Desperate! NO INTERIOR LIGHTS

cburnscrx · February 25, 2006

Hopefully this is in the right section, if not please have a mod move it to the correct section.

1992 Chevy C1500 W/T

Okay, here’s the situation. #1. I may be an idiot. #2 even idiots need help when they are broke and drive their truck at night.

Currently, my 1992 Chevy W/T has NO interior lights. It’s kind of strange how it happened, actually. Remember point #1. As it sits now the radio works (aftermarket, and questionably wired) and the headlights work. I have not modified any wiring from when everything worked. That’s it. The dome light stays on all the time, though I have taken out the bulb at this point whereas not to drain the battery. The dome light has been this way since I have owned it and even when the other interior lights worked. I am thinking that has to do with all the dents in the top of the roof from people standing on it (before I owned it)

The reason I have no interior lights was most likely caused by me. My climate control lights didn’t light up all the way, so I thought I would “fix” them. Yea, that went well. lol. For those of you familiar with the climate control lights, you know there are three of them. The one for the hot/cold mix worked, the other two did not. I thought to myself, why not just jumper the lights and see if they work…see if the other two are just not getting power. Nothing happened, they didn’t light up. Oh well, I will just put everything back together and return to normal. I can buy a climate control later, or get someone to replace the bulbs. Unfortunately, when I put it back together, I now have absolutely NO interior lights. It’s kind of interesting, because when the headlights are off, I can see the display on the climate control and it lights up, however when I turn the headlights on the display disappears. The climate control and gauges still work, they just don’t light up. My suspicion is somehow I fried the dimmer control. After this debacle, I am leaving it up to somebody who knows more than me. That might be the most intelligent thing I have done yet. Thanks in advance for your help, and hopefully I can drive my truck again with working interior lights. (I almost solely drive it at night)

cburnscrx · February 25, 2006

Please help! I need some interior lights.

GTUSN2006 · February 25, 2006

On that body style there is a light switch on the side of the dash that the doors push in when you close them. On of those switches probably went bad. If i remember correctly you can just pop it out, go to autozone or somewhere (ot the dealership if you want to pay more) and change it out. I would open on door, manually press the switch in, and see if the lights go out. If when you push in one side the lights go out and the other one doesn't, then the door that the lights dont go out on the switch is bad.

Should cost less than 5 dollars per switch. Take about 10-15 minutes.

This happened about 5 years ago on my 1500 SS.

cburnscrx · February 26, 2006

Thanks for the response!!! I am not too worried about the dome light, I just though I would mention it. I can see if there are any switches for the door at AutoZone and try that. Thanks

I still can't read my speedometer, or any guages at night, and that's a bit of a problem. Any suggestions? I switched out the dimmer switch and that did nothing to help, I will try the headlight switch in a little bit. Again, ANY insight is appreciated.

cburnscrx · February 27, 2006

Alright, I replaced both the headlight switch and the dimmer switch, and...Nothing. The headlights still work but again, I have no interior lights with the headlights on. Help!!! Please. I am very desperate because I drive this truck mostly at night. Thanks again for all the help.

cburnscrx · March 1, 2006

Is there some kind of fuseable link or something I should look for? Anything?

cburnscrx · March 7, 2006

Bump

cburnscrx · March 20, 2006

Help! Is there anything anybody can recommend? Come on guys, I really need dash lighst!

HyperBuzzin · March 20, 2006

If the interior lights go out when you turn the headlights on, I would think you've got wires crossed somewhere.

Where, I have no idea. I'm not all that familiar with the C1500.

I wouldn't think there'd be a fusable link.

Have ya checked the regular fuses? (although I wouldn't think one of those being blown out would cause the trouble you described.)

One thing I did on an old '78 Delta 88 I have, which has no gauge lights, was to use a small, flex neck flashlight, zip tied to the steering column. (I forgot to mention that one in the MacGyver post)

Hey, atleast I could see how fast I was going !!

Good luck in finding the problem.