ctsy (interior) lights stuck on

fastertoyz · 09-13-2008, 11:59 AM

Hello. This is my first post. I just bought a '97 Blazer for a song and am trying to get it fixed up. It is in pretty good shape, but there are a couple little things. One is that the interior lights are stuck on.

I just pulled all the pin switches and they seem to test ok with an ohm meter. They have continuity until you push them, then not. That is how I would assume they are supposed to work.

Does anyone know if this is a common issue on these vehicles? When I got it, the previous owner had taken all the bulbs out so they wouldn't drain the battery.

I would really like to get this fixed. I tried the search fx, and couldn't find anything like this.

comics22 · 09-13-2008, 02:01 PM

is the dimmer switch all the way up?

neo71665 · 09-13-2008, 02:12 PM

In the cargo area of my blazer there is a switch that you can turn them off and on. That switch went bad and they stayed on. Also check the dimmer like said.

fastertoyz · 09-13-2008, 02:17 PM

The dimmer switch is not up.

That overhead switch in the cargo area is off. I will disconnect it and see if that helps.

Is there a mercury switch for the rear hatch? I see the pin switch for the glass, but not the actual door.

lt1s10onair · 09-13-2008, 02:25 PM

x2 on the bad dimmer switch

fastertoyz · 09-13-2008, 02:55 PM

Dimmer switch sounds reasonable. I think I'll go see I can test it.

Are the lights supposed to stay on a for a little after shutting the door (usually drivers door)? Sorry, I just got this vehicle and the owners manual says nothing about that. I was thinking it could be whatever controls that (which could be in the dimmer switch).

***orangesonoma*** · 09-13-2008, 03:18 PM

it could also be the switch in the door latch itself...there are like three plugs on the door latch in the door...one of them is the pic switch in the door

fastertoyz · 09-13-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

09-13-2008 01:12 PM neo71665 In the cargo area of my blazer there is a switch that you can turn them off and on. That switch went bad and they stayed on. Also check the dimmer like said.

That switch seems to work. It turns off the back light, that is it. That light doesn't come on with the doors or anything. I don't know if it is supposed to or not.

Quote:

09-13-2008 02:18 PM orangesonoma it could also be the switch in the door latch itself...there are like three plugs on the door latch in the door...one of them is the pic switch in the door

Do you mean in the hatch? The other doors use pin switches, afaik. There are a few plugs on the hatch latch. Are the interior lights supposed to come on when you open the entire hatch? I can't find the switch to activate them if it does. I did test the pin switch for the glass part already, and that was ok.

The dimmer light is not easily removed for testing I am finding.......I think it would easy to test once it is removed. I just have to rip into the dash a little farther.

I really appreciate the input. I'm sure this will be figured out soon now.

fastertoyz · 09-13-2008, 04:22 PM

OK. I disconnected the dimmer switch, and tested it. While testing, I noticed the interior lights were still on! I shut all the doors for a minute, and the light did not go off.

I did not figure out how the switch works though, and it could be bad. I was getting continuity from the top to bottom terminals, that's it. Switch on or off, that doesn't sound right. It probably works by grounding the circuit like a pin switch, so once that switch is removed, it is out of the otherwise functional circuit and the lights should go out.

All I can think of is a grounded wire, or something with a switch in the hatch I haven't found yet.

All ideas are appreciated!

Dave

***orangesonoma*** · 09-13-2008, 08:18 PM

in the door the latch also acts as a pin switch...if you had the truck working fine and you locked the doors... then tried to lift the handle with it locked the dome lights would turn on... that could also do it...

Hoss · 09-13-2008, 10:33 PM

Try spraying your latches with some WD-40. This was a very common problem on Ford trucks and the WD-40 worked like a charm every time I tried it, may have an effect on GM's too hopefully. One of my jobs had a 98 F-150 that was our parts truck that had to have the dome bulb removed because of this problem, and it stayed like that for a couple years. One day I walked out and soaked both latches up real good, put a new bulb in the dome light, never had another problem again.

fastertoyz · 09-14-2008, 10:43 AM

ok. Good advice. I'm going to give that a try. It has to be something super simple like that.

I also removed and tested the overhead switch in the rear. No go. It has to be those other little switches. Do you guys know if there is a switch in all the latches (4 doors + hatch) or just the fronts?

fastertoyz · 09-14-2008, 12:15 PM

That didn't do it. I guess the next thing would be to start taking off door panels and testing those other handle/latch switches. Sounds like fun... I would think that if I found the culprit and unplugged that switch, the lights would go off. I already tried the tailgate, so just 4 to go then I guess.

I am still wondering how it knows to turn on the light when you open the tailgate.

Thanks for all the ideas.

fastertoyz · 09-24-2008, 03:10 PM

Problem solved. It was the latch in the drivers door. I just unplugged it. It doesn't look to easy or cheap to put in a new one. The light still comes on when you open the door, it just doesn't have the delayed turn off after you shut the door.

On to the next problem!

Thanks all.

Hoss · 09-24-2008, 04:45 PM

Good find, glad it worked. Stuff like that makes for good junkyard replacements if you run across an S-Series with power locks, plus you can hack it apart and know how to do it before you do the same on your truck.

Kalebsmomma · 10-27-2008, 07:31 PM

This is my first post as well. I found this site while trying to figure out what is wrong with my 98 blazer. I went out of town this weekend, and my battery died. I jumped it and on the way home realized that my interior lights were on and were staying on. I turned them off using the dome override switch. Today I went out to start my blazer, and the battery was dead once again. I bought a new battery and started it up. I turned on the interior lights and they wouldn't shut off. I turned the blazer off, got out of the vehicle, shut the door, and they shut off. Does anyone know why the lights would stay on only when the vehicle is running? HELP!

09-13-2008, 11:59 AM	#1
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	ctsy (interior) lights stuck on Hello. This is my first post. I just bought a '97 Blazer for a song and am trying to get it fixed up. It is in pretty good shape, but there are a couple little things. One is that the interior lights are stuck on. I just pulled all the pin switches and they seem to test ok with an ohm meter. They have continuity until you push them, then not. That is how I would assume they are supposed to work. Does anyone know if this is a common issue on these vehicles? When I got it, the previous owner had taken all the bulbs out so they wouldn't drain the battery. I would really like to get this fixed. I tried the search fx, and couldn't find anything like this.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2008, 02:01 PM	#2
comics22 Pac is a hackin! Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 5,356 Location: Middle of freakin IL User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on is the dimmer switch all the way up?
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09-13-2008, 02:12 PM	#3
neo71665 4x4 v6 blazer Age: 28 Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 3,412 Location: rison arkansas User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on In the cargo area of my blazer there is a switch that you can turn them off and on. That switch went bad and they stayed on. Also check the dimmer like said.
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09-13-2008, 02:17 PM	#4
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on The dimmer switch is not up. That overhead switch in the cargo area is off. I will disconnect it and see if that helps. Is there a mercury switch for the rear hatch? I see the pin switch for the glass, but not the actual door.
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09-13-2008, 02:25 PM	#5
lt1s10onair Local Tech Age: 25 Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 1,332 Location: westwood, nj User is: Online	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on x2 on the bad dimmer switch
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09-13-2008, 02:55 PM	#6
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on Dimmer switch sounds reasonable. I think I'll go see I can test it. Are the lights supposed to stay on a for a little after shutting the door (usually drivers door)? Sorry, I just got this vehicle and the owners manual says nothing about that. I was thinking it could be whatever controls that (which could be in the dimmer switch).
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2008, 03:18 PM	#7
*orangesonoma* registered s10 sex offender Age: 30 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 37,723 Location: Indian Trail, NC User is: Online	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on it could also be the switch in the door latch itself...there are like three plugs on the door latch in the door...one of them is the pic switch in the door
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2008, 03:39 PM	#8
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on Quote: 09-13-2008 01:12 PM neo71665 In the cargo area of my blazer there is a switch that you can turn them off and on. That switch went bad and they stayed on. Also check the dimmer like said. That switch seems to work. It turns off the back light, that is it. That light doesn't come on with the doors or anything. I don't know if it is supposed to or not. Quote: 09-13-2008 02:18 PM orangesonoma it could also be the switch in the door latch itself...there are like three plugs on the door latch in the door...one of them is the pic switch in the door Do you mean in the hatch? The other doors use pin switches, afaik. There are a few plugs on the hatch latch. Are the interior lights supposed to come on when you open the entire hatch? I can't find the switch to activate them if it does. I did test the pin switch for the glass part already, and that was ok. The dimmer light is not easily removed for testing I am finding.......I think it would easy to test once it is removed. I just have to rip into the dash a little farther. I really appreciate the input. I'm sure this will be figured out soon now.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2008, 04:22 PM	#9
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on OK. I disconnected the dimmer switch, and tested it. While testing, I noticed the interior lights were still on! I shut all the doors for a minute, and the light did not go off. I did not figure out how the switch works though, and it could be bad. I was getting continuity from the top to bottom terminals, that's it. Switch on or off, that doesn't sound right. It probably works by grounding the circuit like a pin switch, so once that switch is removed, it is out of the otherwise functional circuit and the lights should go out. All I can think of is a grounded wire, or something with a switch in the hatch I haven't found yet. All ideas are appreciated! Dave
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-13-2008, 08:18 PM	#10
*orangesonoma* registered s10 sex offender Age: 30 Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 37,723 Location: Indian Trail, NC User is: Online	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on in the door the latch also acts as a pin switch...if you had the truck working fine and you locked the doors... then tried to lift the handle with it locked the dome lights would turn on... that could also do it...
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09-13-2008, 10:33 PM	#11
Hoss GM junkie Age: 28 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Dayton, MD User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on Try spraying your latches with some WD-40. This was a very common problem on Ford trucks and the WD-40 worked like a charm every time I tried it, may have an effect on GM's too hopefully. One of my jobs had a 98 F-150 that was our parts truck that had to have the dome bulb removed because of this problem, and it stayed like that for a couple years. One day I walked out and soaked both latches up real good, put a new bulb in the dome light, never had another problem again.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-14-2008, 10:43 AM	#12
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on ok. Good advice. I'm going to give that a try. It has to be something super simple like that. I also removed and tested the overhead switch in the rear. No go. It has to be those other little switches. Do you guys know if there is a switch in all the latches (4 doors + hatch) or just the fronts?
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-14-2008, 12:15 PM	#13
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on That didn't do it. I guess the next thing would be to start taking off door panels and testing those other handle/latch switches. Sounds like fun... I would think that if I found the culprit and unplugged that switch, the lights would go off. I already tried the tailgate, so just 4 to go then I guess. I am still wondering how it knows to turn on the light when you open the tailgate. Thanks for all the ideas.
	[Reply w/Quote]

09-24-2008, 03:10 PM	#14
fastertoyz Registered User Age: 33 Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 8 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on Problem solved. It was the latch in the drivers door. I just unplugged it. It doesn't look to easy or cheap to put in a new one. The light still comes on when you open the door, it just doesn't have the delayed turn off after you shut the door. On to the next problem! Thanks all.
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09-24-2008, 04:45 PM	#15
Hoss GM junkie Age: 28 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Dayton, MD User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on Good find, glad it worked. Stuff like that makes for good junkyard replacements if you run across an S-Series with power locks, plus you can hack it apart and know how to do it before you do the same on your truck.
	[Reply w/Quote]

10-27-2008, 07:31 PM	#16
Kalebsmomma Registered User Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 1 Location: User is: OffLine	Re: ctsy (interior) lights stuck on This is my first post as well. I found this site while trying to figure out what is wrong with my 98 blazer. I went out of town this weekend, and my battery died. I jumped it and on the way home realized that my interior lights were on and were staying on. I turned them off using the dome override switch. Today I went out to start my blazer, and the battery was dead once again. I bought a new battery and started it up. I turned on the interior lights and they wouldn't shut off. I turned the blazer off, got out of the vehicle, shut the door, and they shut off. Does anyone know why the lights would stay on only when the vehicle is running? HELP!
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