Luggge Light Problem - aka It's Fun Working out the kinks in a newly purchased 911...

[ajmarton]

Okay, now I noticed that the luggage light does not work. (I just purchased an 89 911 cab.) I assume it should come on when the hood is open and the lights are on (like the engine compartment light (?). So, here is what I have tried:
1. Check bulb / light assembly - it's ok
2. Checked the fuse (#1 I believe which is for clock, radio and interior light as well) - it's ok;
3. Checked switch - unscrewed it and checked wire - all connected.

So what's next? (It was too late to use a probe but I may try it next)

[450knotOffice]

Pretty common problem. Mine was out when I bought my '84 Cab.

The light should come on any time the hood is open. It does not matter if the headlights are on or not (unlike the rear compartment light).

If the switch and everything else seems to check out fine it's time to pull out the multimeter.

[MattAlpha]

When I bought my 911, neither my trunk or engine light worked.

I figured out (after buying new bulbs) that the wires had been cut when a PO had the car modified to its current turbo look cab form. I found the wires that should have been connected to the light's wires and soldered them together. Now the light works.

Probably not your problem, but just something that you may want to try.

Also check and see if the contact on the switch (the metal portion that is crimped around the ground wire) makes contact with its housing so that the circuit can be "completed" when the hood is raised. If it doesn't, then the spring might just be worn out. If it does, then you may just need to clean up the metal area where the contact is made.

Should be pretty easy for you to fix.

Enjoy it,
Matt

[911 in SC]

Mine was inoperable when I bought mine too. I took the bulb out, saw that it appeared to be good (wires weren't broken inside) and put it back in. I decided to take it back out (when I was working on the ventilation fan) and I 'moved' the lead around on the bottom of the bulb. Put it back in and it worked! Whoo Hoo! The simple things... now to get that vent fan working...

[RoninLB]

Trunk light should be on dash light unfused circuit.

Install a dash light 3 or 4 amp inline fuse or small resettable marine circuit breaker for fire protection.

install info in archives.