Interior lights issue.

[TheRealDylan]

I have a 1982 c10. I installed the interior light kit, and everything seemed fine. When I open one door, the respective light turns on, and the dome light. The problem is the dome light barely turns on. Same when repeating on the other side. When both doors are open simultaneously, the dome light is on 100%. I am new to wiring and electrical, so anything is helpful!

-Thanks!

 

[fast 99]

Dome lights have standing power on one side. Other side grounds the circuit either through the headlight switch or door jamb switches. Try grounding it at the dome light. If it lights bright, it is a ground problem. If dim a power issue. Most dome light problems are under the driver's side carpet. The wires run under the seat and carpet to the firewall area on driver's side. Door switches can get corroded, check those as well.

 

[Randy and Easton]

just as fast 99 says, most likely ground issue. Just worked on ours yesterday. Put new LED dome light bulb in but could not get it to turn on with headlight dimmer switch. Found the two white wires for the door jam switches (not installed presently) and dome light worked perfectly when I grounded them. Found previous owner (which one? Don’t know) when they wired the jam switches they tied into the white (ground) wire off dome light run and that’s why the switch dimmer would not make dome come on. I grounded the headlight switch wire before the previous tap for grounds and now all is good. Hope to get our new jam switches and floor lights in this week. Getting close here finally.

 

[TheRealDylan]

Dome lights have standing power on one side. Other side grounds the circuit either through the headlight switch or door jamb switches. Try grounding it at the dome light. If it lights bright, it is a ground problem. If dim a power issue. Most dome light problems are under the driver's side carpet. The wires run under the seat and carpet to the firewall area on driver's side. Door switches can get corroded, check those as well.

Okay, I will try this! The door switches are all new along with the wires that go with them. I just find it weird that the light brightens when both doors are open, but dims when only one is open. When one door is open, the interior light I installed is bright it's just the dome light that is dim.

 

[mtnmankev]

One of the many members here that know me will probably chime in soon and blame it on space aliens messing with you.
On a side note, I gave up trying to fix the courtesy and dome lights on my truck.

 

[Randy and Easton]

Don’t quit! I call it therapy when I finally figure it out….

Randy

 

[fast 99]

On these types of issues I revert back to would GM have sold it originally like that? Or conversely would the purchaser of a new vehicle take it back for warranty repair?

Answer, no and yes.

 

[Randy and Easton]

Just posted need some help! What holds door jamb switch in door frame? Some threaded sleeve?

Thanks

Randy and E

 

[PrairieDrifter]

Just posted need some help! What holds door jamb switch in door frame? Some threaded sleeve?

Thanks

Randy and E

Nope just threads into the sheet metal. You could install a nursert if you wanted but they arent like that from factory.

 

[Randy and Easton]

Nursert, ok that will have to be it because the holes in door frames are way bigger than the switches from painless. Thanks, gives us somewhere to start

 

[WP29P4A]

Nursert, ok that will have to be it because the holes in door frames are way bigger than the switches from painless. Thanks, gives us somewhere to start

Might want to research the door switches a little, I believe they make more than one size. I am NOT saying GM made then in multiple sizes. The hole looks too clean like someone drilled it to the next size up. From the picture it looks like a 3/8" hole, like it had an alarm contact in the hole.

 

[Randy and Easton]

Thanks, @Matt69olds gave me a lead on new switches at Autozone and E is on the way to see if they fit. The ones in there were screwed in so we just thought it was a standard hole/switch.

Thanks for the help.. making progress

 

[TheRealDylan]

Just ordered the cable as it came back in stock, we shall see if this changes anything.

 

[idahovette]

Just got a new passenger side PW switch for Brody's (Grandson) 79 K10, and a relay kit for them also. Impressed with the PW switch itself, it's a metal switch, nice and heavy,........just hope it all works??.....you know about NEW parts, right?....The next issue will be the Interior courtesy lights, this thread will come in handy......I hope

 

[Turbo4whl]

Since you stated the dome gets brighter with both doors open, there is most likely a bad connection from the door switches to the metal door post. Rust will act as an insulator. If the switch mounting threads are rusty they add resistance to the circuit. You can test this by connecting a good ground to the wire that is going to the switch.

A small wire brush will help clean the threads for the switch.