Could anyone tell me what this is?

[fly_25]

Poking around in the dash of an '85 cutlass and found this, pink/black and a black wire going through a connector, then to a black wire with a clear plastic thing on the end. Any ideas? Thank you!

 

[GP403]

Poking around in the dash of an '85 cutlass and found this, pink/black and a black wire going through a connector, then to a black wire with a clear plastic thing on the end. Any ideas? Thank you!

first guess: looks like a bulb/fiber optic connector. See if the white part disconnects from the gray, bet there's a bulb in there. I know there's a fiber optic dealy on my 87 for the headlight switch, so you can find it in the dark.. maybe its the same, or similar and it got broken/disconnected just shoved in there.

 

[oldsmobile joe]

Yes, its a fiber optic illumination for the head light switch.

 

[69hurstolds]

GP403 is exactly right. 84-88 rocker headlight switches used a special flat topped bulb in that gray housing which concentrated the light to the fiber optic cable which goes to that clip that attaches to the side of the rocker switch. It lights up a tiny blue spot on the side of the rocker so you can find it. Sometimes that lamp got so hot it would melt crap. If it's not lit, it's probably because the bulb is toast.

I used to have a part number for that lamp. I recall having to get one through the dealership one time and was surprised to learn it had a specific type.

 

[GP403]

GP403 is exactly right. 84-88 rocker headlight switches used a special flat topped bulb in that gray housing which concentrated the light to the fiber optic cable which goes to that clip that attaches to the side of the rocker switch. It lights up a tiny blue spot on the side of the rocker so you can find it. Sometimes that lamp got so hot it would melt crap. If it's not lit, it's probably because the bulb is toast.

I used to have a part number for that lamp. I recall having to get one through the dealership one time and was surprised to learn it had a specific type.

Really? When I did my interior LEDs I just popped one in there and it worked. I can't recall if it was the same type as the dash or the larger ones like the footwell courtesy lights, but I don't remember it being unique... Maybe I just got lucky lol.

 

[fly_25]

Thanks for all the replies! Very cool little feature. Also need help knowing if this ground is important for anything, the tabs broke off so I can't connect it anywhere now, I am having some weird dash electrical problems

 

[69hurstolds]

Really? When I did my interior LEDs I just popped one in there and it worked. I can't recall if it was the same type as the dash or the larger ones like the footwell courtesy lights, but I don't remember it being unique... Maybe I just got lucky lol.

Yes, I believe a 194 or 168, et al, bulb would work, or any LED version should work. I found a 194 in the 87 Salon I bought. It was technically the wrong bulb, but it worked until it didn't. IIRC, it's a wedge base. I don't think anyone back in the 80s would figure they'd make LED's to fit one day. If you can run an LED, by all means, do it. It doesn't get blazing hot and still puts out well enough light to see it in the dark. IIRC, the bulb should light up any time the ignition is in "run".

The original bulbs were designed for fiber optics with a "concentrator" style head on it. Net time I get under the dash of one of the G's, I'll pop it loose and see wtf is in there.

 

[Dayzedandkonfuzed]

Thanks for all the replies! Very cool little feature. Also need help knowing if this ground is important for anything, the tabs broke off so I can't connect it anywhere now, I am having some weird dash electrical problems

Yes. All the grounds.

I missed one ground wire last time I had my dash out, very close to where that one is if not the same one. When I turned my wipers on, one headlight lit up, turn indicators half lit all the time, lots of strange things can happen