damn interior light is doing my head in!!
Discussion
Ok, since i bought my 2000 Chim 450 a couple years ago, the interior light has never turned on when the doors were opened. It hasn't bothered my until now when im trying to fix it but i just cant get my head around it. any help?
the light obviously has 3 positions: on/off/doors open
the light illuminates when in the 'on' position and dilluminates (if that's even a word!) when in the 'off' position but doesnt illiminate in the 'doors open' position (regardless of the doors actually being open or closed).
i've checked connections at the interior light - all seem ok and in place
the three wires at the interior light are: Purple, Black, and Red&Purple
i've checked connections at both door switches - all seem ok and in place
the two wires at the door switches are: Black, and Purple&White.
the wires here have a 12V potential difference when the switch is in the 'door is closed' position and zero volt potential difference when in the 'door is open' position so it seems as if the switches are working ok.
i've checked all the fuses - all seem fine
i understand that with the interior light in the 'doors open' position, the light is meant to turn on until a time delay has passed or until the ignition is turned on and i believe this is all down to the relay. this is why i looked at the fuse box layout in my manual only to find that it seems quite different to the actual box in the car.
am i missing a courtesy light relay or something? any ideas of where to look would help put me out of my misery!
car has the meta alarm system if its any help.
the light obviously has 3 positions: on/off/doors open
the light illuminates when in the 'on' position and dilluminates (if that's even a word!) when in the 'off' position but doesnt illiminate in the 'doors open' position (regardless of the doors actually being open or closed).
i've checked connections at the interior light - all seem ok and in place
the three wires at the interior light are: Purple, Black, and Red&Purple
i've checked connections at both door switches - all seem ok and in place
the two wires at the door switches are: Black, and Purple&White.
the wires here have a 12V potential difference when the switch is in the 'door is closed' position and zero volt potential difference when in the 'door is open' position so it seems as if the switches are working ok.
i've checked all the fuses - all seem fine
i understand that with the interior light in the 'doors open' position, the light is meant to turn on until a time delay has passed or until the ignition is turned on and i believe this is all down to the relay. this is why i looked at the fuse box layout in my manual only to find that it seems quite different to the actual box in the car.
am i missing a courtesy light relay or something? any ideas of where to look would help put me out of my misery!
car has the meta alarm system if its any help.
spend,
you're right, the positive is common and the switched on goes to ground. here's a question about the switched ground though: if it's meant to go the the door switch, why do i get 12V across the switch when its open? this suggests that the wire coming into the other end of the switch is live. any idea how the door switches/interior light are meant to be wired up to the timer/relay and alarm? i didn't want to rip up carpets only to glue them back on again but it looks like i may have to anyway! i really hope the wiring isnt completely messed up!
tyre tread,
any idea which relay i should plug into that top right socket to test with? and which way round it goes in? looks like my choices are any of the yellow relays, on of the small black ones or the big black one!
you're right, the positive is common and the switched on goes to ground. here's a question about the switched ground though: if it's meant to go the the door switch, why do i get 12V across the switch when its open? this suggests that the wire coming into the other end of the switch is live. any idea how the door switches/interior light are meant to be wired up to the timer/relay and alarm? i didn't want to rip up carpets only to glue them back on again but it looks like i may have to anyway! i really hope the wiring isnt completely messed up!
tyre tread,
any idea which relay i should plug into that top right socket to test with? and which way round it goes in? looks like my choices are any of the yellow relays, on of the small black ones or the big black one!
v8monster said:
tyre tread,
any idea which relay i should plug into that top right socket to test with? and which way round it goes in? looks like my choices are any of the yellow relays, on of the small black ones or the big black one!
Sorry, No. My electrical kmowledge is limited but as relays are only switches one that fits should do the same job I'd imagine.any idea which relay i should plug into that top right socket to test with? and which way round it goes in? looks like my choices are any of the yellow relays, on of the small black ones or the big black one!
ETA: Steve Heath's book confirms that the relay is missing on yours by the diagram on page 243 of the 2nd edition.
Edited by Tyre Tread on Wednesday 24th November 07:53
v8monster said:
here's a question about the switched ground though: if it's meant to go the the door switch, why do i get 12V across the switch when its open?
The door switches are linked to the alarm/cdl & the timer relay in the fusebox.The timer relay outputs a different circuit to both the courtesy lights (you'll likely find loom for one under the passenger footwell as well) and the heated mirror timer relay (under the dash top - thats how you switch the mirrors off - start car & open door).
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