Hi everyone

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Welcome to the forum!

Paul

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Fiberglass cars are different from metal cars so they're wired differently by necessity. In metal cars the door jamb switches are self-grounding and opening the door completes the hot circuit. In a 'glass car the switches are grounded by a wire and are always hot and opening the door completes the ground. To make it easy, try running a ground wire from the door jamb switch direct to a metal ground so you don't have to mess with the wiring harness. It should accomplish the same thing.

Thanks gunslinger.

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I would assume that your 81 is like my 82 when it comes to the interior lights.  If the dash lights work then is looks to me that your basic ground for all interior lights is working as it seems that most go to the same grounding point.  That would mean that the bad ground wire could be where the different circuits tie together.  The ground point is 101 have no idea where that is on the car. 

Check this site:

|UPDATED|1/27/2013 7:19:13 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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The door jamb switches for the interior lights are screwed into the metal of the birdcage....which provides the ground for the pin switches. The most common problem is that the tiny terminals on the pin switches will break, leaving the wire to just flop around, and not work the interior lights.
If the interior lights come on when you turn the headlight switch full counterclockwise, then you probably have bad pin switches, as in the terminals have broken off. You can buy replacement terminals and replace them yourself, or you can purchase new pin switches.
If you remove the kick panel on the driver side(or passenger side), you should be able to see the back side of the pin switch....and prolly a loose wire that goes to it.




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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

thanks for the help.

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Adams Apple;

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the wiring diagram was great!!!

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The black wire going to the ignition switch connector goes up to the Key In Warning buzzer, on the back of the key cylinder. It will have no effect on whether or not the courtesy lights work. The buzzer sounds if you open the door with the key still in the ignition, to remind you to take your key with you. That is why that wire is only on the driver side door switch.
The switches at the rear of the door, on the "B" pillar(where the latch is) are what actually work the interior lights in the rear compartment. The front switches only operate the front courtesy lamps. I assume you have checked the fuses, right?

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Never knew that about the rear switches; thought they were just for the alarm! There's a lot on that fuse BTW; clock, cigar lighter, curtesy lights.

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The Interior lts have power and are looking for a ground, the door switch is the ground when screwed into the pillar. the sw with 2 wires is providing a ground for the lts and the key buzzer the does the key left in buzzer work?

Remember, we are discussing a '71 model here....not all of them had alarms, since it was still an option at that time. If it does happen to have an alarm, the wiring is a little different, but not much.
According to the wiring diagram for the '71 w/o alarm, the rear door switches only operate the rear compartment lamps.


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

We did finally get this fixed in addition to other items that did not work.

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Check the reverse light switch on the transmission...it may not be connected to the linkage, it may be faulty, or there may be a short in the wiring for it.

Glad you got your interior lights working!


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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I fixed my constantly getting out of adjustment backup light switch by removing the bulbs. 



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I installed lighted switch under dash for my back ups after repeated attempts to get new back up light switch to work properly...would either stay on all the time or off all the time. 

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DanT

Great read, 

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G.T�

 

Check and make sure your other courtesy lights are staying on as well...under the dash and the spare tire.  If they all are you have a bad courtesy light timer.  That's what happened with the '78 I used to own...it wouldn't turn off or occasionally turn on all by itself and stay on.

Thanks Gunslinger, 

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G.T�

 

Sigh... I have similar problems. No interior lights at all... nowhere. No floppy wires and the fuse is new. This could get challenging. :(

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I'm also having the same problem. I'll check the two switches in the door frame also. I'm glad I joined this registry. You have been solving a lot of problem I'm encountering.

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