[99Yuk]

I've been living with this problem for over 10 years. Time to FIX IT!

When I turn on my overhead map light(s) and then open the door, the map light turns off. The map light sort of dims off rather than turning off instantly.

Or if the door is open, the map light will not turn on. The rear dome light exhibits the same behavior. The door panel and under dash lights come on fine and are not affected in any way.

Does this sound like a grounding problem or a fuse problem? (I checked all fuses already but perhaps i missed one)

If this is a grounding problem, where do i start?

 

[RayVoy]

Very unusual problem. Just to start, there is only one bulb, per side, the same bulb is used for map and dome.

I had to go out to my truck to check, but if I push the button to turn on the light as a map light, it stays on if I open the door.

As you know, the dome light (keeping in mind, that this is the same bulb as the map light) should come on when the door is opened and it should go out after the door is closed. It will stay on for a few seconds and then fade out.

The problem you describe, sounds like the door switch is acting in reverse, that is, putting the light out when open and letting it light when closed.

The problem sounds like it is a wiring screw up, where is the question. I assume the door you are talking about is the driver's door, same problem with the passenger's door?

If the two doors act the same, the problem is with the wiring to the lights (and not the wiring to the door).

Did this vehicle ever have an after market alarm, or remote starter installed?

 

[99Yuk]

Hey, thanks for the reply, Ray!!

"As you know, the dome light (keeping in mind, that this is the same bulb as the map light)" I have a center console in the ceiling. This is where the map lights are, one light for the driver and a second for the passenger. They have separate buttons/on-off switches, one for each map light. I have never seen them come on as dome lights when you open the door, so maybe what you're saying is the correct behavior!

Here is a picture of the console:

"It will stay on for a few seconds and then fade out." When i open the door, the map light(s) immediately goes out. But first I must have pushed the button next the the map light and turned it on prior to opening the door.

"The problem you describe, sounds like the door switch is acting in reverse, that is, putting the light out when open and letting it light when closed." The map light never comes on unless I push the map light button AND the door is closed. I always thought the map lights worked independently of the door switch. I say this because I have left the map light on and closed the door, then when the interior lights(door panel and under dash) go out a few seconds later, the map light comes back on. Actually drained my battery doing that once!

"The problem sounds like it is a wiring screw up, where is the question. I assume the door you are talking about is the driver's door, same problem with the passenger's door." Yes, any door that is opened turns on the interior lights which disable the map lights.

"If the two doors act the same, the problem is with the wiring to the lights (and not the wiring to the door). Yes, I agree with that.

"Did this vehicle ever have an after market alarm, or remote starter installed?" I do not seen any evidence of this.

 

[RayVoy]

Ok, sorry about the mis-information, did not know about the overhead console and the separate map lights. My truck (and the one before it) are as I described.

Without being able to pull the console down and take a look, I'm guessing the previous owner may have wired the map circuit into the dome light circuit.

Could the console have been a previous owner upgrade?

 

[99Yuk]

No, the console is original equipment. It contains the rear a/c controls which is factory.

To the rear of the console is a separate set of lights. These are similar to the map lights in the console. Each light swivels and each one has it's own button. Is this how most dome lights are?

BTW this second set of lights act in the same way as the console map lights. If have them on when i open a door, they turn off.