Author Topic: Interior Lights (Read 4952 times)

LoneWolf · « **on:** May 22, 2012, 05:40:25 PM »

My interior lights haven't worked since I got the car and it is something that bugs me.

I want to try and replace the bulbs. I was looking at them though and I am not entirely certain how the pop open.

It looks like there is some prying needed, but I don't want to assume that and snap the brittle plastic.

Hopefully it is just the bulbs.

Any tips?

Thanks

monty23psk · « **Reply #1 on:** May 23, 2012, 05:18:39 AM »

on one side, you will see in the middle, a metal tab. Get a small screw driver, and go underneath and push towards the middle of the acutal like to push the tab away from body and then pull light out from the side of the tab. Just be careful not to rip headliner if brittle/old. Sometings using a plastic tip will work.

tfrain · « **Reply #2 on:** May 23, 2012, 01:16:27 PM »

also, be extremely careful not to break the clear plastic housing that the light attaches to. There are replacements available, but it is a hassle. Just make sure you have the metal tab pushed all the way in before trying to remove the light.

....and I'm referring to the thing that is holding the clear plastic light fixture, not the light fixture itself.

keflaman · « **Reply #3 on:** May 23, 2012, 02:38:28 PM »

If bulbs check good I'd take a look at the door jamb switches and ensure they are grounding to the body.

LoneWolf · « **Reply #4 on:** May 28, 2012, 07:05:53 PM »

Quote from: monty23psk;112722

on one side, you will see in the middle, a metal tab. Get a small screw driver, and go underneath and push towards the middle of the acutal like to push the tab away from body and then pull light out from the side of the tab. Just be careful not to rip headliner if brittle/old. Sometings using a plastic tip will work.

Thanks big time for the tip. You saved me from shattering one of these old brittle plastic dome lights

Quote from: keflaman;112733

If bulbs check good I'd take a look at the door jamb switches and ensure they are grounding to the body.

Turns out my the drivers side dome light just needed a bulb. The passenger side one though had the switch mechanism busted, causing both circuits to contact the bulb and blew it too by the looks of things.

The passenger side is going to need a replacement dome light.

But...

The drivers side is working, but the function that allows the light to come on when a door is opened does not work.

How should I go about troubleshooting this system?

I think it could be the door switches as I am not getting power to the bulb when the door is ajar.

How do I test the door switches? Any possible fixes for them?

Thanks again for the help

Geoff · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2012, 05:03:32 AM »

sometimes those switches will start to work again if sprayed with an electrical contact cleaner, then exercised a few times.
Geoff

monty23psk · « **Reply #6 on:** June 08, 2012, 09:25:08 AM »

Looks to be your contact switch at the driver or passenger door. Take it out and play with it. Also if you get a new housing, get 2, as the new ones are pretty clear white. With age they turn yellowish. If you get a use one then you only need one.