Having lots of fun tidying up the interior (as in entirely removing it, replacing the carpet, painting the dash, and fixing / replacing a number of worn or missing parts). I just purchased my 68 convertible over the winter. This forum is such a wealth of information!
I have a few little electrical items I want to correct while everything is apart. I searched the forum a bit some may be related, it seems.
- For starters, there is no driver's door pin switch. I have one to put in. I think this may be the link to the next item.
- Horns do not operate at all. Previous owner said it was the relay. I bought and installed one and they still don't work. Could this be the missing pin switch? I read in an old thread that they are connected. Note that the key buzzer does not work either (which I understand is actually the horn relay)
- My car has the ignition switch courtesy lamp, it also does not come on. I thought it was the bulb and it is the same as the glovebox lamp (which works) so I swapped them and it still did not come on. I'm not sure if it is supposed to be on with the footwell courtesy lamps (which both work fine from the passenger door pin switch) or be on with the lights, but it doesn't work either way. Not a huge deal, but I'll never have the dash open again (hopefully) so figured I'd take care of it now.
- I have the remote trunk release and the solenoid is there and there is a wire coming from it to under the dash, but no switch. I bought a switch, but not sure where to connect it?
- I also have the console mounted clock, which is kinda cool. I have no idea if it actually works, but the wires had been cut off under the console, so I took a gamble and bought a new harness. I haven't looked extensively yet, but in removing all dash components I didn't see the other end of the harness to plug into. Probably not much anyone can help with at this point unless you happen to have a picture of the connector and it's location? Oh - also - the set knob is missing and I can't find one at any of the parts companies out there. If anyone knows of a source, that'd be great!
I think there is something else I'm forgetting, but I'll just start with this list for now.
Re Clock: 1. Assuming the repro harness is like the original, it plugs onto the spade terminals in the fusebox. Note the orange and gray wires in the picture below. (Ignore the white wire with the purple plug. That is for my hidden audio.)
2. I believe AMES has the knobs. See https://secure.amesperf.com/qilan/Detail_Web?part_num=FA557X&order_number_e=NDM3MDQxMg%3D%3D%0A&web_access=Y The factory knob on mine shown below.
Note that the original factory clocks have a rewind solenoid that gets "hit" by 12v every minute. Those solenoids are prone to burn out so don't be surprised if it needs repair or a quartz retrofit. There are good repair shops available if yours needs work.
Re: Remote trunk lid release: (Called "remote electric deck lid release" by Pontiac. I suppose the British would call it "remote electric boot lid release".)
The '68 Pontiac accessories booklet and the '68 Pontiac Service Manual shows the switch in the glove box for Pontiac and Tempest. I have a hole in the top of my glove box that has no use on my '68. It is a rare factory option with, according to Rocky Rotella's book, only 698 factory installed (just 0.6% of all '68s built). Possibly a few more were added by the dealers. Maybe an owner with the option will comment.
The option may have been added late for Firebirds since the Sales Manual, BBF Manual, Service Manual, etc. all indicate it is for all but Firebirds and station wagons. It was, however, a $13.69 Firebird option ($96.36 in 2017 dollars)
Thanks. Yes, mine has the remote release on the PHS window sticker as a factory option. It only has one wire, so I'm assuming that it is grounded at the solenoid. I guess I'll just fine a battery power source to connect the switch I bought to and we'll see if it works!
Anyone know anything about the ignition courtesy lamp before I seal up the dash? It will be hard to get to once I have everything back in?
Also.. hoping the horns work after I get the door switch back in.
The most information I recall on the ignition switch lamp is the research by member Sleddog last year. Look through all three pages of this thread. Maybe it will help some. See: https://firstgenfirebird.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=308425&page=1 Also see the discussion in the later thread: https://firstgenfirebird.org/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=308935&Searchpage=3&Main=37146&Words=%2Bignition+%2B&Search=true#Post308935
Hope I am wrong but I doubt the horns will work after you install a door switch. The ignition key warning and horns share the relay but I don't believe they share common circuits.
Thanks, again, Jim. Those threads answered my questions exactly. I have the parts that Sleddog has, so now know what to track down. Sorry I didn't find those on my own - I guess I was using the wrong search words.
I'll have to try other avenues if the horns don't work after I get it all together. Doesn't look like the door switch will do the trick.