Interior lights flickering
Race Director
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 14,165
Likes: 9
Re: Interior lights flickering (Kehrer923)
I noticed mine first when I had the top off. One night I was driving along and when I turned in to my driveway I got this nice flash of light for a second. Strange but I didn't give it another thought.
Months later I had just washed the car and removed the top. I moved it into the shade so I could finish cleaning. I got out and shut the door, suddenly it started dinging to let me know I still had the keys in it. I was like "no poopie, but the door is closed" I could lay my hand on the door and it would stop, when I took my hand off the door it would start again. Meanwhile the lights were coming on too, I just couldn't really see them as it was daylight. I played with it for a while. I would shut the door, it would stop for an instant and then start back. It was getting old real fast.
I opened the door and held the switch in, it stopped and stayed that way. I came to the conclusion that the switch was wearing out. I took the switch loose and by some miracle was able to get it back together with some small washers behind it. You can't see it at all, but it spaces it out enough so that it makes up again when the door is closed.
What I learned, DO NOT remove both screws at once! The scres go into a backing plate that is NOT held captive. If you remove them both you will have a very hard time getting the plate back in proper position so you can get the screws started. If I had to do it over again I would do it this way. Loosen both screws slightly, enough for it to move back and forth about a 1/16h of an inch. Then remove the top screw, insert the washer behind the switch and put the screw back, you should be able to tighten this one down now as it will be spaced out a little. Then remove the bottom screw, insert the washer, and re-install the screw.
It's a little bit of a PITA, but so long as you don't remove both screws at once you should be alright.
Months later I had just washed the car and removed the top. I moved it into the shade so I could finish cleaning. I got out and shut the door, suddenly it started dinging to let me know I still had the keys in it. I was like "no poopie, but the door is closed" I could lay my hand on the door and it would stop, when I took my hand off the door it would start again. Meanwhile the lights were coming on too, I just couldn't really see them as it was daylight. I played with it for a while. I would shut the door, it would stop for an instant and then start back. It was getting old real fast.
I opened the door and held the switch in, it stopped and stayed that way. I came to the conclusion that the switch was wearing out. I took the switch loose and by some miracle was able to get it back together with some small washers behind it. You can't see it at all, but it spaces it out enough so that it makes up again when the door is closed.
What I learned, DO NOT remove both screws at once! The scres go into a backing plate that is NOT held captive. If you remove them both you will have a very hard time getting the plate back in proper position so you can get the screws started. If I had to do it over again I would do it this way. Loosen both screws slightly, enough for it to move back and forth about a 1/16h of an inch. Then remove the top screw, insert the washer behind the switch and put the screw back, you should be able to tighten this one down now as it will be spaced out a little. Then remove the bottom screw, insert the washer, and re-install the screw.
It's a little bit of a PITA, but so long as you don't remove both screws at once you should be alright.
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: Santa Rosa CA
Re: Interior lights flickering (Kehrer923)
On my '96, the center of the switch is on a stalk. I just took a small flat screwdriver and pried the head out a bit. ;)
When i am driving around and i hit a bump or get on it the interior light will come on so i will have to SLAM the passenger door. any ideas
