Domr light trouble
wormshemi
01-22-2004, 07:32 PM
Please help!My 1997 GMC Silverado has a problem with the dome light coming on whenever it feels like it .I noticed this about a week ago when I parked it in the driveway and I was in the garage for a while I looked out and the light was on so I checked to make sure I didnt leave the dome light on and sure enough I didnt so I closed the door and watched it and the light just goes off and on by itself.I drove it the next night and it started coming on and going off as I was driving around the only way I can prevent this is to push the dome overide button.If anyone has seen this please let me know what the problem was so I am not just throwing parts at it and wasting money.Thanks
SunDog67
02-16-2004, 10:45 PM
I recently bought a 1999 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab (old body style). It had the very same problem that you have described, the dome light coming on and off whenever it wants to. I used the dome override as well.
After speaking to a parts guy at a GM dealership, he said that it sounded like one or both of the door dome pin switches were wearing out. So, I bought two, put them in, and viola! That was it! They were about $5.50 + tax each.
Now here is how I replaced them on my 99:
The switches are located on the sides of the dash sticking out towards each door. Just look for a plastic pin about a quarter inch thick and an inch long sticking out. The pins are spring loaded, and whenever you close the door, the pin is pushed in. When they are worn out, they don't quite make contact, or the contact is on and off, on and off, thus the lights coming on and off.
So, after you get back from the dealership, you'll want to remove the old ones and put in the new ones.
The switches have tabs that are pretty diffucult to push in from the inside of the dash, in order to feed the entire assembly thru the hole to the outside of the dash.
On the driver's side:
You should be able to remove the fuse box cover to get to it. If you can get to the switch, try to press in the tabs to feed the entire assembly thru the hole. I ended up just breaking off the pin and backing the assembly into the dash, and replacing it that way. It doesn't take much to break it off, as most of switch is made of plastic.
On the passenger side:
You need to remove the glove box door. There is a plastic cable attached on the left side of the glove box door that you need to unlatch. That is done by, on the inside of the glove box door, pushing the tab toward you with a flathead screwdriver, then the cable will come away from the door (on the outside of the door). On the right side of the glove box door, there is a rubber stopper. Apply a little pressure pushing the door to the left to get it to slide outward past the enclosure. Just bend a little to the left, and that should do it. If that makes sense; you'll see. Now you can get to the switch. Try to press in the switch tabs and feed the switch thru the hole. Again, I just wiggled and bent the pin until it broke off, then replaced the assembly that way.
Hope this helps!
SunDog67
After speaking to a parts guy at a GM dealership, he said that it sounded like one or both of the door dome pin switches were wearing out. So, I bought two, put them in, and viola! That was it! They were about $5.50 + tax each.
Now here is how I replaced them on my 99:
The switches are located on the sides of the dash sticking out towards each door. Just look for a plastic pin about a quarter inch thick and an inch long sticking out. The pins are spring loaded, and whenever you close the door, the pin is pushed in. When they are worn out, they don't quite make contact, or the contact is on and off, on and off, thus the lights coming on and off.
So, after you get back from the dealership, you'll want to remove the old ones and put in the new ones.
The switches have tabs that are pretty diffucult to push in from the inside of the dash, in order to feed the entire assembly thru the hole to the outside of the dash.
On the driver's side:
You should be able to remove the fuse box cover to get to it. If you can get to the switch, try to press in the tabs to feed the entire assembly thru the hole. I ended up just breaking off the pin and backing the assembly into the dash, and replacing it that way. It doesn't take much to break it off, as most of switch is made of plastic.
On the passenger side:
You need to remove the glove box door. There is a plastic cable attached on the left side of the glove box door that you need to unlatch. That is done by, on the inside of the glove box door, pushing the tab toward you with a flathead screwdriver, then the cable will come away from the door (on the outside of the door). On the right side of the glove box door, there is a rubber stopper. Apply a little pressure pushing the door to the left to get it to slide outward past the enclosure. Just bend a little to the left, and that should do it. If that makes sense; you'll see. Now you can get to the switch. Try to press in the switch tabs and feed the switch thru the hole. Again, I just wiggled and bent the pin until it broke off, then replaced the assembly that way.
Hope this helps!
SunDog67
hfx_guy
02-17-2004, 08:00 AM
hi my 94 gmc ex cab had a simular problem then the light just died the two under the dash stayed working the problem was under the plastic panel on the drivers side rocker panel where the main harness runs the ground wire had shorted and corroded into a ball of green snot, there was a factory wire splice that went bad.. good luck jj
03sp500
02-20-2004, 04:55 PM
Okay here is the skinny on this little wonder from GM. the dash boards that were made for certain GM trucks (yours included) were made to a bad spec. what happens is as the dash heats and expands the dash is fine BUT when the dash cools it shrinks enough for the gap between the door (which shuts the switch) and the dash to open and turn on your light. install a small oring behind the switch to take up the space. youll be fine.
csprint
03-12-2004, 10:18 PM
I have a similar problem with my '94 GM Sierra Extended Cab. All the interior lights are working fine except the dome light. It doesn't come on at all. I thought it was just the bulb so I replaced it. This didn't solve the problem. I checked the voltage and my voltmeter showed 12.8v. I checked the bulb and it was fine. I have never run into anything like this. Any ideas?
Chubes
03-13-2004, 02:42 PM
Silly question but did you check the voltage across the bulb connection, or did you put your meter ground to a good ground? If you checked across the bulb terminals and have 12.8 volts, and your bulb is definitely good, then your light should work.
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