Electrical help needed
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,024
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From: Stratford Ontario
Electrical help needed
Its a 95 coupe and I do have the factory manuals but I am having a heck of a time figuring this out. Electrical is not my strong suit.
The problem is that my cargo lights will not go off. The courtesy lights operate as normal when the doors are open at which point the cargo lights are off. When I close the door or hatch the courtesy lights go off but the cargo lights then come on. The power antenna is also inoperative in all conditions.
The Helms manual has a diagnostic for "Cargo Lamps will not turn on". But nothing that I can find that describes the trouble I am having (I'm sure I am just missing it.)
Like I said, I have the manual, but can someone help walk me through this one. I'm not sure where to start testing or even the location of the grounds. Thanks.
The problem is that my cargo lights will not go off. The courtesy lights operate as normal when the doors are open at which point the cargo lights are off. When I close the door or hatch the courtesy lights go off but the cargo lights then come on. The power antenna is also inoperative in all conditions.
The Helms manual has a diagnostic for "Cargo Lamps will not turn on". But nothing that I can find that describes the trouble I am having (I'm sure I am just missing it.)
Like I said, I have the manual, but can someone help walk me through this one. I'm not sure where to start testing or even the location of the grounds. Thanks.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
The hatch ajar switch operates only the cargo lights and also turns on the hatch ajar light on the instrument panel. The hatch ajar switch closes (makes electrical connection) when the hatch is not fully closed or if the switch is not fully seated (even though the hatch is fully closed). You need to inspect the hatch ajar switch.
The power antenna is a separate problem. Either the mechanical cable is broken, the antenna motor defective, the antenna relay defective, or the radio is not sending 12v when turned on to the antenna relay.
The power antenna is a separate problem. Either the mechanical cable is broken, the antenna motor defective, the antenna relay defective, or the radio is not sending 12v when turned on to the antenna relay.
Last edited by jfb; Feb 4, 2006 at 04:15 PM.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,024
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From: Stratford Ontario
Okay, that does make some sense, but why is it that the cargo light will go out when I open either door (hatch closed) but go on again when the courtesy lights go out? I did not notice nor look for the hatch ajar light on the display so I can't comment on that.
The manual refers to an "interior light diode module connector". What I can't find in the book is the location of this module. Any ideas?
The schematic also shows that the antenna and cargo lamp are connected so I would think that the problems are in fact related to a bad ground or short. If I am reading the schematic correctly I should be testing s401 or s402 (which I am able to locate at the RH cargo compartment on the halo near the top of the seat).
Am I getting warmer? Frankly, I'm not sure where to start testing for what.
The manual refers to an "interior light diode module connector". What I can't find in the book is the location of this module. Any ideas?
The schematic also shows that the antenna and cargo lamp are connected so I would think that the problems are in fact related to a bad ground or short. If I am reading the schematic correctly I should be testing s401 or s402 (which I am able to locate at the RH cargo compartment on the halo near the top of the seat).
Am I getting warmer? Frankly, I'm not sure where to start testing for what.
Last edited by -=Iron Mike=-; Feb 4, 2006 at 06:20 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
On my 87 the diode module is at the rear of the cargo comparment right of fuel filter. Your cargo lights will stay on if the hatch ajar switch is activated or if the vanity mirror cover is flipped open. I would check the vanity mirror cover and then the hatch ajar switch. My 87 has the door courtesy lights and the cargo lights come on when I open a door and stay on for 30 seconds after I close a door. If you can post the interior lights schematic I might be able to figure out why your cargo lights act in reverse of your courtesy lights and why your antenna won't operate.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Here is the best possibility I can deduce from your symptoms and schematic (not complete either). The LH courtesy fuse is blown, this will cause the cargo lights to stay on. But you should notice that the cargo lights are not full brilliance because they get power through the door and foot well courtesy lamps. When you open a door you ground the splice 232 and no power will go to the cargo lamps. Close the door and power flows through s232 to the cargo lamps and antenna motor to ground. I would like to see the circuit for the antenna motor because I believe that your antenna motor is shorted to ground or the motor is stalled causing the LH courtesy fuse to blow.
Last edited by jfb; Feb 5, 2006 at 12:50 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 1,211
Likes: 2
From: Dumas Arkansas
I've just started having the same problem too. When I turn the car off open the door the lights don't come on sometimes and when opening the door the power antenna will stay up until I either turn the volume off or play with the door locks and it will come down.
Now if the passenger opens their door the lights will come on not sure about the antenna from that side because this started happening yesterday. Also, the drivers door latch button to open the hatch quit working yesterday too. Passenger side works so I figure it's a fuse somewhere. I'll check it out tomorrow since I don't really care for this year's Superbowl.
Now if the passenger opens their door the lights will come on not sure about the antenna from that side because this started happening yesterday. Also, the drivers door latch button to open the hatch quit working yesterday too. Passenger side works so I figure it's a fuse somewhere. I'll check it out tomorrow since I don't really care for this year's Superbowl.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Stratford Ontario
jfb, I just took a look and guess what.....a blown LH courtesy fuse. I unfortunately do not have any spare 20a fuses, so after I pick some up I'll investigate the antenna motor issue as you suggested. Thank you very much for your help.
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Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 16,024
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From: Stratford Ontario
Okay, new fuse picked up and it blew as soon as I put it in. Does this indicate a short at the antenna like you mentioned? I can't dig into the car until the weekend so any thoughts between now and then would be greatly appreciated.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Everything connected to the fuse is suspect for a short to ground and will need to be checked out. This includes both cargo lights and the antenna motor. You can unplug the antenna motor and see if your cargo lights are on when your courtesy lights are off which will indicate that the antenna motor itself isn't the short. There are four wires connected to the fuse (fuse to splice s401 and s401 to each coutesy lamp and s401 to the antenna motor) and each needs to be looked at to see if they are pinched anywhere or the insulation has been cut and the wires touching ground.
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Aug 2002
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From: Stratford Ontario
ttt
Thanks jfb. How I don't know, but damn were they ever melted.
For the time being I have no power antenna, but everything else works as it should.
Originally Posted by jfb
insulation has been cut and the wires touching ground.
Thanks jfb. How I don't know, but damn were they ever melted.
For the time being I have no power antenna, but everything else works as it should.
Pro
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 565
Likes: 2
From: Chandler AZ
Boy if all problems could be diagnosed and fixed that easy, we would have more time to drive our cars!! Great catch and explain of the problem jfb, I hope your around if I ever have an electrical problem. Robert
Robert
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i had a problem with my cargo lights staying on full time. the hatch mechanism wasn't pushing down enough on the body switch. i put some duck tape on it to increase od and it went off. i think i've read of people putting something on the body detent switch. maybe hot glue might work.
i think sun melted hatch rubber was not letting the hatch match its original position and was holding it higher.
frog.
i think sun melted hatch rubber was not letting the hatch match its original position and was holding it higher.
frog.
Last edited by parafrog; Feb 13, 2006 at 05:27 PM.
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