The wire to nowhere - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Texas1971 · 09-17-2008, 11:31 AM

Please help ID this wire. it originates at the steering column on the gear shifter indicator (red thing) and ran back under dash with the turn signal switch wires and has a clip socket with a bulb attached????? I found that it is not really going to anything powered when replacing the switch the other day. Any help is appreciated!

clos69 · 09-17-2008, 11:36 AM

the bulb end goes into one of your light sockets behind the dash cluster..if I am not mistaken

jef5150 · 09-17-2008, 11:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Texas1971

clip socket with a bulb attached?????

if its gray ,it probably goes into the back of the heater controls to illuminate.Does it come on if you turn on your lights?

jeff

**CPNE** · 09-17-2008, 12:19 PM

That's not a wire, it's a fiber optic cable. The bulb/clip goes into your dash. When the lights are on, the dash illuminates and the fiber optic (Fibre if you prefer) cable radiates the light to the gearshift indicator to illuminate it.

Texas1971 · 09-23-2008, 03:00 PM

CPNE nailed it on the head, and it works, too! Thanks.

Classic Bowties · 09-23-2008, 03:57 PM

Here is what it looks like outside the column...

**DANTIP** · 09-23-2008, 04:22 PM

Mel,
Do the tilt-wheels have a similar fiber-optic light? My tilt shift-indicator does not light-up.

**CPNE** · 09-23-2008, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DANTIP

Mel,
Do the tilt-wheels have a similar fiber-optic light? My tilt shift-indicator does not light-up.

no, they are wired electrically. I "think" its an extra gray wire coming out of the column

Classic Bowties · 09-23-2008, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DANTIP

Mel,
Do the tilt-wheels have a similar fiber-optic light? My tilt shift-indicator does not light-up.

No, the tilts used an actual bulb/socket under the indicator/gear selector lens for illumination, should be a single grey wire (not stuck together with turn sig. wires) running out wire harness cover on bottom side of column tube.

**john** · 09-23-2008, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Classic Bowties

No, the tilts used an actual bulb/socket under the indicator/gear selector lens for illumination, should be a single grey wire (not stuck together with turn sig. wires) running out wire harness cover on bottom side of column tube.

The grey shift indicator wire plugs in the cluster feed on the fuse panel.

LOW DOUGH · 09-23-2008, 04:37 PM

so looking at that pic (correct me if i am wrong) that illuminates the red gear selector tab thing???

I have a 3 on the tree column and an auto/tilt column so I have never seen that.

LOW DOUGH · 09-23-2008, 04:38 PM

i was slow....

the first pic w/ the wire sitting on the package.

Classic Bowties · 09-23-2008, 05:11 PM

And here is a factory truck tilt with the GREY wire coming out of the harness cover on the bottom side of the column tube.

**DANTIP** · 09-23-2008, 06:02 PM

Found my grey wire plugged in above the cluster fuse. Where is the bulb and what needs disassembled to change it?

Classic Bowties · 09-23-2008, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DANTIP

Found my grey wire plugged in above the cluster fuse. Where is the bulb and what needs disassembled to change it?

Dan, the bulb/socket is attached to the top of the turn signal switch. To get at the bulb just: remove the two screws holding the shift indicator housing to top of column, now lift indicator housing/indicator lens from top of column. Now you should see a small green cap (sometimes faded) over the top of a metal cap, this metal cap basically directs the bulbs light right at the shift indicator lens, remove the plastic cap and then the metal one and you should now see the bulb. Mel

**leddzepp** · 09-24-2008, 05:50 PM

I removed mine to replace the bulb, and did not see another cover or cap...is something missing? I traced the grey wire, and it looks like PO did not know where to connect it as it is spliced into another wire, and the space on the fuse block is not being used.

**DANTIP** · 09-24-2008, 07:42 PM

Scott, there should be a small metal cylinder with a rounded end on it that covers the bulb and allows a tiny bit of light out of a rectangular port near the end of the rounded end. On top of the metal cover is a green half-sphere cover that gives the light the right color. The PO probably had trouble fitting the metal cover back over the bulb/receptacle and just put the PRNDL cover back on.

Classic Bowties · 09-24-2008, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leddzepp

I removed mine to replace the bulb, and did not see another cover or cap...is something missing?

Some more pics for id'ing the missing parts... I agree with dan about the parts being left out by someone who had it apart, I come across this often. Mel

**DANTIP** · 09-24-2008, 09:59 PM

Great info. and photos Mel!!!!

Dan

**leddzepp** · 09-25-2008, 02:29 AM

Thanks for the pics Mel...it is missing those 2 pieces...do you know where I can get them? Thanks!

petey-pablo · 09-25-2008, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john

The grey shift indicator wire plugs in the cluster feed on the fuse panel.

I have the same problem my wire is not plugged in anywhere ! This info is great !!!

ERASER5 · 09-25-2008, 09:38 AM

Maybe this should go to the FAQ in a few days? This info is hard to find when you need it most. Plugging into the cluster fuse would never have occurred to me.

montyrobison · 10-24-2008, 01:44 PM

To all,

Does anyone know where to get the fiber optic tube for a 72 non-tilt auto column? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Monty

dmenendez70 · 04-26-2018, 06:34 PM

Here's a silly question. How far in does the indicator pointer with tilt slide in? I don't know if i'm missing pieces or what. For some reason it doesn't look right to me. Thanks

demian5 · 04-26-2018, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dmenendez70

Does anyone know where to get the fiber optic tube for a 72 non-tilt auto column? Any help will be greatly appreciated!

Look at post #6 for a part number.

09-17-2008, 11:31 AM	#1
Texas1971 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 90	The wire to nowhere Please help ID this wire. it originates at the steering column on the gear shifter indicator (red thing) and ran back under dash with the turn signal switch wires and has a clip socket with a bulb attached????? I found that it is not really going to anything powered when replacing the switch the other day. Any help is appreciated!

09-17-2008, 11:36 AM	#2
clos69 Its Topless Season!!!! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: fort worth, tx Posts: 1,657	Re: The wire to nowhere the bulb end goes into one of your light sockets behind the dash cluster..if I am not mistaken __________________ -Carlos- The of America *1967 SWB Custom C-10* *(Celeste)* Join the *Patina Club*

09-17-2008, 12:19 PM	#4
CPNE Resident Curmudgeon Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: NH Posts: 6,664	Re: The wire to nowhere That's not a wire, it's a fiber optic cable. The bulb/clip goes into your dash. When the lights are on, the dash illuminates and the fiber optic (Fibre if you prefer) cable radiates the light to the gearshift indicator to illuminate it. __________________ Currently on or near the homestead: 67 Chevy SWB 2WD stepside 350/3 on tree (Pat's) 67 GMC SWB 2WD Fleet 402/auto (Brian's under construction) 67 Chevy 3/4 ton 2WD 402/auto (Business Hauler) 67 Chevy 1 ton dually 2WD 396/4 speed (Former business hauler, Needs TLC) 68 Chevy 1/2 ton Suburban 2WD 250 six/3 on tree (Brian's Needs TLC) 70 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD 350/4 speed (Pat's - Disguised as a 68 GMC) 71 Chevy SWB stepside (Crushed by tree - parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD (Parts donor) 72 Chevy 3/4 ton 4WD Suburban (Parts Donor) 72 GMC 3/4 ton 4WD 292 six/4 speed (Mine - Disguised as a 67 GMC) 81 GMC 4WD Dually Dump Body 350/4 speed (Business Hauler) 82 Camaro Z/28 355/Super T-10 (Pat's toy) 93 Caprice 9C1 (Brian's Cop Car) 02 Toyota Camry (Reliable but a souless steel and plastic hulk) 2011 2SS RS Camaro M6 Factory Hurst Shifter Maybe I need to sell some of this crap Yet another Bozo with a sawz-all Last edited by CPNE; 09-17-2008 at 12:20 PM.

09-23-2008, 03:00 PM	#5
Texas1971 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 90	Re: The wire to nowhere CPNE nailed it on the head, and it works, too! Thanks.

09-23-2008, 04:22 PM	#7
DANTIP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Posts: 1,880	Re: The wire to nowhere Mel, Do the tilt-wheels have a similar fiber-optic light? My tilt shift-indicator does not light-up.

09-23-2008, 03:57 PM	#6
Classic Bowties Always on the hunt... Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 5,538	Re: The wire to nowhere Here is what it looks like outside the column... Attached Images

09-23-2008, 04:37 PM	#11
LOW DOUGH I'M TRUCK CRAZY! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sachse, TEXAS Posts: 1,737	Re: The wire to nowhere so looking at that pic (correct me if i am wrong) that illuminates the red gear selector tab thing??? I have a 3 on the tree column and an auto/tilt column so I have never seen that.

09-23-2008, 04:38 PM	#12
LOW DOUGH I'M TRUCK CRAZY! Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Sachse, TEXAS Posts: 1,737	Re: The wire to nowhere i was slow.... the first pic w/ the wire sitting on the package.

09-23-2008, 05:11 PM	#13
Classic Bowties Always on the hunt... Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Portland, OR. Posts: 5,538	Re: The wire to nowhere And here is a factory truck tilt with the GREY wire coming out of the harness cover on the bottom side of the column tube. Attached Images

09-23-2008, 06:02 PM	#14
DANTIP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Posts: 1,880	Re: The wire to nowhere Found my grey wire plugged in above the cluster fuse. Where is the bulb and what needs disassembled to change it?

09-24-2008, 05:50 PM	#16
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,981	Re: The wire to nowhere I removed mine to replace the bulb, and did not see another cover or cap...is something missing? I traced the grey wire, and it looks like PO did not know where to connect it as it is spliced into another wire, and the space on the fuse block is not being used. Attached Images

09-24-2008, 07:42 PM	#17
DANTIP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Posts: 1,880	Re: The wire to nowhere Scott, there should be a small metal cylinder with a rounded end on it that covers the bulb and allows a tiny bit of light out of a rectangular port near the end of the rounded end. On top of the metal cover is a green half-sphere cover that gives the light the right color. The PO probably had trouble fitting the metal cover back over the bulb/receptacle and just put the PRNDL cover back on.

09-24-2008, 09:59 PM	#19
DANTIP Registered User Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Fort Wayne, Indiana, USA Posts: 1,880	Re: The wire to nowhere Great info. and photos Mel!!!! Dan

09-25-2008, 02:29 AM	#20
leddzepp Moderator Join Date: May 2007 Location: Southern Cal Posts: 19,981	Re: The wire to nowhere Thanks for the pics Mel...it is missing those 2 pieces...do you know where I can get them? Thanks!

09-25-2008, 09:38 AM	#22
ERASER5 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 4,859	Re: The wire to nowhere Maybe this should go to the FAQ in a few days? This info is hard to find when you need it most. Plugging into the cluster fuse would never have occurred to me. __________________ '70 GMC C1500 LWB Power disc brakes. WooHoo! Posi 6 Lug Dana 60



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10-24-2008, 01:44 PM	#23
montyrobison Registered User Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Pendleton, OR USA Posts: 37	Re: The wire to nowhere To all, Does anyone know where to get the fiber optic tube for a 72 non-tilt auto column? Any help will be greatly appreciated! Monty

04-26-2018, 06:34 PM	#24
dmenendez70 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: San Augustine Posts: 2	Re: The wire to nowhere Here's a silly question. How far in does the indicator pointer with tilt slide in? I don't know if i'm missing pieces or what. For some reason it doesn't look right to me. Thanks

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