Mystery Gauge Wire

[Inchief]

Hi, I am new to this forum and have a '87 Stepside that I picked up. It is in need of of a few things. I have a '88 Suburban that I am using for a parts donor and took the gauge cluster out of it to use in the '87. There is a short wire like thing that clips to a light socket near the speedometer. the other end was not hooked up to anything in the suburban and this socket is missing from the stepside cluster. What is it and what does it connect to? I have been reading the forums for a couple of weeks and gotten so much information, this is great. Having a little trouble inserting image so added attachment.

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[1987 GMC Jimmy]

Well, I know there are better answers, but I'll say that I found a similar thing when I pulled the cluster on my Jimmy, and it was dangling and not connected to anything. I reinstalled without the wire thingy, and all the backlights worked fine.

 

[Inchief]

Thanks for the reply, yes the bulb comes on with the lights just fine but what is the wire? I would sure like to find out and get it hooked up now before putting everything back together.

 

[CorvairGeek]

That looks like a fiber optic cable to light some small item, like a switch or indicator.

 

[Inchief]

Hey Jerry, good call! I went out in the shop with the lights off, turned on the truck lights and there is light coming from the end of the cable. I noticed a small plastic fitting on the ashtray where the other end looks like it would go. I just never expected a fiber optic cable on a 30 year old truck, but there ya go. Thanks alot, it would have driven me nuts.

 

[gmachinz]

It's a fiber optic wire that snaps into a slot above the ashtray door opening to illuminate it.

 

[87SilveradoR20]

This is awesome. I noticed the small plastic fitting in the top of the ashtray door and it looked like there should be some light that sits in there but was missing. Now I know where to look!