[Raavek]

This could be the wrong area to post, but if it is, please move me to the correct area?

I have a 2000 Convertable, and the dome lights continue to stay on. Obviously thats a problem because it kills my battery and I have to d/c my battery each time i park for an extended period of time.

I have a couple questions as to how i can fix this...

For the time being, if I pop the fuse that goes to my dome lights, is there any way to tell if anything else is being drained? I'm not sure why the lights stay on, but I'm pretty sure it is a door issue, as in my car doesn't think my door is shut. So the question is is anything else turned on when the door is opened along with the dome lights? (with the key out of the ignition)

Now onto fixing this problemo...
I thought i had it fixed when i tighened up the bolt that connected the ground to my battery, cause I was having other issues as well, like the power completely dying on me, but that did not fix this issue. I think im going to get a new door sensor even though the one I have looks fine. Could there be any other problems that would cause this?

Symptoms:
The problem started when I was driving around. My car made the ding sound it makes when the door was open. Me thinking my door was ajar, I just opened and shut it. But it got progressively worse. soon it was ding di-d-din-ding...ding...di-ding....you get the picture and the dome light would come on. Finally it just stays on perminantly now. (which is illegal in my state to drive with your dome light on)

1 thing to remember, I have a convertable, so my dome light is located on my rear view mirror. Help! Oh and if I can just take my door sensor off and splice some wires, Id do that to save myself some cash, I dont really care if my lights come on when I open my driver door.

[JASonic]

Ive had the same problem with my vert. (I mention vert but its probably just coincendence).

Ive always got it to shut back off. Id go through all the basics and must have gotten lucky.

open and shut all the doors
put up and down the roof
disconnect and reconnect the battery cable
TURN the light knob all the way to the right than all the way back to past the click on the left

Somehow, Ive always got it to shut off before major frustrations...

[Juggalo_X]

its a bad door sensor in the latch mechanism inside the door.

[Cricket]

Or it may be a problem with the wiring, something may not be lining up properly, or his headlight switch is turned all the way to the left. Again...I once again have to remind you that it cant be narrowed down to one thing like that.

[Juggalo_X]

Originally Posted by Cricket Or it may be a problem with the wiring, something may not be lining up properly, or his headlight switch is turned all the way to the left. Again...I once again have to remind you that it cant be narrowed down to one thing like that.

door sensor is best place to look cuz the post above mine already went through everything els he should check so i added what he missed.

[fogged306]

I would check the wiring first and make sure thats not the problem before spending money on a new switch. Chances are its the switch by the sound of it, but why waste money when you can test the wires for free? Also if you don't care if the dome light comes on when you open the door, you can always just pull the bulbs out until you find the problem.

[Juggalo_X]

Originally Posted by fogged306 I would check the wiring first and make sure thats not the problem before spending money on a new switch. Chances are its the switch by the sound of it, but why waste money when you can test the wires for free? Also if you don't care if the dome light comes on when you open the door, you can always just pull the bulbs out until you find the problem.

testing the switch is free and easer then a wire test. move on to the wire test only after you test the switch and find it to be un functional

[Raavek]

Lots of good ideas in here guys, thanks!

It isnt the headlight knob, ive quadruple tested that.

I'm not sure how to check the wiring, but I do know this. I had the door opened, and i was manually pressing the switch in myself with no results. So I'm leaning with either the switch or a short in the wiring.

Oh and taking the bulbs out of the dome light will cut the power source off too? I guess so, as long as there isnt some sort of weird bypass current or whatever. I'm not that good of an electrician.

[Juggalo_X]

Originally Posted by Raavek Lots of good ideas in here guys, thanks! It isnt the headlight knob, ive quadruple tested that. I'm not sure how to check the wiring, but I do know this. I had the door opened, and i was manually pressing the switch in myself with no results. So I'm leaning with either the switch or a short in the wiring. Oh and taking the bulbs out of the dome light will cut the power source off too? I guess so, as long as there isnt some sort of weird bypass current or whatever. I'm not that good of an electrician.

you got er its a bad switch or an open switch circuit :wink

[D-Brow]

yea, i took my light bulb out and it does nothing to drain the battery, so just leave it out till you fix the problem...