Wierd 89 K5 dome light problems

[da747ct]

So i recently noticed that the radio clock wasn't keeping time after the vehicle had been shut off. I then noticed that the overhead and rear domelights were not working with the doors, but the underdash light still was. Also, when I shut either side door, the digital clock will come on for a few seconds and turn off, just like when the volume button is pushed with the key off. Furthermore, the cigarette lighter has no power with the doors closed, but has power when the doors are opened. I was thinking the door switches, but the under dash courtesy light still works normally with them.... any suggestions?

 

[British Slave]

Check your grounds. The door jamb switches ground when the door is open. There should be a ground wire on the cigar lighter frame. I am guess the cigar lighter is grounding thru the light circuit. If that is true, do not use the lighter, the light wires are not big enough to carry the current.

 

[da747ct]

is there a relay that could cause this? The lighter is now unplugged, but the lights and radio work the same way. One other thing I forgot to mention is that when closing either door and the clock lights, it displays different junk characters, not numeric digits.

 

[British Slave]

Man you are describing classic electrical gremlins and they usually start at a ground. There are no relays that I know of that could cause this.