http://www.car-nection.com/cadillacdatabase/Dbas_80/80OprLmps.jpg

Kinda makes you wanna go out and fix yours huh? I wish mine worked, replacements are impossible to find......

What about hitting the Coachbuilders who make limos and begging them for Opera lamps of the right size?

I wish the ones on my Phaeton worked, their full length and would look totaly kick ass.

Don't they still make the ones for that style Brougham?

Don't they still make the ones for that style Brougham?

As far as I know, no they don't. I could be wrong though....

I wonder if there's a way to fix them, ya think it could be done?

Sure you can still find them, if you look around. There's more than a few in the local boneyards around here and for Christ's sake, what's to fix if they stop working?

A burnt out bulb? Re-spray the inner pieces with aluminum paint?

Maybe polish up the plastic outside piece?

Or go all out and rewire the bastards?

I fail to see the big whup about trying to get replacements, when fixing what you have must always be feasible. And then you would be SURE that you had the correct size and style.

Can anyone educate me on just what is so daunting about this apparent DIY job?

Sure you can still find them, if you look around. There's more than a few in the local boneyards around here and for Christ's sake, what's to fix if they stop working?

A burnt out bulb? Re-spray the inner pieces with aluminum paint?

Maybe polish up the plastic outside piece?

Or go all out and rewire the bastards?

I fail to see the big whup about trying to get replacements, when fixing what you have must always be feasible. And then you would be SURE that you had the correct size and style.

Can anyone educate me on just what is so daunting about this apparent DIY job?

Because it isnt just a bulb. Its an electroluminescent(sp?) strip and is a b*tch to fix.

Exactly.

The ones on the '77-'84 Cadillacs had little bulbs that are easy to replace, my owner's manual ever has the bulb number you need. But these are not bulbs. Didn't somebody post a website or something that sold colored tape or something that could be hooked up to glow like the originals? And at the top of this forum, theres a sticky post about replacements isn't there?

It was stickied for a long time but has since faded into the archives. Just a quick search for opera lamps brings it up though. I know what you guys are saying about finding them, gm-car-parts.com still sells 90-92 opera lamps (if mine ever go out) but they don't sell 85-89. I don't know why.

Don't laugh too hard, but I think those things were GAS DISCHARGE tubes.
The same technology was in early calculators for those funny color numbers.
Have you tried RADIO SHACK?
They may not have the full length ones, but they might have shorter ones you can lay end to end and possibly have to put a resistor in line if the tubes require less than 12v.
Just a thought.

now that's the way to think, Rick. Be intuitive and have initiative!

A flourescent strip? OK, so it isn't as straightforward as a bulb replacement, but that doesn't mean you have to sit back and eat your fingers. There are still options.

What are the differences between the 2 styles (the ones still avail and the ones no longer in stock)? Would anyone BUT an aficionado of broughams ever notice the change? For that matter, why not retrofit an earlier style - the one with bulbs that can be replaced when they burn out - that would solve ALOT of issues right there.

Yeah it would... but the bulb ones are made totaly different.

So they're made different - they still go on and off don't they? They still need power? There might even be something that could be rigged up with the new LED systems that are flooding the market. If there's a will, there's a way.

It's finding the will that is difficult - not the way. C'mon guys, you're a Hell of alot younger than i am - get those creative juices flowing! Don't you feel a just a little bit P.O.'d that an Opera light is getting the better of you?

Now LEDs, thats an idea! hmm, I'll have to think about that.

Check ebay. They are on there sometimes, but you have to be patient and persistant. Or post a "Want It Now". Be surprized how fast you can get special items there.

Well, I suppose one thing you could do would be to update an 85-89 with the whole B-pillar from a 90-92, that's if you wanted to spend the cash.

Aren't they the same size, just mounted higher?

If all else fails, get one the same size, and wrap the PLAIN BULB in:
PHOTOGRAPHIC GEL FILM.
It's the stuff Pro Photographers use to tint their pictures. They put it over their floodlights, over their lenses, and so on.
Some of the stuff is horribly expensive since you have to buy a big bunch all at once, but you might get lucky and be able to get just a small bit. Just enough to cover the bulb.

My '87 opera's don't work either. I just took the inside cover off the pillar yesterday and found that the wire harness going to the lights has 4 wires and is wrapped in tape stating "WARNING...110 VOLTS". What's up with that? Is there a transformer built into the system to make 110 volts?

My '87 opera's don't work either. I just took the inside cover off the pillar yesterday and found that the wire harness going to the lights has 4 wires and is wrapped in tape stating "WARNING...110 VOLTS". What's up with that? Is there a transformer built into the system to make 110 volts?

It's ion the trunk, dfriver's side. Peel away the lining a little and you'll see the same wires with the warnings on it.

That sounds like NEON!
Maybe you can find some guy who makes up the signs for bars and restaurants and have him blow the glass to fit. He moght also tell you how to wire it.
The factory service manual should give you all the details.
One helluva longshot, but not impossible about getting the bulbs custom blown! Take a close look at the color of the neon signs at your friendly corner taverns.

AH the never ending opera light question. On my 1987 I have one (passenger side) that still works. I am scared to fix the other one. I have looked on e-bay but havent seen any yet. I remember there was a thread using some other type of light. I think the originals type look so cool. I love them on the 82-84 Olds 98 Regency Broughams too.

Well I'm going to dig into them and get them working. It's like stop lights.........you just gotta have em.

i was going to try the "gm-car-parts.com" thing and look into buying the 90-92 lights, but I can't seem to find them on the site. A little help please? thanks

But EL is soooo easy to work with, what makes them hard???

I have some EL around in a box somewhere. You can't imagine how easy it is to work with.

I am puzzled....

http://www.e-clec-tech.com/exki.html

Here is white:
http://www.e-clec-tech.com/smallelpanel.html

Now, all you need is 2 pins coming off of it, just cut it how you want. Apply 100v or so, and enjoy! They will dim some from new to once they get broke in. You can even plug them in an electrical outlet to power them....

Because it isnt just a bulb. Its an electroluminescent(sp?) strip and is a b*tch to fix.

that would be too small for the Phaeton..

You can get material in almost any size and you just cut with scissors to the shape you want.

Have you done this on a brougham ? I looks a little scary to me to open them all up:bigroll:

I haven't, don't have a 92 and older car with them. I can't figure out how to do them on my 94....

If someone has a spare set that I can look at, please contact me.

You can get material in almost any size and you just cut with scissors to the shape you want.
The biggest one I could find was 4x6. The ones on the Phaetons are about 8".

a coupla months back someone definetly had d.i.y. repair solution,it also used to be a sticky.

I read the sticky and never got any SOLID info about what worked... Mine have always worked (knocks on wood) but I'm going to be taking the top off this winter and I'm going to update them somehow... Same as with the little lights under your doorhandles... Most the time the little fiber-optic strands break, crack, dryrot, etc. They're a mofo to run and not crack them, pain to find nice, and it seems that in some areas, they built the strand after running it through any holes... I'm going to find an easier way this winter when she's torn apart...
When I'm done, I want the fender signals working, the door handle lights, opera lights, and the indicator you see in the rearview working without that fiberoptic cable!!!

A nice upgrade to the rear view telltales would be an optotransitor and a couple LED's in the rear. Simple, and still perform the same function.

Look up cheap opera light fix , March 2005:thumbsup:

Wow. Nobody remembers this, huh? Pictures and all.

http://www.cadillacforums.com/forums/rwd-19xx-1985-deville-fleetwood-1985/36743-how-retrofit-your-opera-lights-3.html?highlight=opera+lamp

It may not be the style you want but the process is the same, at least as far as rewiring for any 12V light application. You can get EL strips online all over the place. LED works great, too. The ones on my Bro are too big for my taste but at least the wiring part is done and I can find something else that better suits the Caddy. =P I'd have thought that the above post would have been made a sticky, since all the instructions are there. Meh.

Well on Eldos from 79 up they are fiber optic and usually all that is wrong is that the bulb is out in the rear fender area above the wheel housing, you get to them from the trunk. Any auto parts store will have a replacement, although not exactly like OEM.

The early 70's up to '80 rwds and some eldos had simple bulbs in the lamp, just remove the cover and replace the bulb is usually all that these need.

Now the '80 to '92 rwd Fleets and Broughams are electroluminescent opera lamps that worked by simply electrifying a piece of paper. The first thing to fix on these is the balast in the trunk on the drivers side behind the carpet. If this does not work then you have two choices. Find used opera lamps that are working (tough) or switch to modern LEDs like the link shows. It is time consuming but not too tough.

EL is Soooo easy to work with, I wouldn't mess with a LED conversion unless you really had to. The ballast is the only other thing, but still, a new one could be easily made. They are simply a 100v power supply, AC is all you need.

Heck, you can plug the EL into the household outlet without issues!

Wouldn't that require one Helluva long extension cord?:confused:

Ok, agreed, there are some small drawbacks in the design...

Cheaper than an ballast.... Right?

Okay. That sounds logical!
(ROFLMAO):bouncy:

I've always wanted to find a way to add opera lights to my 1993 fleetwood. any suggestions?

Problem is where?

Look up cheap opera light fix , March 2005:thumbsup:
wrong year should be 2006