Interior dome light?

[cjk5063]

Just picked up a used 99 xlt ranger and it doesn't seem to have any interior light when the doors are open at night. I pulled the dome light down and there are two map lights but nothing in the center. Any ideas on what I would need to add here? To me out looks like something is missing ...

 

[adsm08]

There should be a bulb in there. Looks like the bulb and it's socket are gone.

 

[cjk5063]

I have seen several photos online like this with what appears to be a fuse, or is this an odd bulb?

 

[Doofy]

Yes, that is a bulb in the center.

 

[cjk5063]

Thanks guys, guess I'll check a junkyard or if that fails, my dealer.

 

[adsm08]

The only difference between a bulb and a fuse is that one glows.

 

[cjk5063]

The only difference between a bulb and a fuse is that one glows.

Excellent point. Thanks for the help guys.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk

 

[4x4junkie]

There should be a bulb in there. Looks like the bulb and it's socket are gone.

Not always... Reg Cab lights don't have a bulb in the middle, only Supercabs got the middle bulb (I would assume the OP's truck must be a reg cab).

You can swap it for the 3-bulb SC unit though, it's a direct fit IIRC (all 3 bulbs light with the door open, the switch will control the two end bulbs the same way it does on the two-bulb unit)


FWIW, I suspect your dome light not working at all might have something to do with the door switch(es). The switches are a very common problem area starting with 1995 models (possible someone pulled the dome light fuse after a switch started sticking). Or maybe the switches have failed altogether.
The lamp unit itself rarely ever has a problem though.

See here for more about the switch issue:
http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/DoorContactPin.shtml

 

[cjk5063]

Thanks 4x4, yes mine is a reg cab. So the map lights should be lit when the doors open? I did check the fuses and they are all intact and present. The map lights do work when toggled leading me to think the fuse wasn't pulled.

It seems the switch issue keeps the light on, not off. Is that correct? If this is true, any other ideas?

Thanks for taking the time to set me straight!

 

[4x4junkie]

Yes, both lights should be lit with the door open. The map light toggle works off a separate 12V circuit though, which may have it's own fuse.

Typically the issue with the switches is the light sticks on, but I've seen an occasional report of the switches not turning on too (often the result of gunk accumulating on the contact after something sticky/gummy like WD-40 being sprayed into it a number of times).

I'd get in there and try jumpering the switch leads with an alligator clip wire or something, this should at least isolate the issue to it either being the switch, or elsewhere in the vehicle (I think the dome light signal may even pass through the GEM module as well, so there's another point you may need to check).

 

[cjk5063]

Okay I'll double check all fuses then get in the door and check out the switch. I suppose both doors really, because I have no light when either door is open.

I've also seen elsewhere that it could be a bad relay in a relay box under or near the steering column that contains some interior lighting relays.

 

[cjk5063]

After trying just about everything else, I checked the light again and noticed that it was missing the third screw.

Hopefully this will save someone else the time and trouble I went through [emoji58]

 

[4x4junkie]

Whoops, yeah that would do it lol (through the screws is how the light makes it's electrical connections)

Appreciate the update.

 

[Doofy]

Thanks! It is always appreciated when the "Fix" is posted.

 

[cjk5063]

No problem guys. I'm new to the forum here (and my Ranger) but I know how powerful the forums can be. Plus it was a good way to dig around the truck and learn some stuff!