal shield part to the metal surround with a screwdriver and the light comes on..
I hope this helps in some small way.