Help! Short in interior wiring????

[Kenny2964]

I just came across this board and it's got so much information! So i'm hoping someone can help me with this. I purchased an '84 Vette about a year ago. I knew it needed some work, but i've come across something i know nothing about. There seems to be a short in the wiring someplace that causes my interior (side) lights and the light under the trunk to stay on. At first it would go on and off once in awhile, now they stay on! I have to pull the fuse when i'm not driving it so they'll go off. But even then something is still drawing power as my battery will go dead if it sits too long without starting it. My son is an electrician, so he suggested that i try to get some ideas so he would know where to begin looking for it. Has anyone else had this problem?? I appreciate your help!!
Ken

 

[rlg]

The first suggestion you are going to get is buy a Field Service manual ! And I am here to tell you that it will be the best investment you could make.

on my 90 the interior lights stay of for a while then go off. In most cars This is done by using a time delay relay.The relay might be bad. I have no idea where it is on a 84 but a FSM will show you.

 

[So Bay Vetter]

Are they staying on while you drive? I've had a sticky door switch cause that. WD 40 in the switch and all is fine.

 

[Kenny2964]

I appreciate your responses...i did buy a manual for it. And, i also tried the WD40 on whatever i could find that might cause it - yes the lights stay on while i'm driving. My son thinks it's somewhere else in the wiring he's just not sure where to start looking. Yes, i'm trying to avoid taking it somewhere to have it checked out as i can't afford to do that right now

 

[So Bay Vetter]

Try pressing the door switch button with the door still open. If the lights stay on when the door switch is pressed in, then it's probably a bad switch.

 

[gmjunkie]

Try pressing the door switch button with the door still open. If the lights stay on when the door switch is pressed in, then it's probably a bad switch.

I agree!! Probly have slammed the door too hard and knocked the switch out of adjustment!! We fixed bucket up Saturday night!!

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/955270-post9.html

 

[Paul Higg]

I JUST replaced my switch. Do you have a DOOR AJAR light on the dash on? It sounds like an intermittent door switch OR a wire to it being chafed. Let us know about the DOOR AJAR light.

Paul

 

[bucket]

Junk is the man..!!!
that little button is a two piece affair with an attitude..
but can be easily fixed with a well placed fingernail....
no joke

 

[Kenny2964]

If the door switch (button) is the problem, would that drain the battery?? And how do you adjust the switch? I appreciate all your help!

 

[Paul Higg]

If the door switch power wire is shorted it would drain the battery.

The switch works like this. It is a two wire system. It is normally electrically open when the door is closed. So power is standing at one of the pins waiting for the switch to close (door open) to complete the circuit. If you had a slight short to ground on the power side, meaning a chafed wire with maybe one or two strands of wire, it would drain the battery. If it was a direct short, meaning all the strands went to chassis ground it would blow the fuse.

If the wire circuit was open (as was my case with a bad switch) you would not get a DOOR AJAR light nor would the interior lights come on when the door is opened because when the door is opened the switch is closed.

You cannot "adjust" the switch. You could possibly pull the tiny, round, center piece out with some small needle nosed pliers and then open and close it by hand a few times which may jar it but all your doing is delaying the inevitable where you have to replace it. Which is really quite easy if you use the FSM.



Paul

 

[gmjunkie]

If the door switch (button) is the problem, would that drain the battery?? And how do you adjust the switch? I appreciate all your help!

Yes,It can run the battery down even if the Courtesy light fuse is pulled!! I'll post photos and how to troubleshoot and adjust switches in the morning!!I have to go to Charlotte to pick up my Grand Daughter,she is coming to help Paw Paw for Easter Vacation!!

 

[bucket]

i pulled my fuse when this happened to me..
then i called "Junk" and he talked me through pulling out the center section of the door switch..problem solved.
it's not and electrical short, but rather a simple mechenical, problem..
to replace the switch..the outer and inner door panels must be removed..major hassell to put off as long as possible.
if you say it's easy i'll take your word for it..for now
steve

 

[bucket]

i dont celebrate easter but i do celebrate easter candy..

 

[Paul Higg]

JUNK!!! She's adorable!

Man, I wish I could SEE my kids, my ex-wife is so cruel and full of hatred and jealously toward my new wife of over two years that I cannot even CALL or SEE mine :bash. And she divorced me!

You are right about what you said about the fuse out and running down the battery!

 

[Paul Higg]

Hey Junk, did you steal my car? I gotta check my garage!!!

 

[bucket]

it's been 20 years now since my ex wife made it impossible for me to see my beautiful daughters...it seems the court system is busy all about finding money and is'nt concerned about the mental and spiritual health of our offspring..
i cried a couple of bathtubs full of tears...(and still cry but not every day)
these trials only led to my salvation.
through God's grace and mercy i will once again see my babies and we spend all eternity together...Amen

 

[Kenny2964]

Wow, thanks for all your help! I'm going to work on this on the weekend when i get some time. I'll let you know what happens!!

Junk - nice pic of your granddaughter (and the car!) I have two grandkids living in Germany now because my son's in the Army (he's in Iraq now, for the 3rd time!). So i don't get to see them much, only on the webcam every weekend! But, they are home now because my son had his mid-tour leave so they all met here, which has been really nice! He's back in Iraq now and his wife and kids are still here for a couple more weeks.

Bucket - i'm sorry to hear about your problems with seeing your daughters. You'll be in our prayers that something happens that you'll be with them again soon. If it's in God's plan it will happen.

I'm really glad i found this message board...i'm sure i'll be here quite often! Thanks!!!

 

[Paul Higg]

Kenny, welcome to the board. A fellow Christian. There are many here.

Have a blessed day.

If you need any help with your car this is the place to go. You will not find another place with so much knowledge or experience.

Yours in Christ Jesus,

Paul

 

[Kenny2964]

i pulled my fuse when this happened to me..
then i called "Junk" and he talked me through pulling out the center section of the door switch..problem solved.
it's not and electrical short, but rather a simple mechenical, problem..
to replace the switch..the outer and inner door panels must be removed..major hassell to put off as long as possible.
if you say it's easy i'll take your word for it..for now
steve

I replaced the door switches on both sides. I'm not sure what you mean by having to remove the inner and outer door panels as there's nothing there...my switches aren't in the door. Maybe mine is different being a 1984? Anyway, it didn't work. My son thinks maybe it's in my light switch on the instrument panel (that turns the inside lights on and off). I removed the panel to get to it easier, and when we wiggle the switch the lights would flicker (get dimmer then brighter), so we're thinking this might be it. But it's so hard to get to the wiring to check it out! Any other ideas??? This thing is really starting to upset me...;help

 

[gmjunkie]

I replaced the door switches on both sides. I'm not sure what you mean by having to remove the inner and outer door panels as there's nothing there...my switches aren't in the door. Maybe mine is different being a 1984? Anyway, it didn't work. My son thinks maybe it's in my light switch on the instrument panel (that turns the inside lights on and off). I removed the panel to get to it easier, and when we wiggle the switch the lights would flicker (get dimmer then brighter), so we're thinking this might be it. But it's so hard to get to the wiring to check it out! Any other ideas??? This thing is really starting to upset me...;help

OOps,The earlier models had 2 switch's 1 in the jam at the front of the door,1 where the later models are at the back!! The 84 switches are all by their self as far as PT #'s !!,85-87 have switches in the same location but are different PT#'s,and 88-89 have the same location,but different PT #'s!! 90-96 have switches just at the back of the door and are all the same PT# from 90-96!!:W:W:W

It could probly be the the light switch though if the lights flicker when you wiggle the switch!!
Illustration below is 84-89 door out of the GM Y Body Parts and Illustration catalog! There should be 2 Switch's #60 and #26