Blinking Interior Lights! [Expired Topic]

[wptower]

Has anybody had the problem of their courtesy lights intermittently turning on and off on their suburban? Have a '99 Suburban, and I hear clicking from what sounds like a relay under the dash. A few times it turned on and drained the battery over the night.

Would appreciate any comments.

[Steve]

I've not heard of this being a major issue for a lot of people. It's possible that a relay went out. They're pretty cheap if you can find it yourself and change it.

[TrailLeadr]

If your suburban has keyless entry with valet lighting, then you might want to look in that direction. But start simple, go witht he relay.

[wptower]

Followed your lead and found the source of the clicking - probably the relay. Itls about 1x5x2 and is tucked under a sheet metal pouch under the dash near the steering column - making it very hard to get to.

Judging by the size could this be a relay with the timing circuit. (The problem seems to be related to a timing circuit that keeps the dome lights on for a while after closing the doors.)

Do you have any suggestion to test this piece without taking it out first. Is there a quicker way to get to it without
taking the whole dash off? Also, are there any electrical schematics of the suburban available on the web?

[TrailLeadr]

I've got a schematic for '96-'00 courtesy light system.
http://www.geocities.com/trailleadr/96-00_courtesy.jpg
Hope that helps. Sorry, I don't have any advice on how to get to the relay short of unbolting the steering column from the dash, which will let it drop a little, and maybe give you a little extra space.

[Steve]

Have any kids with small hands and arms? Just kidding.

[wptower]

Hey Patrick - thanks for the schematic. It will let me check the wire color codes on the module before I attempt to take it out.

Steve - Thanks for the tip on dropping the steering column. I will try that although I still have my eye open for any kid with a set of spanners walking on my block.

I'll keep you guys posted.

[TrailLeadr]

No problem, anytime. :D

[Steve]

let us know how that works out. I don't think that I can say that I've ever had a relay go out that controls the lights.

[Snooze]

We have a 1999 Suburban with 37,000 miles and we are experiencing the same problem... my battery keeps going dead as well. :cry: Thanks for the suggestion to check the relay. We too are hearing all the clicking and kept thinking it was something down under the steering column.