Electrical weirdness
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Auburn WA
Electrical weirdness
I've had my car since October 1st, without any problems whatsoever. I have about 3700 miles on her, and have basically been the only driver. Now my buddy from Idaho visits, takes the car out for about a 3 mile spin, comes back, and the map lights are on.
They will not switch off, no matter what. I start the car select through the gears, shut it off, I play with the accessory setting, etc. They are on. Period.
So finally, I disconnect the positive battery cable, and of course, they go off. And when I replace the cable, they are mercifully off. It's like I had to do a Control + Alt + Delete on the whole electrical system.
Now my pal says he didn't do anything during his 3 mile cruise, but I noticed that the "passenger door ajar" warning came up when I first started the car. Could it be that the map lights came on because the door was ajar, and then lost their mind?
The whole thing has me a little spooked, because previous to this, I have had absolutely no problem whatsoever. So it's a big surprise that the car's "brain" can freak like that.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
They will not switch off, no matter what. I start the car select through the gears, shut it off, I play with the accessory setting, etc. They are on. Period.
So finally, I disconnect the positive battery cable, and of course, they go off. And when I replace the cable, they are mercifully off. It's like I had to do a Control + Alt + Delete on the whole electrical system.
Now my pal says he didn't do anything during his 3 mile cruise, but I noticed that the "passenger door ajar" warning came up when I first started the car. Could it be that the map lights came on because the door was ajar, and then lost their mind?
The whole thing has me a little spooked, because previous to this, I have had absolutely no problem whatsoever. So it's a big surprise that the car's "brain" can freak like that.
Any ideas? Thanks in advance.
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This happened to me as well. Probably has happened to many. I'm outside the car and notice that the interior map lights are still on. I waited for them to go off, thinking that there was a delay. It was obvious after a couple of minutes that they were going to stay on. It took me probably ten minutes to figure that the $^%#@ dash dimmer light controls the interior lights by pushing it. Also, it's not intuitive to me that the map lights push in to turn them off. It's usually the opposite. I think they missed the boat on that one.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 9,420
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From: Southern New Jersey, The wet part at the bottom
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10
I just noticed the opposite! My maps won't come on? Door open/closed, switch on the mirror, switch on the dash? Nodda? The only thing I can guess as a possibility is I've installed LEDs in the footwells? They come on with any of the above actions, but no maplights. Everything else in the mirror works fine, as do the courtesy lights (footwells), but no maps? Is it possible that the LEDs don't draw enough to activate the maps? Any help? 
(Worse things could happen, but I miss the little buggers).
(Worse things could happen, but I miss the little buggers).
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Joined: Jan 2005
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From: Eads, Tennessee
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St. Jude Donor '05 thru '24
