4 replies to this topic

[Minto1]

I've been replacing the courtesy light switches as they were a bit old and crap, the passenger side didn't work and the driver's side was a bit tempermental, but now that I've converted the connections to spades and connected up the new switches, they no longer work at all.

I thought it might be the earth on the switch, but I cleaned up the area where the screw goes and the screw itself so I don't think it's either of those causing the problem.

I've checked all the fuses, as well as the connections under the dash to see if anything's fallen out and everything's fine. The permanent switch on the interior light itself still makes it come on so it's not a problem with the bulb or anything. Should there only be one wire going to each? Theres two going to the passenger side but only one to the drivers side.

I've also checked the connections with a multimeter and theres no voltage coming through the wires themselves, I assume they're supposed to be supplying some power when the switches are closed (doors are open)

[Stiggytoo]

Yeah, the left hand switch will have 2 purple/white wires, one goes to the light, the other goes to the rights switch. I would just make sure the contact in the switches is clean and that they earth well. I went at mine with some emry and they now work fine.

[Minto1]

Ahh I see, so the power feed goes to the light itself, and then what is essentially the earth goes from the light to the left hand switch, so whenever one of the switches close it completes the circuit and the light comes on...

I'm not massively brilliant with electrics, but there should be some voltage across the wires, assuming you use a good earth for the multimeter, shouldn't there?

[Stiggytoo]

I think it must be an earthing issue (unless the purple/white wire has a bad connection to the bulb because of corroded terminals etc or a broken wire). You should get continuity if you attach a multimeter to each end of the earth wire with the door(s) open. 

 

What you could try is to hold a wire between what you know is a good earth and the door switch, or between the switch and light unit. Troubleshooting I'm afraid     

[Minto1]

Thanks for the help. but it turns out I was just being an idiot and the feed from the light wasn't actually connected very well, so obviously no power was going to either switch. The drivers side now works, but the passenger switch isn't doing anything so I'll go and have a mess around with that one, as it must just be the switch if the drivers side is working....