I have numerous electrical problems with things not working such as toneau releases, elec mirrors, elec locks, hood light, horn, etc. I fixed the trunk motor and now I am trying to get my interior lights to go off.

I have checked the door pin switches and both work, I replaced the fuse, and I have checked the wires until they disapear behind the dash. Is there a common point of failure that is known? ie: a place the wire rubs and grounds out after time, etc? Getting a little frustrated.

The wiring does extend to the trunk (factory 'T' into where it extends up to the mirror lights) since I have vert and it is wired into the trunk contacts; not sure why this is. I suppose it is also wired into the 3rd brake light somehow as that is how it gets its power as well - and this is also shown in the wiring diagram from GM. Only 2 of 4 contacts are used on my trunk contact.

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I should also note that there is two connectors that look the same in my trunk. One is for the light and the other is linked in the toneau release wiring. The one for the toneau is supposed to go to a trunk contact switch so that it will not work when the trunk is open. I could not find a place for it to plug in and so I just jumpered it.

Not sure if that has any significance or not. I was thinking that it may wire to the 2 empty spots on the trunk contact but it does not link up.

 

Have you rotated the dimmer switch all the way in both directions? Rotated all the way in one direction will turn the interior lights on all the time, Rotated all the way in the other direction will completely dim them. Sorry I don't remember which direction, clockwise or counter clock wise, turns the lights on all the time.

Dave

 

Yeah, ccw turns them on. I just finished writing down all the wiring I can see then cross-referenced it with my manual and all looks good. Its gotta be grounded somewhere I guess.

 

Dennis-Z28

Which interior lights are on all the time? The instrument panel lights or the courtesy lights? I assume you don't have dome lights with the vert.

If you are referring to the courtesy lights I think there are two possible causes.

Take a look at this link for a wiring diagram for the courtesy lights.

https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/atta...r-switches.jpg

The courtesy light switch can be broken in the ON position in the headlamp switch. Or one of the WHITE wires from the lamps to the door switches could be grounded.

Have you checked to confirm that the WHITE wire terminals on both door switches are not grounded, via visual inspection? Make sure the BLACK wire on each door switch is not touching the White wire. The Black wire is a ground so if it is touching the White wire it will look like the door is open, turning on the courtesy lights on.

The other thing you can try is to remove the CTSY Fuse, pull the headlamp connector from the switch, put the fuse back in, make sure the door switches are pushed or held in or close the door(s) and see what happens. If the courtesy lamps go out, then I suspect the on-off switch for the courtesy lamps in the headlamp switch is broken in the ON position. If they stay on then you have a ground somewhere in the WHITE wires from either door switch to the lights. You will have to trace the wires behind the dash to locate the ground point if it is not at the door switches.

One thing I just noticed. In the wiring diagram shown in the link above it shows the courtesy lights as OFF for full CCW rotation of the dimmer control. The other wiring diagrams for lighting that have the headlamp switch in them show full CCW as ON for the courtesy lamps. Nothing like disagreements between the wiring diagrams when trying to troubleshoot a circuit

Hope this gives you a few ideas on checking the circuits.

Dave

 

Hey thanks,

lights are the map lights I am talking about

I never thought of the headlight switch being broken. That will be the first thing I try next is unplug that harness and then test them.

Mine is definately ccw for on. My GM manual says so and I can feel it click in when I turn it to the end of ccw.

I checked the door pins and wiring behind them and all looks good. The passenger wire was actually broken off of the switch and I replaced it but that was the opposite of the problem (broken = same as door closed).

I sure hope its the headlight switch because I have the whole interior stripped right now and I dont want to have to take the entire dash out to look for a short if I can avoid it. I also have no pwr mirrors, locks, A/C, horn, etc so there is a chance a mouse got in there and ate some wire (found mouse nest under rear seat) but I have not problem solved those yet. One at a time for now.

 

I have not had to do so yet, but pulling the dash to look for shorts does not sound like fun.

Yes, replacing the switch would be easier than tracing a short

With so many problems, I would not be surprised that one or more mice nawed on the wires. Seem many of the varmits like the wire insulation, so they feast every chance they get

Have a Merry Christmas and hopefully you will be able to repair your problems with out too much effort. Taking them one at a time will keep you from going crazy......

Dave