Foot Well Courtesy Lights

[Richard K.]

I'm currently having a problem blowing the fuse in my '69 that is for the courtesy lights, as is marked on the fuse box.
I've read somewhere in the past that the correct type bulbs must be installed. The rear compartment's courtesy bulb is a double-pronged base, and the fixture is double pronged.
The foot well courtesy bulb is single-pronged, and the fixture is single-pronged.
The bulbs installed in the footwells are marked "T89 China 4L". I've checked my owners' manual and it shows the bulb required for the rear compartment fixture, but not the wheel wells. The manual calls for a "trade number 90" in the rear compartment.
Can anyone tell me the correct GE bulb and it's "trade number" for the foot well bulbs?

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Richard,
If you have the Service manual for the '69, the specifications page 26 lists all the bulbs. It shows that the glove box light (rear compartment) is #1895 with one contact and the dome and courtesy lights which would be the footwell lights (I think) are GE#90. It has two contacts. I hope this is what you are looking for.
Jeff

[Richard K.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Jeff,
The rear compartment courtesy bulb is a GE #90, which is a two-prong bulb and socket.
The front footwell courtesy lights are a single-prong bulb and socket, and, therefore not a GE #90.
I don't see the front footwell courtesy lights mentioned in either the Service Manual, nor the owner's manual.
My hope is that someone will be kind enough to pull one of the footwell bulbs, read the numbers, and post them here.
Regards,
Rich Kossum

[Larry M.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Rich,
The 1972 owner's manual calls out a number 631 bulb for the front courtesy lights of that year. I'm guessing 1969 will be the same. A 631 bulb is a single terminal bulb.
Larry

[Joe L.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Rich,
The 1972 owner's manual calls out a number 631 bulb for the front courtesy lights of that year. I'm guessing 1969 will be the same. A 631 bulb is a single terminal bulb.
Larry

Larry-------

The bulb is, indeed, a 631 single contact bulb as pictured below. It is easily available from just about any automotive store.

[Richard K.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Thank You. I'm not sure why Chevrolet wouldn't have listed the #631 bulb in the "Lamp Bulb Data" in the Corvette Owners Manual for the '69.
Chevrolet did list the #631 in the "Body and Chassis Electrical, Lamp Data" under Specifications in the Service Manual for 1970 (includes 1969).
In the "Dome and Courtesy Lamps" listing of that section they do show a #631 as a "Bayonet Type", but NOT for a Corvette. This, to me, appears to be a mistake by Chevrolet. I believe the two of you are correct, and I'm going to purchase the GE #631.
Thanks,
Rich Kossum

[Joe L.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Thank You. I'm not sure why Chevrolet wouldn't have listed the #631 bulb in the "Lamp Bulb Data" in the Corvette Owners Manual for the '69.
Chevrolet did list the #631 in the "Body and Chassis Electrical, Lamp Data" under Specifications in the Service Manual for 1970 (includes 1969).
In the "Dome and Courtesy Lamps" listing of that section they do show a #631 as a "Bayonet Type", but NOT for a Corvette. This, to me, appears to be a mistake by Chevrolet. I believe the two of you are correct, and I'm going to purchase the GE #631.
Thanks,
Rich Kossum

Rich------


The lamp I pictured is from my 1969 and it's the original bulb.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Attached is the "Body and Chassis Electrical" page from the '69 Service manual. At the bottom are the listings for the Dome and Courtesy Lamps. It clearly states that the bayonet type bulb #631 is Exc. Corvette. Corvette use the #90 bulbs. One of three things: 1. this listing is incorrect, 2. I am reading something totally wrong, or 3. these bulbs are interchangeable although the #631 is listed as a bayonet type which is clearly not so as the photo shown above indicates. I also have the original bulbs in my '69 which is in my shop and I will pull one to see what is in there. If I have misread and posted incorrectly, I apologize.
Jeff
I just found a #90 and a #631 in my collection and the #631 is a single contact (as shown above) where the #90 is a double contact so they are not interchangeable. The owners manual lists the dome light as #90. It does appear as the listing in the service manual is incorrect. I will pull a bulb from my '69 later today.
J.S

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Update: The "Bulbs and Lamps" page in the Heritage Center data specifications does indeed list the #631 as the bulb for the courtesy lamps under "Instrument Panel" and #90 under "Rear Compartment". It lists #212 for the "Dome Light"- that's a new one- and #1895 under "Glove Compartment". I will still check on my original.
So sorry if I posted incorrect information before.
Jeff

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Unfortunately, the bulbs in my car are not the originals as I had thought so I can't help there.
Jeff

[Richard K.]

Re: Foot Well Courtesy Lights

Thank you to you all for taking time to help solve this small item. I think in '69 the General made an error of omission in the Owners Manual by not listing the footwell bulb number, and a listing error in the Service Manual.
They apparently did catch up eventually with the correct information.

Have a great Thanksgiving.
Rich Kossum