I am exploring, cleaning, painting and looking at my new 76 Sovereign. Found something that I had assumed was part of the streetside awning set-up...but it's not...and I need some help understanding what it is. On the street side there is a small (about 2"X2") gray plastic thingy, attached by 2 screws, located about 4ft from the bottom and about 4ft from the front, just under the lower vista view window, that has two small red/orange lenses looking forward. I removed the screws and the gray plastic cap and found two wires going into the rubber molding that holds the two lenses. I have the original Owner's Manual and the Service Manual and cannot find any reference to this thing, except for a small mention on a diagram in the Service Manual that says - Light Monitor (optional). Any body know what this thing is and how it is suppoae to work? Thanks, Bill
The two "wires" are fiber optic cables that terminate just behind the bulbs of the turn/stop/tail lights. This way you can monitor your lights from the drivers side view mirror.
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WBCCI 24291
New England Unit
Metropolitan NY Unit
The two "wires" are fiber optic cables that terminate just behind the bulbs of the turn/stop/tail lights. This way you can monitor your lights from the drivers side view mirror.
The two "wires" are fiber optic cables that terminate just behind the bulbs of the turn/stop/tail lights. This way you can monitor your lights from the drivers side view mirror.
Well, I'll declare!, who would have thought that a 30 year old trailer would have had anything on it that was "fiber optic"!! Do you think this was an "add on"....Hmmmm....probably not, since it is mentioned in the original Service Manual. Thanks for the info. Now I have a "bet you don't have one of these thingys" discussion topics! This trailer is amazing. Bill
Bill,
They were fairly common back then. My 76 also had them and they actually worked! I had to clean and re-seat the sensors in the tail light assembly but got them working before I sold that trailer.
My 81 Excella also has them but for the life of me, I can't get them to work.
Are these the things they were talking about in this post? I don't see how they work, since there aren't any bulbs in them? Just empty yellow plastic tubes that fit on the end of the wires. What the heck?!!
Well, I'll declare!, who would have thought that a 30 year old trailer would have had anything on it that was "fiber optic"!! Do you think this was an "add on"....Hmmmm....probably not, since it is mentioned in the original Service Manual. Thanks for the info. Now I have a "bet you don't have one of these thingys" discussion topics! This trailer is amazing. Bill
Hi, actually fiber optic lights were common in the late sixties and seventies on Cadillacs, Lincolns and Caprice's that I know of and I'm sure there were others. Most people found out what they were after they cut one of those wires. Oooops, Too late!
My '72 has them, they still work although I don't find myself checking them too often.
Becky, the fiber optic cable captures the light at the tail/stop light and carries it to that unit you're holding in the photo. Kind of like a wire, but not really.
Dave
Yup, our 76 Sovereign had them and they always worked and are still working, as far as I know. Sure was nice to be able to monitor our signals while at the wheel.
yep, got 'em on my 73, and they work. I just wish I could find a replacement housing cover thingy for it...mine is disintegrating.
As is mine on my 72 Tradewind. I imagine one could fabricate something out of sheet aluminum to replace the deteriorating plastic cover and then rivet it onto the skin.
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Cameron & the Labradors
Kai & Samm
North Vancouver, BC
Canada
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Light Monitor - what the heck is this?
Hi, actually fiber optic lights were common in the late sixties and seventies on Cadillacs, Lincolns and Caprice's that I know of and I'm sure there were others. Most people found out what they were after they cut one of those wires. Oooops, Too late!
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