Dome lite-Mind of it's own

[mstimac]

My dome light has decided to come on whenever it wants. Spent the better part of an 800 mile trip with them on. I have disconnected the door switches with no luck. The lights come on when they should(opening door, keyless entry). I can hear the relay under the dash clicking so I know when it's working. Where do these lights get their grounds besides the doors? I drove back with the bulbs removed, gotta save my battery. Thanks, Mike

 

[RonaldLarson]

If you electrically disconnect the door switches, I don't see how the lights can operate at all, unless through the dimmer control. If you removed the switches from the door jambs, and did not disconnect the wires, then the lights will stay on. If you have the dimmer control all the way up, the lights will stay on. Sounds like cockpit error maybe.

Ron

 

[mstimac]

Well I was hoping for a little more information. When I say the door switches were disconnected, they were removed from the circuit... As for the dimmer control, well I do know how to operate that. Problem is that when the lights are energized by the headlamp switch they do not receive the signal through the relay. Only when the doors are opened or the keyless entry is used is the relay utlized. What I am trying to figure out is if there is any other time that the time delay relay energizes the lights. If I can't figure out anything else I'll just replace the relay.

 

[Strick-9]

I'm fighting the same problem. Mine would usually come on after hitting a bump or something. Then it might go out quickly or stay on for hours at a time.



I would usually open the door and slam it real hard to jar the light back off.



I looked at the wiring diagram and here's the problem. A +12V wire is sent directly to the light. The ground side of the light is what is switched.



Now if ANY part of this line were to fray and rub the cab, it would turn the light on. Poor design in my eyes, but I guess having the light on is better than blowing the fuse.



I have no idea where to start looking for the short, so I've taken my bulb out. It's funny how much you miss the little things like an interior light.



If you find your short please tell me where.



-Chris

 

[mstimac]

I hope it's as simple as a frayed wire but something tells me it's not. The lights switched on 500 miles into an 800 mile trip. Flicked on and off for the next few hundred miles then stayed on the rest of the way. Sounds like stray ground! Problem is when I got to my destination they turned out when I shut the truck off. Then about 30 minutes later they turned backed on in the driveway. I played with it for a while then found that if I put the key in the ignition(OFF pos) the lights went off. So I left the keys hanging there. Next morning I went out and the lights were back on and the batteries were drained to the point that I had to take the batteries out of another truck to get it started. Everytime the dome lights flick on or off you can here the TD Relay click. It doesn't come into play using the headlight switch. Leads me to believe the relay is playing electronic tricks when it gets warm. Anyone know the part number for the relay? I'll switch it for S*&^% and giggles if need be. I love my truck but things like this and an oil pressure sender, fuel sender, and cruise contol on the blink **** me off. Oh well if I figure it out I will let you know. Not working on it this weekend. Last few days of Striper season!

-Mike