Interior Lights Repaired
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Joined: Oct 2006
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Interior Lights Repaired
A few weeks back I asked a mind-bender regarding my interior lights...received a few good quips and even more quizzical responses- with the B/L being, "dude, you're gonna have to trace the tron."
In short, my '97 interior lights would come on when opening a door, but if the doors were closed and/or the ignition was on, the interior lights including vanity mirror and glove box lights would not work. Additionally, the underhood lamp did not work either, regardless of door or ignition position.
It is solved. Here's how...
Validated #2 minifuse under the floorboard was good as was #37 relay...both GTG...no lights work.
The underhood lamp, sunvisors, map lights (in the rearview mirror) and glove box are all on one circuit (640-thank you GM for making the service manual public!). So, I take my DMM and validate good current and no shorts across the harness in all places...GTG...again, no lights work.
Replaced all light bulbs including those darned elusive little lights in the vanity mirrors...one at a time to validate repair...Still no lights work...yes, I'm smoked.
Replaced both sunvisors with a new pair- as soon as I plug in the second new sunvisor, all the friggin' lights come on like it's Christmas time in Times Square... somewhere there was a short in one or both sunvisors.
Hope this helps someone else.
On another note: Two used sunvisors for sale- I won't charge extra for the electrical short(s)
.
In short, my '97 interior lights would come on when opening a door, but if the doors were closed and/or the ignition was on, the interior lights including vanity mirror and glove box lights would not work. Additionally, the underhood lamp did not work either, regardless of door or ignition position.
It is solved. Here's how...
Validated #2 minifuse under the floorboard was good as was #37 relay...both GTG...no lights work.
The underhood lamp, sunvisors, map lights (in the rearview mirror) and glove box are all on one circuit (640-thank you GM for making the service manual public!). So, I take my DMM and validate good current and no shorts across the harness in all places...GTG...again, no lights work.
Replaced all light bulbs including those darned elusive little lights in the vanity mirrors...one at a time to validate repair...Still no lights work...yes, I'm smoked.
Replaced both sunvisors with a new pair- as soon as I plug in the second new sunvisor, all the friggin' lights come on like it's Christmas time in Times Square... somewhere there was a short in one or both sunvisors.
Hope this helps someone else.
On another note: Two used sunvisors for sale- I won't charge extra for the electrical short(s)
.
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