My centre consol has a check engine light, which i believe is only associated with cars equipped with the engine control module. I know this was only put on California cars in 1980. Although i don't know where my 1980 originates from (I'm working on that!) it has none of the internal wiring/module etc, making me think it was not ever equipped with the ECM. All the emissions stuff is long gone from the engine, lambda sensor, air pump, cat or whatever.
So my question is, do i have a post 1980 gauge cluster, or did pre computer cars also have a non working check engine light in the consol, just to keep things generic (a bit like how some cars have a non working diesel glow-plug light in the dash, even when they're petrol, because the diesel and petrol variants have the same dash)

I reckon i really need someone with an original non-california 1980, to tell me what set up they have... Hey Normand, you could have the answer(!) If the light's there, it'll be just below the fasten belts light on the left of the cluster......

Hello Again Theo !
yes I have the check engine light but it is not for the 350 only for the 305 with the electronic systeme I think ?
Normand

PS did you take a look at my photo album .

Theo, I checked mine, no check engine light. Also checked the original factory operations manual, check engine light only on California models.

Oh.
Things begin to get a little confusing...
fla vette, what do you have in place of the check engine light? Is there just a blanked off part below your fasten belts light? Or some other alternative warning light?
This makes me think my console may have been replaced at some point (can't really think why, not the sort of thing that wears out!)
But Normand, you say you do have one? Perhaps you have the same situation as me, i.e replaced centre consol, or perhaps its something to do with the age of our cars.... mine's fairly late 1980, the sequence number's something like 434941. Can't really think of any thing else..
Come to think of it, there may be a date on the consol, never thought to look last time i had it out of the dash....
By the way Normand, whereabouts would i find your photo album?

Hello Theo !
for my photo album go to the general discussion page 2 you will see my vette photo's album.
Normand

Cheers Normand, brilliant photos, very shiny!

My 80 L82 was late year made and does have the check engine light. Never seen it light up though Every piece of the smog equipment is there and working

How late is late?!
Could you tell me off the top of your head roughly what sequence # yours is? Mine's 34941 i think, around July 1980. Its an L48. Do you have the computer unit - i believe it was put behind the driver's seat, on the sloping "front wall" of the battery tub.
Is yours a california car, as that would be one reason for the presence of the light.
Or perhaps our models were late enough that GM started putting that type of console (with the light) in for all cars, and only california ones had them hooked up?

Hey Theo,

My number is 43....? Didn't they go to 45? maybe? It is a L82 Auto. It does not have the computer box but i did notice it has the light?

I also owned a 1980 L48 4-speed, no clue on number. I'm not real sure if it had the light or not, i tend to say yes. But i'm sure it did not come with the computer box. Guess that didn't help any but thought i would share. haha

I think (Not sure) didn't only the california cars come with the computer? which would mean they were all 305's right? I'm not real sure on this stuff, just what i've read or heard over time. (That last sentance made me sound old, i'm only 20)

One more thing Theo.... does any of your numbers match? You said all smog was gone but if you can identify part numbers such as carb or motor you can look up what engine yours is and tell where it is from. Maybe that is long gone too, hard to work after somebody that monkeyed stuff up ain't it. Just a few thoughts to maybe help you find something out. Good Luck!