dome light - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

dropped_71chevy · 08-26-2003, 12:22 AM

hey guys,

my dome light isn't working, yes i checked the bulb. its fine. i was wondering if the headlight switch could cause the dome light not to work at all. It doesn't work if i use the headlight switch or if a door is open. If the headlight switch is able to cause a problem how would i go about checking it.

thanks, tim

*Phillip Johnson* · 08-26-2003, 12:34 AM

12vdc tester. The one that looks and "feels" like and ice pick. OUCH

western star · 08-26-2003, 12:44 AM

It's easy to check the circuit. Pull the door activator pins out and check to make sure your grounded properly and there is power on both pins. They get old and corroded and fail. If the circuit is not complete then the headlight switch won't activate the bulb.

tom hand · 08-26-2003, 10:33 AM

There is power to the dome light all the time...the head light switch and the door switches supply the "ground" to make it work. The headlight switch will work even if the door switches are bad and visa-versa. Check under the plate on the drivers door, thats where most dome light problems will be found

Longhorn Man · 08-26-2003, 11:50 PM

From what I have seen over the ears, I agree with Tom. Especially if the light doesn't work with both door jamb switches or the headlight switch. Int he cab corner is also another place I have seen shorts. Some ppl shove stuff in there and mess up the wires.

1969 GMC · 08-27-2003, 12:04 AM

hey, i dont mean to hijack this post or ask too many unnecessary dumb questions, but why do some trucks have door jamb light switches and some dont? I am 100% sure my GMC doesn't have them, or ever did. I would kinda like them though, but I'm not sure.

Longhorn Man · 08-27-2003, 12:12 AM

it was an option.
Not 100% sure, but I think it was only on 69 and up too.

dropped_71chevy · 08-27-2003, 12:46 AM

I tested the door jam switches and they ground well. I did screw up and pull the wire out of the switch on the passenger side and now I can't get it through the hole for the switch to put it back on the switch. Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated so I can fix that switch.

I get power from the fuse box to a couple of black boxes. They kind of look like plug ins. From the fuse box power goes through an orange wire then it goes through the black box and switches to a white wire then I think it switches again, I'm not sure. I tried to trace it up to the dome light but lost it a little before the B pillar. The fixture isn't getting power. So somewhere between those black boxes and the fixture there is a short. So I guess I need to look for a short somewhere in there. Wonderful.

Thanks for all the help guys
Tim

western star · 08-27-2003, 01:02 AM

Ya Tom is right the door switches are grounds. What was I thinking? Lift your carpet edges up and check the wires running across your floor boards. They should be on the drivers side close to the door edge. They get corroded from moisture over the years.

67cst · 08-27-2003, 02:41 AM

69gmc, my 67 doesnt have one either, is it hard to instal them?

08-26-2003, 12:22 AM	#1
dropped_71chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 198	dome light hey guys, my dome light isn't working, yes i checked the bulb. its fine. i was wondering if the headlight switch could cause the dome light not to work at all. It doesn't work if i use the headlight switch or if a door is open. If the headlight switch is able to cause a problem how would i go about checking it. thanks, tim

08-26-2003, 10:33 AM	#4
tom hand CCRider Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: Olive Branch,MS,USA Posts: 2,232	There is power to the dome light all the time...the head light switch and the door switches supply the "ground" to make it work. The headlight switch will work even if the door switches are bad and visa-versa. Check under the plate on the drivers door, thats where most dome light problems will be found __________________ 72 GMC Sierra SWB almost finished---- 84 Softail Olive Branch MS

08-27-2003, 12:04 AM	#6
1969 GMC Registered User Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: The Rubber City Posts: 5,498	hey, i dont mean to hijack this post or ask too many unnecessary dumb questions, but why do some trucks have door jamb light switches and some dont? I am 100% sure my GMC doesn't have them, or ever did. I would kinda like them though, but I'm not sure. __________________ 1969 GMC K2500 1996 Honda Accord 2007 Kawasaki KLR 650

08-27-2003, 12:46 AM	#8
dropped_71chevy Registered User Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 198	update I tested the door jam switches and they ground well. I did screw up and pull the wire out of the switch on the passenger side and now I can't get it through the hole for the switch to put it back on the switch. Any suggestions/tips would be appreciated so I can fix that switch. I get power from the fuse box to a couple of black boxes. They kind of look like plug ins. From the fuse box power goes through an orange wire then it goes through the black box and switches to a white wire then I think it switches again, I'm not sure. I tried to trace it up to the dome light but lost it a little before the B pillar. The fixture isn't getting power. So somewhere between those black boxes and the fixture there is a short. So I guess I need to look for a short somewhere in there. Wonderful. Thanks for all the help guys Tim

08-27-2003, 02:41 AM	#10
67cst i love summertime Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Kelowna BC Posts: 4,303	69gmc, my 67 doesnt have one either, is it hard to instal them? __________________ 1967 shortbox stepside Chevy, 365 hp 327, th400. GLOVE BOX LIGHTS FORSALE, click link for info http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=273724

08-26-2003, 12:34 AM	#2
Phillip Johnson Account Suspended Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 1,580	12vdc tester. The one that looks and "feels" like and ice pick. OUCH

08-26-2003, 12:44 AM	#3
western star Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria BC Canada Posts: 198	It's easy to check the circuit. Pull the door activator pins out and check to make sure your grounded properly and there is power on both pins. They get old and corroded and fail. If the circuit is not complete then the headlight switch won't activate the bulb.

08-26-2003, 11:50 PM	#5
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	From what I have seen over the ears, I agree with Tom. Especially if the light doesn't work with both door jamb switches or the headlight switch. Int he cab corner is also another place I have seen shorts. Some ppl shove stuff in there and mess up the wires.

08-27-2003, 12:12 AM	#7
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	it was an option. Not 100% sure, but I think it was only on 69 and up too.

08-27-2003, 01:02 AM	#9
western star Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Victoria BC Canada Posts: 198	Ya Tom is right the door switches are grounds. What was I thinking? Lift your carpet edges up and check the wires running across your floor boards. They should be on the drivers side close to the door edge. They get corroded from moisture over the years.



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