just messing round in the zx and cant find out why my glove box light doesn't work.. no power to it...checked all the fuses.. pulled it out and hooked it up to the battery and it works fine.. looked at the manual and cant find a thing on it... not that's its a big thing.. just want it to work.....

 

What kind of shape is the switch in?

 

Yeah, if the switch is working right, it's a harness issue. Check backwards from the light, disconnecting, cleaning and testing each connector in the circuit. You'll find the break. Old harnesses get grimy and corroded.

 

thanks for the response guys... the switch is in real good shape as is the wiring harness.. all lights switches and everything electrical on this car works very well amazingly.. I have pulled all the connectors and checked them, as im in the process of changing the stereo and fixing the horn button that the previous owner had messed up... the only two things that don't work on the car... as I found out why....I guess what my question is now is does anyone know what fuse this switch/ light is hooked up to?? as I looked at two different schematics and theres nothing on were this thing goes...I have no problem running a hot wire to the right fuse which should be a 10 amp I believe... I think theres only 3 of them... two for the headlights and one for something else I cant remember right now what that one is for... again not a real big thing,,, but just eating at my brain... thanks again...

 

OK, if harness and switch are all good now, light that bulb normally and pull your fuses one at a time. When the light goes out, that's your fuse.

 

The glove box light works when the car lights are on!

 

ok guys... the light doesn't work ....you open the glove box...no light...I pulled the bulb... checked it... bulb is good.....pulled the whole housing... put bulb back in.. hooked it to the battery..... works fine... switch on.... switch off.... checked wires to the assembly.. no power... checked all the fuses...all good.... wiring looks good.... connectors look good... no hacking done to this.... heres the weird part.... checked the continuity to the wires going to the glove box light.... they both have continuity to ground.... if I am stating that right..... the only thing that was messed with on this car was the radio was pulled and a cd player put in... whoever put the cd player in did a pretty good job....ive seen a lot worse.... now.... if there was a ground fault in the wiring going to the light you'd think it would be blowing a fuse.. in my mind anyway.....wires are not getting hot or anything like that....there is no sings of anyone tapping into these wires for use of anything else.... my thought is to tap into the cigarette lighter... as this is a always hot circuit... since im changing the cd player anyway and every thing is pulled out... just find it weird looking at schematics... two different ones... in great detail... that they list all the bulbs and circuits in the car but this one.... anywhoooo.... im glad someone out there is as fascinated in this as I am... I know this is just a little thing... but it is driving me crazy..... as I am pretty good at figuring these things out... been a mechanic and working on cars all my life and like to pay attention to detail... again thanks for letting me tap into your knowledge.. and I hope I cleared things up for you........

 

If Borini is right, you can get the glove box to light only when your running/head lights are switched on. (Makes sense. Who needs a light in the box in the daytime..)

But since the glove box light works through its own local switch, providing alternate/uninterrupted power to the switch is OK, wherever you draw that power from (It's direct from your battery anyway...) Just don't park somewhere and leave the glove box open...

 

boy do I feel like a dumb@$$...just went out and checked and borini63 was right... headlights on... glove box light works.. I miss read his reply as he was asking a question.. i guess I should get in the 80's and out of the 60's as my other cars are....why they would do that is beyond me... I understand headlights on.... dark outside....but what do I do if im in a parking lot... and its dark outside... and the cars off.... and the lights are off.... and im climbing in the passengers side door to look in the glove box....huh....just cant leave well enough alone....any how... im glad we got to the bottom of this before I cut and hacked into any wires.. now I can get some sleep.. and continue to put this thing back together.... thanks again for all your help....nothing wrong with learning.... and now I know what circuit this light is on...

 

Cool. Congrats! I think you and Borini63 need to meet up. Race once around the block. You buy the Lattes. He brings his tool kit. You guys talk. All can be solved.

 

Cool....
Glad that you can sleep now.Lol.