Identify this wire behind my dash?

Jameel · 07-09-2016, 01:38 PM

In the process of replacing my fresh air blower and rewiring my cigarette lighter socket I came across this loose wire. It's white w/ green stripe and has a piggyback terminal. It's coming from a group of two other wires that go to the rear defog switch. It's an '83 SC Coupe. I'm away from my Bentley manual, but will check it later tonight.

NY65912 · 07-09-2016, 01:44 PM

Don't know, but I'm interested as well. I have the same wire on my '85.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Page 970-23 of the Bentley says it is an indicator lamp. So check your dash gauge idiot lights.

rwest · rwest's Garage

In that area, could be for the HVAC panel lights?

Jameel · 07-09-2016, 03:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Page 970-23 of the Bentley says it is an indicator lamp. So check your dash gauge idiot lights.

That helps! But can you explain how you determined that from 970-23? I'm back at home now and am open to that page. There are two indicator lamps listed, oil pressure and generator. I don't think it's either one of those, I check those at every startup, and they were working just earlier today. More telling is that even if it were one of those, I don't think this wire is nearly long enough to reach over to the gauges. It's got to be something near the fog light/defog/seat belt light cluster.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

Your wire is in the trunk by the dash. I simply looked for a labeled green/white wire in the schematic.

timmy2 · timmy2's Garage

If it is with a black and a white/grey only, it is for the rear fog lamp in Europe.

Jameel · 07-09-2016, 07:00 PM

So I poked around a little more in here and here's what I found.

The terminal marked "III" on the back of the fog light switch has nothing going to it. And I couldn't find a reference to this in Bentley. So I just left it alone. The switch works fine, powers on the fogs, and the switch illuminates when on.

Then I read timmy2's reply:

Quote:

Originally Posted by timmy2

If it is with a black and a white/grey only, it is for the rear fog lamp in Europe.

So I went back out and double checked the wire bundle. Yep, it was with a black and a white/grey only. Thanks timmy2. So now I'm wondering if the bare terminal on the fog switch is indeed for this wire, which perhaps the factory left disconnected for US cars since there's no rear fog here?

E Sully · E Sully's Garage

W/Grn is generally used for fog lights, or side marker(parking) light indicator on Speedometer.