Help Locating Ground for Door Jamb Interior Light Button Switch

[temps425]

Hello, I pulled my interior door jamb light actuator switch and found it was fine. (other than i busted it pulling a wire off)

Problem is, the other wire does not complete the circuit so when they come into contact, the light will not turn on. (doesnt seem to ground). Interior light dash switch works, rear courtesy door light switches work.

Pass and drivers side front switches do not work (im assuming they share a ground connection) If I touch the hot wire to metal on the body, lights turn on.

Anyone know where the other wire grounds to?

http://oljeep.com/gw/elec/88/88_FSJ_...agramPage5.jpg

[Fiodh. Argus]

I just rewired my truck dash this year and finally understood how the system works. The door jamb switch grounds to the body when the door is open - it is the spring loaded little bullet thing behind the button, either the connection between the button switch thread itself and the door isn't good enough to ground your lights, or as I found with mine, there was corrosion in the metal contacts of the switch itself. It's like a little tube that is spring loaded and makes a connection when the button is released. Steel wool scrubbed on the contact area in there made mine work. Power is delivered from the black wires coming out of a three or four prong wire plug under the dash, I think near the headlight switch. They go to each door sensor and also the dome and courtesy lights, they are all in the same ground circuit so when the door button switches open all the lights come on.

I hope that's not repetitive, i think it makes sense sort of.


like you say:
" If I touch the hot wire to metal on the body, lights turn on."

that's exactly what the door button switches are doing, you are grounding it when you touch the bare wire to the body.

[jaber]

X2 on cleaning the contact points in the button switch. Helped on mine.

[temps425]

Hello, I removed the switch, so I have just the two wires. When I hold them in my hand and touch the bare wire to each other, it will not turn on. When I touch one to the body (ground), it completes the ground.

So, the other wire that adapts to the button is not grounding and completing the circuit which would turn the light on. So the non power wire must not have a good ground. But...where does it go? I feel it go into a large mass of wire...would like to know where it eventually grounds to. I am not really good w/ understanding that diagram...

[Thomas792]

I think the wire that does not make the courtesy lights turn on goes to the chime module. This is so that when you open the door with the key still in the ignition the chime begins to remind you to take your keys. The driver's courtesy light switch is the only one that has two spades, 1 for lights and 1 for chimes when you leave your keys in the ignition (hopefully it goes off just before you lock and close your door).

[aatcman]

Ok, so here's a strange one.

If I open either front door, ONLY the curtiousy lights (the small ones under the dash) come on.

If I set the idiot switch to the interior lights position (roll the wheel all the way up), again ONLY the small lights under the dash come on.

If I open the rear right door, the dome and cargo lights work BUT NOT the small ones under the dash.

If I use the cargo lights switch (rear ceiling) the cargo and dome lights come on, BUT NOT the small ones under the dash.

If I open the rear left door (even if I pull the switch and ground the wire directly) NOTHING happens.

Any ideas?

Thanks!!

[jaber]

Try twisting the 2 wires together and then try all the switches and doors?

[aatcman]

2 wires?

The 2 in the driver door are 1 for lights, 1 for chime?

[CJ5]

In my '81 Loredo I fixed my inside lights last week. When the driver or passenger door is opened, the floor, dome and rear cargo light all work now. It was the switches in the door jam. One I just had to clean but I had to replace the other. I tried several replacements. One from my YJ and it did work but the plunger was too long and eventually broke. I found the prefect replacement, the switches from the "rear" door of an XJ. It fit perfect and was the perfect size. It had two wires, whereas the front door switches have three. I connected one wire where the old switch was connected and I connected the other wire to ground. If you look in the hole in the door jamb (fender side) above where the switch mounts there is a bolt sticking out on the inner wall. I crimped and eyelet on the wire and found a matching nut that fits on this bolt and attached the wire there. It worked perfect! I posted this just in case someone searches.

[temps425]

AHHHH!! Wow, thanks sorry to confuse everyone by my confusion. You are right, it was bad connections on the metal plunger connects. Thanks for the tips....I was able to clean it up with a wire brush and re solder. Love having the courtesy light back!

[Jeepguyp]

PM BOX FULL

[wagoneerfan82]

i also didnt have the front 2 doors working with lights and chime from key. locked the keys in the car 3-4 times a month. now since reading this thread i learned to fix myself thanks this is the best web site i have found. good quality information from people that love the same thing as me. thanks everyone that contributed to this thread.

[temps425]

Im really glad that helped, I'm thankful for people here too Specially since you cant even PAY someone to fix this little stuff right. You have to really love FSJ to spend the time to address these hundreds of little issues that break constantly.