Interior overhead lights not working...UPDATE...another question

[88K5Jimmy]

A little while ago, my overhead interior lights, in the cab and hardtop quit working. However, one time they came on and I messed with the door jam switch, pushing it in and out and they continued to come on. The one under the dash burns like it should.

I checked fuses but none are burnt out. Any thoughts?

Thanks

 

[btolenti]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

bad door jam switch? I replaced mine on the driver side because my interior lights would not work... /forums/images/graemlins/dunno.gif

 

[88K5Jimmy]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

That's kind of what I was thinking. I haven't looked it that yet, but how hard is that to get to. From just glancing at it, is there a nut or something that unscrees and you pull it out of the door jam?

 

[btolenti]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

yeah, well you crank on that "nut" and the whole thing comes out.... Really easy to replace. I got my replacement switch from LMC... /forums/images/graemlins/grind.gif

 

[bablazer73]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

real easy to replace. napa, advanced auto, most parts places have them. Only a couple bucks each.

 

[barryb]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

pull it out and ground the wire to test your therory, if the lights work when wire is grounded - you nailed it.

 

[Can Can]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

Here's a little hint when you go to replace the switch. Before you thread the new switch into the hole, twist the whole setup, wires and all, a couple of turns counter-clockwise. That way, when you thread it in clockwise, the wires end up in a prone(not twisted) position.

Does that make sense? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[88K5Jimmy]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

Ahh, good idea. I haven't been able to replace them yet. I'll have to let you guys know if they were bad or not.

Thanks for the help /forums/images/graemlins/peace.gif

 

[bigred85]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

I remember a discussion about this a while back. When the switch is pushed in(door closed), does this open or close the circuit??

 

[hawkeye649]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...

I'd take a peek at this too:
Under the front carpet on the kick pannel. Where your feet are while driving, there is a white and an orange wire. The orange wire get's all gangenous and nasty, and eventually stops it from working.

GMC Gremlin

 

[88K5Jimmy]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...UPDATE....another question

So I replaced both of the door jab switches and still no overhead interior lights. Here's the kicker, the driver side had two wires pugging into the door jam switch. The passenger side only had one white wire that was plugged into the door jam switch. I fished around looking for the orange wire like the driver side had but found nothing.

The driver side has the two wires go through the door jam in the same place but over on the passenger side the white wire is the only wire that goes through the door jam.

Im stumped, what about you guys?

 

[sickquad]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...UPDATE....another question

There should be only one wire on the passenger side and two on the drivers side. You know that the switches ground out through their threads. So if the threads are painted or rusted maybe that is why you aren't fixing this. Are the wires F'd under the carpet somewhere?

-Chris

 

[88K5Jimmy]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...UPDATE....another question

I didn't get the chance to see what kind of condition the wires are in under the carpet. I will look at that next. Also under the dash, the orange wire seems to go upward and into the general direction of the headlight switch, didn't investigate it too much due to time constraints. Maybe the portion of the headlight switch the overhead lights plug into is fubared?

 

[73k10sub]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...UPDATE....another question

The orange wire will run to the headlight switch. That allows you to turn on the interior lights with that switch.

 

[sickquad]

Re: Interior overhead lights not working...UPDATE....another question

My interior lights turn on when I open my doors but I cannot turn them on by turning the headlight switch. So that orange wire probably is not your problem.