When I bought my car last week, the guy I bought it from said because the back hatch lock was disabled, he had to remove all the bulbs from the interior lights or they would be on all the time.

Well, I fixed the hatch today so its working normally, and the interior lights STILL won't turn off.

yes, I've checked the light switch to make sure they aren't turned on there...

Any suggestions on what to trouble shoot?

 

try the door switches, make sure they are both intact, or just unplug both of them

 

ok, i'll check that...

regarding the hatch... are the interior lights SUPPOSED to go on when the hatch is up, or is the hatch lift outside of that whole loop?

 

ill have to check my parts car if noone else has an answer for you, but im pretty sure its outside of that whole loop. can tell from my car as nothing is quite right around the hatch latch anymore

 

i did a search here and found the wiring diagrams... it loloks like the problem is either in a switch, or a wire is touching something it shouldn't

 

Later model years might have the rear hatch in the circuit.
But if you've just fixed that.....
Could be a shorted light switch...i.e. the dimmer area. The dome light override may not have unlatched.
Just a thought or two.

Perhaps a bunch of testing ensues.
I'm not familiar with your setup so can't start to tell you where to test.

 

The most common problem is the ground wire in that system. The switches control it, and the switch frequently ends up of of adjustment.

If the ground wire gets connected to an active ground (via a short, of fubar alarm system) it will leave the lights on.

 

checked my 89 iroc, didnt see a switch for the lights

 

If I touch the end of the door switch with a multi meter and it's grounded, does that mean everything is ok with the door switch?

 

Push in the switch and test the switch from the back side where the wire connects. You shoult NOT get a reading with it pushed in when you test the wire connection.

 

ok, so i'm checking to see if the ground vanishes when the switch is pushed in, and that indicates the switch is good...

correct?

 

Correct, be sure to check both drivers and passengers sides.

After that, with the doors closed, pull a bulb out and test for ground. If you get a reading, that means either a switch is not properly adjusted, of there is a short.

Strange things can cause problems, like improperly adjusted window channels (the front one) puts pressure out on the door and keeps the door from pushing the switch in far enough.....

 

There's a white wire, or rather several white wires that travel through the car. If the white wire is grounded anywhere, everything on the dome light circuit will come on. It could be a bad pin switch in either door, or a bad headlight dimmer, or a pinched wire anywhere along that circuit. You'll want to find yourself a wiring diagram for your car, preferably one from a GM/Helms manual, then you can isolate each switch individually.

 

i've got a service manual on the way. I already own a 85 book, but I'm getting an 89 to make sure I don't miss anything

 

A year later, I finally got this fixed....

it ended up being a problem with a wiring harness in the dash. I had to take it to an auto electric shop to get it fixed, and it cost me $360

OUCH! but I now have interior lights...