Illuminated entry..... again

I posted a while back on the car's interior lights not going off. They're time-delayed, so they're supposed to slowly start to dim after the door shuts until they're completely off, and they're also supposed to turn off instantly when the key is turned. However, they just stay on constantly. For about 20 minutes before they turn themselves off. (I'm not sure, but the manual says "If there is a problem in which the lights stay on, they will automatically shut off after 20 minutes to avoid battery drain")

I believe xeroinfinity replied and said to try checking the door jamb switches, but there are none that I can find on the front doors. There are only jambs on the back doors, and they don't even turn the lights on when opening the doors. The front passenger doesn't either, so it's just the driver's door that seems to be responding to being opened, and it's the only door that turns on the lights at all.

This is a really minute problem in the grand scheme of things, but it still irks me. It makes sense that a door jamb switch would be causing the problem, but finding it is the speed bump. Can anyone help? Thanks. =]

Thier is a switch inside the door latch which signals the light on.

If thats good, then thier is a small box that controls your lights, might be called the dimer module.... I forget...
Its located by your steering column, not more the a 2 inch square.

Alright, where around the steering column?

I just hope I can get that column cover off without breaking it. lol

Update: This might specify problems a little bit more.

I went in through the passenger door simply so the lights wouldn't come on and I turned the dimmer knob all the way up to where the interior lights were supposed to light, but they didn't.

Now that sounds like your dimmer switch is malfunctioning.
Have you checked your fuses ??

You can remove the switch and check that the plug in is connected and check for power.

Fuses are all good.

So the little dimmer knob is bad?

not the knob , it would be the whole unit if that's what's wrong.

Did you ever find the dimmer modul under the dashclose to your steering column ??
That's most likly whats blown, it can happen when installing aftermarket stereos... :dunno:

not the knob , it would be the whole unit if that's what's wrong.

Did you ever find the dimmer modul under the dashclose to your steering column ??
That's most likly whats blown, it can happen when installing aftermarket stereos... :dunno:

Exactly what does this module look like?
And where in relation to the steering column is it? Thanks

its about 1/2" thick, and a 2" square.
Could be on either side of the steering column.
You'd need to remove the kick panels to find it.

Umm..... *looks down to my feet, face turns red*..... what are kick panels? =@ lol

Umm..... *looks down to my feet, face turns red*..... what are kick panels? =@ lol

are you sure you want to work on this lol

Its the panels just above your feet when sitting in the seat.
Usualy numerous 7 - 8 mm bolts holding them on, or a few plastic push pins.

The device you are lookin for is on the right, though it can be moved around. Dont even know for sure if you can buy a new unit.

Who would buy a new one anyway when there's a junkyard 5 miles down the road? =D Heheh

So it's a little black box-shaped module off to the right?

Ooooh! Okay! I know what kick panels are now. What stumped me is that my car doesn't HAVE one on the driver side. heheh

I'm having a hard time finding whatever this stupidass thing is. :frown:

I found a little thing that looks like a miniature solenoid bolted into a heatsink and un-plugged it; no power then went to the instrument panel lighting. (Dome lights still on.) I changed it and the dome lights still won't work right.

I really need whatever this part is in as great of detail as anyone can tell me. Colour, size, shape, how many wires going to it, what colour are the wires going to it, etc. etc.

The module is located on the left side of the instrument panel, near the brake pedal. It has 3 wires , it is mounted on a heat sink and usually attached to a metal bracket.

YEL - wire is power feed from INST LPS fuse
DK-GN - wire is control signal from dimmer switch
GRY - wire is the output to bulbs

Dimmer Asm - I/P LP GM P/N 1995263 ACDelco P/N is #D1509B

IT costs about $20 at a stealership.

Though this might not be your troubles, you should check that your door switches are working, they are the ones that turn the lights off and on.

Oh yeah, here is a pic that might help, its #1.
http://www.geocities.com/raj380/malibu_nolf/images/lampdimmer.jpg
Good Luck!

That's what I replaced, but still no workie. =[

Think it's possible that the one I got was no good either? =\ It came out of a junkyard car.

Do you have any good diagrams on where the door switches are and what they look like? There's no actual button on either front door like on the back.

I still think it's strange that it could be a door jamb. The lights turn ON opening the door, but don't turn back off after closing it. The door chime still works just fine.

I think I'll go back to the junkyard and actually test both of those dimmer assemblies in the car I pulled it from.

yeah the ones from the salvage yard could be bad also.

If they work when opening the door but not when you close it, its that modul that controls this. So that would mean your door switch is most likly alright.

Have you checked out your dimmer switch ?
The part where you turn your dash lights up/down, are your dash lights and everything else working ?

Dimmer switch works to control the instrument lighting. Every other light in the interior works exactly the way they're supposed to except the dome lights.

Update: I took a battery to the salvage yard and tested a car with a dimmer module before getting it. Worked fine. Took it home and put it in the car. Still no good.

Now, I don't remember whether I've said so or not (probably not), but the driver door seems to be the only one responding to any opening and closing at all. None of the other three doors set off the chime or turn on the lights.

Ok sounds like you have other issues here.

You could have some wires damaged in the lighting circuits, check the wires that go through the door jamb(covered by the rubber boot). These can become broken.

I'll check into this problem more and get back to you.

Okay, thanks. =]

Wires in the driver door jamb?

Either way, I'll have to wait until this damned rain stops. It's not supposed to die down until Thursday. =\

Yeah you actualy hav a previous thread on this same thing.
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=879342&highlight=interior+lights+on ;)

It has to be in the drivers door circuit.

.....Oops. =P

So if it's wiring, chances are the point where it's no good would be there in that boot?

I checked all the wires I could see there under the boot and they all looked good, save one grey wire. I re-spliced it together. Still no good.