How do you get the luggage compartment switch out?

[spikeygg]

My luggage compartment light doesn't work so I want to troubleshoot it. I thought: first I'll check the operation of the switch and see if it has any voltage but I can't seem to get it out. I'm worried I'm going to break it if I just pull it. Plus, I saw a picture of the switch on delorean.com and the prongs appear to keep the switch from coming out. I'm very interested in the method to remove this switch.

[DMC5180]

My luggage compartment light doesn't work so I want to troubleshoot it. I thought: first I'll check the operation of the switch and see if it has any voltage but I can't seem to get it out. I'm worried I'm going to break it if I just pull it. Plus, I saw a picture of the switch on delorean.com and the prongs appear to keep the switch from coming out. I'm very interested in the method to remove this switch.

The easier thing to do is pop the light housing out and check the bulb first. I've never heard of that switch failing. If the hood was ever off the car it's possible the Harness connector might have not been reconnected. It's below the Rubber Grommet / behind the Grill.

[spikeygg]

The easier thing to do is pop the light housing out and check the bulb first. I've never heard of that switch failing. If the hood was ever off the car it's possible the Harness connector might have not been reconnected. It's below the Rubber Grommet / behind the Grill.

I forgot to mention that I have an LED replacement. I tried both bulbs (incandescent and LED). They look good but don't lite up. Also, my DMM doesn't register any voltage at the bulb terminals regardless of the switch position.

[DMC5180]

I went out pulled my grommet out to see if the wire connectors would come up through the hole intact. Unfortunately they don't quite make it. I accidentally pulled 1 of the 2 single wire connectors apart in the process. Not big deal though, I'll pop the grill off tomorrow to reconnect it.

[Jonathan]

I believe you can reach the connector for that switch/circuit by removing the front grille, as the wires lay right in behind there.

[spikeygg]

I believe you can reach the connector for that switch/circuit by removing the front grille, as the wires lay right in behind there.

How do you remove the front grille?

[Jonathan]

How do you remove the front grille?

It has about 8 of those "ball and socket" connectors around the edges of it. These are the ones where the little stud with a round end on it are attached to the backside of the grille and then the receiving ends are mounted in the front fascia. Basically you just pull on it, although that is over simplifying it, especially if you've never done it before and might not know where to pull.

What I found worked for me was to kind of reach in from the side (next to the inside headlight on each side) with a hook shaped tool and pull gently until you work it out. If the ends of those studs are a bit corroded, it can get challenging to pull it out.

I tried to find you a photo of what it looks like removed form the car, but I can't find one at the moment. This is what the ball studs look like: http://store.delorean.com/p-9713-ball-stud.aspx

[DMC5180]

Here is the back of the grill shot, never mind the white thing.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160818/66faa3d49609ef0711112a99c131ddee.jpg

The purple wire and black wire single pin connectors are for the hood switch shown here.

http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160818/2527ba2f08d8c3c45f51dc64e7d3e656.jpg


Dennis

[Jonathan]

Here is the back of the grill shot, never mind the white thing.

Eureka!!! So that's where they hid the coke!!

(Sorry, couldn't resist :) )

[DMC5180]

Good one.

I have the DMCH IR windshield. It works quite well for blocking Toll pass transmission, so I moved it up front in a stealth location. No issues.


Dennis

[spikeygg]

It has about 8 of those "ball and socket" connectors around the edges of it. These are the ones where the little stud with a round end on it are attached to the backside of the grille and then the receiving ends are mounted in the front fascia. Basically you just pull on it, although that is over simplifying it, especially if you've never done it before and might not know where to pull.

What I found worked for me was to kind of reach in from the side (next to the inside headlight on each side) with a hook shaped tool and pull gently until you work it out. If the ends of those studs are a bit corroded, it can get challenging to pull it out.

I tried to find you a photo of what it looks like removed form the car, but I can't find one at the moment. This is what the ball studs look like: http://store.delorean.com/p-9713-ball-stud.aspx

Thanks guys, I've pulled my grille off and I see the purple and black wires. I probed both wires from the grill area back to the light socket and they both had good continuity. What could cause it not to light up if the connection is good from the grille?

Also, I was looking at my ball and socket pieces and they're a bit rusted. I pulled one off and it's definitely not brass like the one in the photo on delorean.com...

[DMC5180]

Take some fine sandpaper and clean them. If want, you could wipe a thin film of anti-seize compound on them. It will make them a little easier to pop off in the future if you need to.

Check the light housing terminals. Also if you have an LED in there as it could be polarity sensitive.


Dennis

[Jonathan]

Good stuff. Check the bulb (hook it up to 12 v somewhere else to see it light up if you need to). Look at the metal tabs inside the light fixture and see that they haven't spread apart too far to make the bulb fit loose.

45618

The circuit isn't very complicated. Check that you have 12 v coming from the fuse 12 power source. Check to see the condition of the ground.

Check to see if you have some sort of other PO wiring modification in there causing issues.

[spikeygg]

Still troubleshooting this... When I checked the continuity from of the connections behind the grill I was checking from the light housing to the connection behind the grill. I didn't check the connection coming in...

46477

I just hooked the battery up and probed across the connection and it seems to be dead. I should see 12V across it when the battery is hooked up, right?

Where can I check next? I know that fuse 12 is good because all my other lights are lit up (engine bay, dome lights, door lights, etc.). Where do the black and purple wires go from behind the grill? Is there somewhere else I can check them out?

[spikeygg]

Good stuff. Check the bulb (hook it up to 12 v somewhere else to see it light up if you need to). Look at the metal tabs inside the light fixture and see that they haven't spread apart too far to make the bulb fit loose.

45618

The circuit isn't very complicated. Check that you have 12 v coming from the fuse 12 power source. Check to see the condition of the ground.

Check to see if you have some sort of other PO wiring modification in there causing issues.

I checked the bulb and it lights up but it looks like I don't have 12V behind the grill with the battery plugged in. Where is the ground connection for this luggage compartment light?

[DMC5180]

Not sure exactly where that ground terminates. But to verify it do a continuity check between harness side single connector and the stainless header panel behind it. If you have continuity for ground then it's the purple wire that is the issue. There is a pair of harness connectors inside the underbody that are only accessible by removing the washer fluid bucket and tank.


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[spikeygg]

Not sure exactly where that ground terminates. But to verify it do a continuity check between harness side single connector and the stainless header panel behind it. If you have continuity for ground then it's the purple wire that is the issue. There is a pair of harness connectors inside the underbody that are only accessible by removing the washer fluid bucket and tank.

Great idea. I just checked it out and I really need to check that washer fluid connection because there isn't a short between the stainless and purple behind the grille (floating I guess) but there is a short between the stainless and black (as expected). Thanks!

[Ron]

I just hooked the battery up and probed across the connection and it seems to be dead. I should see 12V across it when the battery is hooked up, right?Only if the bulb is installed and good!
Note the bulb is always powered and it gets its ground from the Purple/White from the switch (which gets its ground from the black wire).

Check in the bulb's socket for 12V on one side if you haven't (use something like the battery (-) to ground the other probe, to be sure).

Does the engine compartment light work?

[spikeygg]

There is a pair of harness connectors inside the underbody that are only accessible by removing the washer fluid bucket and tank.

You nailed this Dennis. Thank you so much! I took the washer fluid tank down, there were only three bolts holding it up (I'll have to address that). Sure enough, that plug was completely disconnected. I plugged it in an voila, light!

46527

This was the last accessory light that I was having problems with, yay!

[DMC5180]

That's not exactly what I would have expected, but hey strange things never cease to amaze me with these cars. The fact that only 3 bolts were holding the bucket, says someone was in there before. As long as things are open, be sure to clean all those connections. It will save you the hassle of needing to get back in there any time soon.

The thing that puzzles me is the 2 wire connector includes the ground return wire, yet you stated you had continuity to the header panel and the black harness side single wire connector. If the plug was disconnected as the picture shows then that shouldn't have been possible. But hey I'm glad you got it sorted out.


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[spikeygg]

The thing that puzzles me is the 2 wire connector includes the ground return wire, yet you stated you had continuity to the header panel and the black harness side single wire connector. If the plug was disconnected as the picture shows then that shouldn't have been possible.

That's a good point. Not sure why that worked the way it did but my guess is that the ground to the plug behind the grille is probably shared with something else in the wire bundle that was still connected to the frame. But if I'm wrong, then it is indeed weird! :)