Interrior Lights

[soccer dad]

Came home tonight in my Mazda & as I drove in the driveway I saw all the interrior lights were on in my 82 GW. I checked the doors, thinking one was ajar. No problem there. I played with door switches by hand, just to make sure.

I finally had to pull all the bulbs to prevent running down the battery. Any easy suggestions where to start at dawn's early light?

[Santa Claus]

Start by making sure your headlight switch isn't turned to the interior lightr position. Full counter clockwise.

[2j20's]

been there done that ! check the rear dome switch

[soccer dad]

I checked that twice for good measure. It wasn't the problem.

I might add that the buzzer that indicates the headlights are on when you turn of the motor comes on whenever you turn on the lights. It's always done this (for the month I've owned it!), but since you can't hear it above 30 mph, I haven't done anything about it.

Don't know if they are related or not.

[xj2fsj]

sounds like a bad main switch, pull it and check it out. take it to a parts store and compare your's with a new one ( call first to make sure it's in stock) I work for NAPA and you'd be floored to know how often some dimwit comes in with some obscure part that he has spent half the day pulling and is angry that he wasted his time coming here just to find out we have to order it or send him to another NAPA and how is he gonna get there now that he pulled this off his car?!?

[edandpeg]

lights..you have lights?

[gc4x4]

I'm impressed that someone's interior lights work...

[Shake N Bake]

Mine work... well... worked, they've been pulled while I deal with the headliner repair smile.gif

Andy

[Dive 30]

Have you checked the headlight switch? I would bet that it is worn and causing problems. My other bet would be the rear cargo switch though . . . I have done that too.

[soccer dad]

With the two problems, headlight switch sounds like the easiest place to start.

Thanks for all the ideas... I'll let you guys know.

Waiting for the sun...

[Lugnut]

First, I'll say that I don't know if a grounded door switch will make the buzzer sound off, but
if you wanna start with the cheap possibilities first, check the door switches to see if the insulation is worn thru on the switch. This will ground the circuit and make the lights stay on. You might check the driver's door first since it obviously gets the most use.
If you can't tell much about it by just looking at it and pushing it in/out, loosen the door switch with a wrench so you can make sure the center pin is not turning with the hex head (you don't wanna wind up and damage the wire connected on the back side). If it's not turning with the hex head, then for ease, use a socket to screw it the rest of the way out. If the switch is damaged and the center pin turns with the hex head mount then you're gonna have to get to the back side of the switch to disconnect the wire so it won't be damaged by your turning the hex head. Might be accessible with the kick panel off. If the nylon or plastic sleeve is worn thru and the pin is touching the wall of the hex head metal sleeve that's where you're grounding and causing the lights to stay on. Obviously, while you have it off the door framework it's not contacting anything and the light is not going to come on (if you're gonna check continuity with the switch off the vehicle).
It's not necessary to disconnect the battery when checking this possibility since you're only working with a ground wire here as opposed to a hot wire.

[bentpushrod]

When I bought my wag, the PO had glued a blanket to the roof in a feeble attempt to have a headliner. In doing so he had grounded the cargo light switch to the roof, resulting in the interior lights on all the time. Solution was to rip out that nasty blanket.

[soccer dad]

A tip of the hat to 2j20s. I had put my lawnmower in the back & the handle had hit the cargo switch. Dumb me, being new,I hadn't seen it before; didn't know it was there!

Thanks guys, I knew you'd have the answer. Ain't the internet great?