Interior/Dome/Kick Panel Light's stay "On"!

[Ghost~3~]

Need some "HELP" on my Bro's '79....Interior Dome/Kick Panel light's will NOT turn "OFF" !! Currently he has pulled all the light Bulb's out in an effort to keep the battery from going dead while in the garage.

I'm suspecting the trouble to be in the headlight switch??

He doesn't have a Service/Repair manual of ANY type for his car, which I told him to get BEFORE, I go tearing into his car!

Any Ideas/Help would be "Appreciated" Thank's!

 

[mkapp7879]

Courtesy delay timer.
I see them occasionally on ebay for like $75, sometimes one pops up for under $20.
There's a way to bypass it and lose the delay feature. I've never done that but I'll see if I can find that info, or someone else may post it.

 

[ßill]

Is that behind the glove box?

 

[DeeVeeEight]

Is that behind the glove box?

I believe it is in the center console, though the one in the picture is not.

Check the headlight switch - the shaft rotates for the dash light dimmer switch and interior courtesy lights function. Also check the door jamb plunger switches for correct function. After that I would suspect the timer.

 

[Yoda]

Brian ... Long time ... you still in California??

I am not familar with the 79 timer, but on the 1981 the magic little box for the light timer delay is located behind the glove box, on the right side, usually just above the wiring harness. Need to take the glove box cardboard liner out for easy access

Also, you should be able to Unplug the delay timer in glove box and jumpered white to white right into the harness. Lights should work with door opening and or headlight switch, and no time delay .

Get that Electronic Wizard "ßill" down there to fix it :dance ßill

Bud

 

[Ghost~3~]

Courtesy delay timer.
I see them occasionally on ebay for like $75, sometimes one pops up for under $20.
There's a way to bypass it and lose the delay feature. I've never done that but I'll see if I can find that info, or someone else may post it.

Thank's MKapp, that's at least a "START" to knowing what it look's like, or what the problem is!

 

[Ghost~3~]

I believe it is in the center console, though the one in the picture is not.

Check the headlight switch - the shaft rotates for the dash light dimmer switch and interior courtesy lights function. Also check the door jamb plunger switches for correct function. After that I would suspect the timer.

Thank's!! DeeVee, I'll check BOTH Places!!

 

[Ghost~3~]

Brian ... Long time ... you still in California??

I am not familar with the 79 timer, but on the 1981 the magic little box for the light timer delay is located behind the glove box, on the right side, usually just above the wiring harness. Need to take the glove box cardboard liner out for easy access

Also, you should be able to Unplug the delay timer in glove box and jumpered white to white right into the harness. Lights should work with door opening and or headlight switch, and no time delay .

Get that Electronic Wizard "ßill" down there to fix it :dance ßill

Bud

Hey Bud!! Yeah....Still in Cali for the time being... I, Retired from OPD Cop Car Repair Shop in Sept, Thank's for the Info...I'll take a look behind the glove box, and see if it's there???

 

[Vettehead Mikey]

You already checked the switches in the door jambs?

 

[mkapp7879]

Thank's!! DeeVee, I'll check BOTH Places!!

It IS behind the glove box.

 

[Ghost~3~]

OK Guy's....Problem "SOLVED"!! thank's to MKapp's Pic and Yoda's advice, on jumping "White to White" the interior light's and Licence plate light are back to functioning ON/OFF with the Headlight switch, all we lost was the "Dimming"
feature for the time being.

I told my Bro, to join the site, as there's alway's "SOMEBODY" here willing to HELP!

Thank's to ALL for the assist!

 

[TimAT]

If unplugging the timer fixed the lights staying on, but you lost the dimming for the instrument lights, then your problem is most likely the headlight switch.

 

[Ghost~3~]

Tim, actually I should have said....The "DELAY" feature in turning the interior light's off !! NOT "Diming" My Bad!! :duh

 

[withoutremorse42]

Fixed the same problem on my '80 today. Dome light was staying on constantly so I removed the timer box behind the glove box and jumped white to white. Works now, minus the timer feature.

 

[antique78vette]

Yes sir that's the one!!!!

I had the little square replaced a few months ago in my 78, it was behind
the glovebox on top of the ac/heat duct. Funny, after I watched the man replace it I could have done it myself......go know.............of course I was a c3 rookie then.


Good luck


mike