Question about interior lights.... - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

kirsten · 06-02-2002, 08:07 PM

I am wondering if my headlight / dash switch is broken because I can't turn the interior light on unless the door is open. It may sound dumb, but I was just wondering if it should go on when I turn the switch as if I was turning up the dash lights; or did this option happen later? I have a camper or bed light and the guy before me did some weird stuff- is the wiring maybe screwed somewhere in there or is it just plain broken??

Any help appreciated

Mudder · 06-02-2002, 08:45 PM

hmmmm? the light swtich should turn the dome light on without the door being open. someone here will shed some light on this for you. im not very good at things i cant see.

Benrs86 · 06-02-2002, 08:46 PM

the dome light should come on when you turn the know as far left as you can (loosen it). the wiring isnt too hard to figure out, so if you took the switch out (the button is in the back on the top of it) you could probably trouble shoot the problem. good luck, Ben

*Fast68Chevy* · 06-02-2002, 08:55 PM

door switches are working fine if the light comes on with doors open, the headlamp switch s probably worn out, i would try another one out of a nother car or truck and see then what you have, also do you have instrument cluster lamps and the ability to adjust their brightness ?

JoetheMobster · 06-02-2002, 10:19 PM

My truck never came with the option of the interior lights coming on, when the doors are open. The door triggers (for lack of a better word) aren't there, and there are no holes to install them.

They do however come on when I twist the headlight knob. Or I should say, it used to, before some bunghole ripped the headlight knob off in a fit of rage! (that would be me) Vice Grips can make a mess of the little defenselss plastic knob!! There is no knob there anymore, and the one for the wipers is stripped, thanks to the mofo that owned the truck before me.

Off to the junkyard for me!!

da-burb · 06-02-2002, 11:29 PM

Looks like it is time to pull the instrument cluster and take a look at your switch. The last one I had that didn't work turned out to be 30 years accumulation of dash dust. It was keeping the switch from grounding out so the dome light didn't come on. I'd bet that is all it is for you too, unless you really do have a messed up harness.

When you do start to trouble shoot remember that there is always power to the lights. The orange wire is your hot wire and the white is your ground. It is grounded when you open the door or turn the light switch all the way. Your cargo light on the other hand is grounded by the screws that hold it to the cab and the switch is in-line on the hot wire.

Clear as MUD?

Longhorn Man · 06-03-2002, 12:35 AM

Da-burb...actually the cargo light is the same as the dome light...same harness even. It mounts in rubber hardwear so it won't ground.

kirsten · 06-03-2002, 01:45 AM

thanks boys....... at least a few ideas to test out.... yes i do have dash lights that I can dim.... the cargo and interior light are always on at the same time (unless i turn the switch by the dome light off)
thanks for the insight...... thewhole hot wire deal though- CORYYYYYYYYYYYY help me *damsel in distress* LOL not!!

06-02-2002, 08:07 PM	#1
kirsten need i say more Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Vancouver, BC -eh.... Posts: 349	Question about interior lights.... I am wondering if my headlight / dash switch is broken because I can't turn the interior light on unless the door is open. It may sound dumb, but I was just wondering if it should go on when I turn the switch as if I was turning up the dash lights; or did this option happen later? I have a camper or bed light and the guy before me did some weird stuff- is the wiring maybe screwed somewhere in there or is it just plain broken?? Any help appreciated __________________ 1971 3/4 ton GM with a 402 Big Block Sierra Grande Camper Special big block environmentalist-HA seaangel@shaw.ca the creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

06-02-2002, 08:45 PM	#2
Mudder Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: East Central, MO Posts: 11,336	yes hmmmm? the light swtich should turn the dome light on without the door being open. someone here will shed some light on this for you. im not very good at things i cant see.

06-02-2002, 08:46 PM	#3
Benrs86 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Brandon, SD, USA Posts: 1,292	the dome light should come on when you turn the know as far left as you can (loosen it). the wiring isnt too hard to figure out, so if you took the switch out (the button is in the back on the top of it) you could probably trouble shoot the problem. good luck, Ben __________________ Brandon, SD 69 GMC 1/2 ton 2wd wide long bed with wood 3 on the tree 350 engine 4 bolt main rv cam AIM = Alphray04

06-02-2002, 10:19 PM	#5
JoetheMobster Listening since '86 Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Canada Posts: 1,799	My truck never came with the option of the interior lights coming on, when the doors are open. The door triggers (for lack of a better word) aren't there, and there are no holes to install them. They do however come on when I twist the headlight knob. Or I should say, it used to, before some bunghole ripped the headlight knob off in a fit of rage! (that would be me) Vice Grips can make a mess of the little defenselss plastic knob!! There is no knob there anymore, and the one for the wipers is stripped, thanks to the mofo that owned the truck before me. Off to the junkyard for me!! __________________ 2007 Saturn Aura - hey it WAS a GM product

06-02-2002, 11:29 PM	#6
da-burb "Ochre Ogre" Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Springfield, MN Posts: 3,558	Looks like it is time to pull the instrument cluster and take a look at your switch. The last one I had that didn't work turned out to be 30 years accumulation of dash dust. It was keeping the switch from grounding out so the dome light didn't come on. I'd bet that is all it is for you too, unless you really do have a messed up harness. When you do start to trouble shoot remember that there is always power to the lights. The orange wire is your hot wire and the white is your ground. It is grounded when you open the door or turn the light switch all the way. Your cargo light on the other hand is grounded by the screws that hold it to the cab and the switch is in-line on the hot wire. Clear as MUD? __________________ Bowtie Truck Stop Inc. Mid-West GM Truck Restoration Parts Supplier Your Key Parts, Auto Metal Direct, Dynacorn, and Goodmark dealer. like us @ www.facebook.com/BowtieTruckStop 1971 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1971 K-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 C-10 Suburban (Ochre) 1972 K-20 Suburban (Yellow- that just aint right!) Springfield, Minnesota 56087

06-02-2002, 08:55 PM	#4
Fast68Chevy Account Suspended Join Date: May 2000 Location: IL Posts: 0	door switches are working fine if the light comes on with doors open, the headlamp switch s probably worn out, i would try another one out of a nother car or truck and see then what you have, also do you have instrument cluster lamps and the ability to adjust their brightness ?

06-03-2002, 12:35 AM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,690	Da-burb...actually the cargo light is the same as the dome light...same harness even. It mounts in rubber hardwear so it won't ground.

06-03-2002, 01:45 AM	#8
kirsten need i say more Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: Vancouver, BC -eh.... Posts: 349	thanks boys....... at least a few ideas to test out.... yes i do have dash lights that I can dim.... the cargo and interior light are always on at the same time (unless i turn the switch by the dome light off) thanks for the insight...... thewhole hot wire deal though- CORYYYYYYYYYYYY help me damsel in distress LOL not!! __________________ 1971 3/4 ton GM with a 402 Big Block Sierra Grande Camper Special big block environmentalist-HA seaangel@shaw.ca the creation of a thousand forests is in one acorn~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

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