interior lights don't work...
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 338
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From: Kitchener, ON, Canada
interior lights don't work... I was changing the cargo dome light bulb, and now my interior lights don't work. Anyone know why? I can hear this clicking sound coming from behind the glove box, but I don't know what it is. All the other lights work, except for the two map lights and the cargo light (also the glovebox light but I don't know if that ever did work). Please help.
Launching!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 257
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From: H-Town
The first guess would be check the fuses. Barring that, it may be something a bit deeper, as you mentioned a clicking sound from behind the glove box. This is the area where the BCM is located, which is what controls those lights (among many other things). Check the fuses and let us know - we can go from there.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener, ON, Canada
I was looking in the owner's manual and I can't find the fuse for the interior lights. Which fuse is it? Does it have it's own seperate fuse, because all the other lights work except for the interiors. And what is the BCM? Sorry, I don't know much about the electrontics.
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
There is no separate fuse for the courtesy (interior) lights. They all get power and ground through the BCM (Body Control Module). The BCM adds features such as the "theater" dimming as the lights turn off and the timed turn-off that prevents running down your battery if you leave a door open or a map light switched on.
The BCM is a black box about the size of a small paperback book mounted under the dash behind the glovebox. It controls a number of functions besides the courtesy lights (alarm system, keyless entry, etc.).
Check the wires before replacing the BCM (it's not cheap and has to be programmed to your car). There are three plugs on the BCM - a 6-pin green, a 6-pin black, and a 32-pin blue. The power feed for the courtesy lights is on the dark blue with white stripe wire in the black connector and the ground is on the white wire in the large blue connector. The ground should be available anytime the lights would be on. The power will vary - the BCM gradually decreases the voltage to create the dimming effect.
The BCM is a black box about the size of a small paperback book mounted under the dash behind the glovebox. It controls a number of functions besides the courtesy lights (alarm system, keyless entry, etc.).
Check the wires before replacing the BCM (it's not cheap and has to be programmed to your car). There are three plugs on the BCM - a 6-pin green, a 6-pin black, and a 32-pin blue. The power feed for the courtesy lights is on the dark blue with white stripe wire in the black connector and the ground is on the white wire in the large blue connector. The ground should be available anytime the lights would be on. The power will vary - the BCM gradually decreases the voltage to create the dimming effect.
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 338
Likes: 0
From: Kitchener, ON, Canada
Ok, so it's not the RADIO fuse, which controls the BCM. But I just found out that my doors don't lock either. So it must be a problem with the BCM, but my alarm does work. Is there anything else that the BCM controls? I'll check the wires, but I didn't do anything to them, I was just changing the rear dome light when they went out. Any help out there?
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
The BCM controls the following functions: keyless entry system, vehicle antitheft system (VATS), vehicle content theft deterrent system (alarm), audible warnings, retained accessory power (RAP), power door locks, hatch release, and courtesy lights.
The BCM actually draws power from several sources: a fusible link in the engine compartment, the PWR ACCY fuse, the GAUGES fuse, the COURTESY fuse, and the accessory circuit from the ignition switch. The RADIO fuse is actually in the output from the BCM as part of the RAP circuit (i.e. power comes to the BCM through the fusible link and then is routed back to the fuse box for the RADIO fuse).
The BCM actually draws power from several sources: a fusible link in the engine compartment, the PWR ACCY fuse, the GAUGES fuse, the COURTESY fuse, and the accessory circuit from the ignition switch. The RADIO fuse is actually in the output from the BCM as part of the RAP circuit (i.e. power comes to the BCM through the fusible link and then is routed back to the fuse box for the RADIO fuse).
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 338
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From: Kitchener, ON, Canada
So I tried to check the wires, but I don't really know how to get at them. I assume they're fine since I didn't mess with them.
The things that do work are; hatch release, alarm, and retained accessory power. And my interior lights and power door locks don't work. So I don't really know what's going on with this BCM. I'll just take it to my mechanic and see what he thinks.
The things that do work are; hatch release, alarm, and retained accessory power. And my interior lights and power door locks don't work. So I don't really know what's going on with this BCM. I'll just take it to my mechanic and see what he thinks.
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 11,331
Likes: 346
From: Jacksonville, FL (originally from Toronto Canada)
As mentioned above, have you checked the PWR ACCY and especially the COURTESY fuse? Always check the small things first before assuming a bigger problem. Also, fuses may look OK but still need to be replaced - check them with a tester or just replace with a known good fuse rather than relying on visual inspection.
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