Help with Dome Light.

[xnickitynickx]

So, ever since I've owned the truck, the dome lights don't turn on when the doors open. Idk if it's a fuse or some other type of problem. Any ideas would be appreciated.

 

[02RangerXLT]

Well... look in your driver's manual. It will have a list of what each fuse controls, like, in my 2002 Ranger, I shorted out the dome light, and that fuse controls that and my dash cluster...

 

[kimcrwbr1]

did you pull the bulb and clean the connectors be careful it gets hot real fast burnt my fingers more than once. sometimes the bulb will look good but be bad. what have you done to fix it

 

[Captain Ledd]

normally they have a big problem with them staying ON. Maybe a previous owner "fixed the problem" in a more permanent manner.

I'm going to assume that good bulbs are in the fixture.

Check the connectors both on the fixture and behind it, make sure no-one cut a wire there.

Then check fuses regarding lights.

check the wires and connections by and (potentially) inside the door.

***does the door ajar light come on at all? even when it's supposed to come on? (truck running and open the door). if it doesn't come on at all I'm betting something got re-wired.

If this is on the '97, I have a Ford factory shop manual for that year. If everything is checking out to be ok I can run through that and see if it says anything.

 

[corrond56]

check the light and the fuses first. Those are the easiest to do. If both are good check for power at the light with a voltmeter. If you don't have power then check your wires for a short and make sure your switches are good

 

[TheTopher]

on my 95 the dome light never came on with the doors but the switches for it work. I just assumed it was a luxury mine never came equipped with and thus, one less thing to break.

 

[straycat]

When you turn on the cargo lights do they come on? Use the switch to see if the dome light is off while in the truck with the doors closed. I test mine out at least once a month by turning on the dome light while sitting with the doors closed (like reading a map at night) and I test to see if it comes on. Try moving the switch up or down to adjust the brightness of the dash lights or you can use it to turn on the cargo lights. You may have an electrical problem...fuse, dirty connection of bad bulbs.


Straycat

 

[xnickitynickx]

Well I haven't done much, i'm not too electrically inclined. If i move the switch to one side or the other, the map lights come on, but not on its own when the doors open.

 

[TheTopher]

Well I haven't done much, i'm not too electrically inclined. If i move the switch to one side or the other, the map lights come on, but not on its own when the doors open.

Just like mine. Once you get used to it, it's not a big deal. You just have to make sure you get into the habit of turning the lights off before you close the door. More importantly, make sure you woman gets into the habit of it too.

 

[straycat]

One thing I like about my 99 anger...I have left the driver's door or passenger's door slightly ajar a few times when I thought I had closed it all the way. The dome light stays on. But after awhile it goes off automatically.....Darn lucky. On any older truck or car I would have had a dead battery.....lol

Straycat

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Are there switches on the door jams

 

[xnickitynickx]

I've gotten used to it too, but every so often I think about it.

 

[Fraser]

normally they have a big problem with them staying ON. Maybe a previous owner "fixed the problem" in a more permanent manner.

I'm going to assume that good bulbs are in the fixture.

Check the connectors both on the fixture and behind it, make sure no-one cut a wire there.

Then check fuses regarding lights.

check the wires and connections by and (potentially) inside the door.

***does the door ajar light come on at all? even when it's supposed to come on? (truck running and open the door). if it doesn't come on at all I'm betting something got re-wired.

If this is on the '97, I have a Ford factory shop manual for that year. If everything is checking out to be ok I can run through that and see if it says anything.

thats what mine are doing, no matter what position i have that switch in. 97, no door ajar light, nothing. was looking around for the switch for the door but couldnt come up w/ much as it was dark and i didnt have a flashlight . Im still working on going thro the fuses, as someone had all kinds of wrong load fuses in spots, and missing ones. but i didnt think that would affect it?