Door pin switch

[bigwheel15]

How does the door pin switches in our truck work? The previous owner of my truck did some rewiring of everything and now I dont have a dome light. Id like to just redo it myself if possible so does anyone have a diagram of how it all works?

[FLEET72]

When the pin extends, it grounds the attached wire.

[dan76]

Prior to digging too deeply into the wiring, check the dome light socket with a test light?meter (door open) to determine if current is flowing to the lamp.

If no current at the dome light, then use a test light/meter on the switch.

[FLEET72]

Originally Posted by dan76

Prior to digging too deeply into the wiring, check the dome light socket with a test light?meter (door open) to determine if current is flowing to the lamp.

If no current at the dome light, then use a test light/meter on the switch.

Actually, there should be 12V all the time at the dome light socket (orange wire). Door open = ground to the white wire, closed = no ground.

[bigwheel15]

Originally Posted by FLEET72

Actually, there should be 12V all the time at the dome light socket (orange wire). Door open = ground to the white wire, closed = no ground.

Good to know, ill check to see if it has power anywhere down the wire on the orange side. Theres no current at the dome light itself(checked with dmm).

[Stitch]

you might want to check the fuse first...especially if it doesn't have power to the light itself...it should always have power at the light

[thrtsxchambers]

check for the orange wire and white wire coming from the pin on the door. The orange wire should go to the fuse box then up to the light and the white wire is the ground.

[bigwheel15]

Well I got power to the wire now but I cant seem to get it to shut off when the door pin is depressed. Im thinking the pin might be messed up. Are they supposed to spring back when pressed in?

[thrtsxchambers]

yes, if you push it in and let go it should pop back out. The pin acts as a ground switch for the circuit, when pushed in it breaks the circuit and when popped out it connects the circuit.
Make sure the wire is connected securely to the pin.

[bigwheel15]

Okay well then I know I need new door pins then, mine are rusted and stuck closed. For just testing purposes could I just ground the wire and that would interrupt the circuit?

[thrtsxchambers]

Actually if you pull the wire off the pin and ground it then it completes the circuit and the light should work. The socket should have power to it always and when you ground the pin it connects the ground to complete the circuit and turn the light on.

[bigwheel15]

Oh okay I got ya now, ill try messing around with it tomorrow and see if I can get the light to shut off.

[thrtsxchambers]

I had the same problem and it seems to be a problem that alot of people have with these trucks.
Keep us posted on what you find out. If you need new switches, I bought mine from lmc not to long ago and had no problems installing them and work fine can't remember how much they were but it was not much and they are new and shiny.