shift indicator lighting

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Raider L

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1974
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I installed a new shift indicator in a '74 C10. It's mounted over the steering column at the bottom center of the dash behind the clear lens there. Afterwards I looked and looked for someplace to put a bulb or some kind of lighting. I do not have the printed circuit any longer as I have all individual gauges now. I suspect there may have been a bulb socket in the printed circuit near the indicator.

Is there a socket for the indicator in the printed circuit? I do have one of those fiber optic little things with a bulb holder on one end. Where does that thing get it's power and how can I test it if it's what I need or can use to light up the indicator? Or if anyone has their indicator light still working, how is it lit? Where can I find a diagram? I could rig something up, I have plenty of mini lights. But if there is some stock way to light the indicator up I'd rather do that.
 

ali_c20

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The fiber optics is your ash tray light. The shift indicator does not have a dedicated light source, it's lit by the ambient light of the cluster.
You could use the ashtray light for the shift indicator.

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PrairieDrifter

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The little fiber optic doesn't do much. Especially not in town at night, or if your eyes are adjusted to your headlights lol.

Upgrade to leds, only con is they aren't dimmable.
 

Raider L

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@ali_c20,

Oh yeah, thank you. I couldn't figure out what the heck that little thing was for. I had saw where someone said it was the ash tray lite but I'm even more lost figuring out how to install that light there. I'll get one of those tiny mini bulbs that go into the Honda console to light up the floor shifter indicator. It's the tiniest little 4 watt glass bulb that screws in a tiny little socket. I've got some left over from my old Honda. I'll stick it somewhere near the shift indicator in my truck and even get another one for the ash tray.

@PrairieDrifter,

I remember when my indicator did work, years ago and it was faint then. I'm older and a lot blinder now so I need it to be bright. I'll use one of those tiny little bulbs I mentioned in above text. 4 watts is plenty bright when it's a little bulb like that. As a matter of a fact it may be to bright. I may have to look for a 2.5 or maybe a 2.0 watt. That's what I've got in a couple of my gauges and it's just right. Oh, look, here's one of those. I can use this for the indicator. This is a 12volt 1.4 watt instrument light
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That's a penny. And those are threads on the bulb!
 

PrairieDrifter

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@ali_c20,

Oh yeah, thank you. I couldn't figure out what the heck that little thing was for. I had saw where someone said it was the ash tray lite but I'm even more lost figuring out how to install that light there. I'll get one of those tiny mini bulbs that go into the Honda console to light up the floor shifter indicator. It's the tiniest little 4 watt glass bulb that screws in a tiny little socket. I've got some left over from my old Honda. I'll stick it somewhere near the shift indicator in my truck and even get another one for the ash tray.

@PrairieDrifter,

I remember when my indicator did work, years ago and it was faint then. I'm older and a lot blinder now so I need it to be bright. I'll use one of those tiny little bulbs I mentioned in above text. 4 watts is plenty bright when it's a little bulb like that. As a matter of a fact it may be to bright. I may have to look for a 2.5 or maybe a 2.0 watt. That's what I've got in a couple of my gauges and it's just right. Oh, look, here's one of those. I can use this for the indicator. This is a 12volt 1.4 watt instrument light
You must be registered for see images attach
That's a penny. And those are threads on the bulb!
I'm always looking for little lights like this, that are from factory cars. Thanks for this!

My grandparents 98 bonneville had some nice flush mount, low orange light, that lit up the door handles and pockets, I need to find a parts car and rob those, looked on the internet and couldn't find em. Was going to use the same for the ashtray, but they probably aren't bright enough for you.
 

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