Wiring, Stereo & Electronics Audio Components | Radars | Alarms - and things that spark when they shouldn't

Interior/Dome lighting problem

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 17, 2013 | 08:34 PM
  #1  
98 4X4 burban's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
Default Interior/Dome lighting problem

2000 camaro

Today I replaced the BCM in my car to correct a security issue I was having. I bought a steering column with a key and key fob and the matching BCM. The problem has been corrected but another problem was created.
The dome lights do not work. everything else works properly, I can turn the map lights on with the switch on the mirror. The radio turns off when the door is opened. the dash lights dim with the dimmer switch. The hatch release works.
Every thing works,
could this be a programming issue? if so can someone tell me how to fix it?
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2013 | 09:48 PM
  #2  
bill12690's Avatar
TECH Resident
15 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 773
Likes: 2
Default

I could be way off but that sure sounds a lot like a BCM issue. Obviously it's recognizing when the door is open, and the lights DO work, but BCM is not telling them to turn on when it's supposed to. Do they light up/turn off then the car is locked/unlocked with the remote?
Reply
Old Feb 17, 2013 | 09:49 PM
  #3  
98 4X4 burban's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
Default

No they do not.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2013 | 08:02 AM
  #4  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,325
Likes: 342
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

Bill is correct - the BCM controls the courtesy lights including the theater dimming effect. The power feed on the dark blue/wire wire is working since your map lights work so check the return (ground) wire... it's the white wire in position D1 of the blue 32-pin connector at the BCM.

Sounds like you went to a lot of trouble to fix something that 30 minutes and about $2 worth of resistors could have solved.
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2013 | 09:05 AM
  #5  
wssix99's Avatar
Save the manuals!
15 Year Member
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 12,967
Likes: 389
From: Chicago, IL
Default

Is this a new BCM from GM???
Reply
Old Feb 18, 2013 | 11:45 AM
  #6  
98 4X4 burban's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
Default

Thanks for the info, I'll check it when I get home. I tried to fix the problem several times with resistors and could not get the BCM to read them.
Reply
Old Feb 19, 2013 | 10:19 PM
  #7  
98 4X4 burban's Avatar
Thread Starter
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
From: Dallas, Texas
Default

Ok here is an up date
the dome lights still do not work. I can use my power probe and give the white wire a ground and the lights will come on. i also checked the signal coming in from both doors as well as the manual switch. i thought it might have been a programming issue but that was not it either.
why does everything else work but not the dome lights?
Reply
Old Feb 20, 2013 | 07:07 AM
  #8  
WhiteBird00's Avatar
Ungrounded Moderator
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,325
Likes: 342
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
Default

It certainly sounds like a BCM problem. The BCM provides power to the courtesy lights on the dark blue/white wire almost all the time so that the map lights will work on demand. The only time it turns off the power is when it "goes to sleep" about 15 minutes after you turn off the ignition as part of the battery saver circuit. The map lights have separate ground paths through the black wire at the mirror. The BCM controls the courtesy lights by varying the ground availability on the white wire. It provides full ground to turn them on and then gradually turns up the resistance to provide the theater dimming effect until there is no more ground and the courtesy lights are off.

Since you can get the lights to work when you add a solid ground to the white wire, it is apparent that the BCM is not providing that ground. It could be an electronic problem but more often than not it is a broken solder joint on the BCM board that can be fixed by re-soldering (if you can find it).
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:28 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE