Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting overhead light and footwell lights

My overhead light and footwell lights won't turn off when the car is on. Seems to think the doors are still open. Any suggestions on what I could look into to correct this problem. Thanks.

Welcome onboard. Best to give car details, helps due to difference between years and models.

Try the dimmer switch if you have a late model ('99 or'00) Contique.

My car's a 96 LX V6. Do you mean the instrumentation dimmer switch? Thanks.

I have probelm once in a while, my drivers door switch for the interior lights is flaky. Look at that.


Now, lights don't come on when I open the door. I'm not going to try to fix it since it's not worht the $$ and it's not draining the battery.

It sounds like you have a short in the circuit somewhere. It's not going to be a stuck switch because if it's stuck then the lights will always be off (it can't be stuck on "open"). The footwell lights always go off when you start (IIRC), so that would suggest a short in the interior illumination switch.

I don't think it's my door switches, because with the key out of the ignition, opening either door activates the lights. The lights go off as usual after a short delay when the doors are closed. Only when the car is running do the lights refuse to turn off. A short somewhere, as davo7svt suggested, sounds to be on the right track. davo7svt, could you provide a little more detail about your diagnosis and do you think this is an easy fix for me? BTW, I have the service manual. Thanks.

Yes; in later years that switch had the ability to switch courtesy lights on, added. However, not on your car. I would suspect courtesy light relay on interior fuse panel might be the culprit although key-in warning circuit might also be at fault. I would suspect faulty component first before wiring unless you have recently had dash work done on car.

Does your key-in warning work, i.e., ignition-off but key-in and open door should give warning? Also when door is opened, then closed, key-in should kill the lights immediately before the time-delay does?

For troubleshooting this type of problem you really need the EVTM (elect/vacuum troubleshooting manual), not the service manual, to understand the circuit. Sometimes they do provide troubleshooting charts for elect circuits in service manual.

Do you have the switches in the right position?As I recall you may set them up to stay on, or to have the delay kick in after door is opened and closed, or to turn on only when door is opened.Could it be that simple? Probably not.
Cheers

Yes, my key-in warning chime works. However, when door is opened, then closed, key-in does not kill the lights immediately before the time-delay does.

I had the same exact problem before you goto ford dealer for $75 or replace fuses or any munbo jumbo !Take off you battery cable for 20 minuites! It will reset things so the lights turn off

It fixed my situation at least

Xoom