Author Topic: Dome light not working...  (Read 30119 times)

Offline tylermaster195

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Buy it cheap, fix it up for less
Dome light not working...
« on: November 29, 2010, 12:42:40 am »
First time poster.

My truck is a 1985 c10, and you guessed it, the dome light don't work....

It doesn't work when I open the door nor when I turn the know counterclockwise. I have tested the light bulb and it's self does work. I have checked my fuses and am a little confused on to which is for the dome light? Also what should I do next in fixing my problem?

Offline Irish_Alley

  • Tim
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 13333
  • Family is not an important thing. It's everything.
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2010, 05:15:25 am »
My dome light doesn’t work now, but before they worked then I decided I needed to swap the headlight switch and after the swap they don’t work. Haven’t really needed the lights so I never cared but I think your problem might be also in the headlight switch cause even when I opened the door before the swap they worked and now they don’t
If you can’t tell yourself the truth, who can you tell it to?~Irish_Alley

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth ~Sherlock Holmes

Offline Captkaos

  • OWNER and Administrator
  • Administrator
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18460
    • http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #2 on: November 29, 2010, 05:14:51 pm »
are you getting power to the socket?

Offline 1980c10

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1205
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #3 on: November 29, 2010, 05:23:38 pm »
anything else not working? check for power to the socket, check for power to and from the switches.

Offline tylermaster195

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Buy it cheap, fix it up for less
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #4 on: December 01, 2010, 01:08:29 am »
My results were 6.5 volts with door open and switch on. Switch off door closed dropped to 3 volts. But the light doesn't come on when I place it back in. Whats going on? Shouldn't it be 12 volt?

Offline zieg85

  • Global Moderator
  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 7595
    • 73-87 GM squarebody extended cab and conversions up to 91 R/V series
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #5 on: December 01, 2010, 09:01:46 am »
Does your horn work? They are on the same circuit...
Carl 
1985 C20 Scottsdale 7.4L 4 speed 3.21
1986 C10 under construction
https://www.facebook.com/groups/248658382003506/

Offline 1980c10

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1205
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #6 on: December 01, 2010, 07:48:43 pm »
Bypass your switches one at a time, if it works your switch is bad.
oh and test your horn.
post results.

Offline tylermaster195

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Buy it cheap, fix it up for less
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #7 on: December 01, 2010, 10:26:05 pm »
Horn works. Bypass switch?

Offline 1980c10

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1205
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #8 on: December 01, 2010, 11:35:26 pm »
when you turn a switch on you essentaily connect two wires to complete a circuit, that is what the switch does for you. so take the wires that complete the circuit through the switch and connect them. (you may want to look at a wiring diagram for the light switch) if the light comes on then you know the switch is bad, if it doesn't come on you dont know. you could also check resistance through the switch for the same results, however you'll know if it's good. 

I suspect one of your switches is bad given the voltage readings, however that is a guess you could have a bad ground, corroded switch or a weak wire.

btw: this is a 12 volt circuit

Offline tylermaster195

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Buy it cheap, fix it up for less
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #9 on: December 02, 2010, 01:05:43 am »
Thats what I thought. I will look at that tomorrow and let you know the results. Whats the easiest way to get to the back of the instrument panel?

Offline 1980c10

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 1205
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #10 on: December 02, 2010, 06:41:45 pm »
Thats what I thought. I will look at that tomorrow and let you know the results. Whats the easiest way to get to the back of the instrument panel?
If your are talking about the light switch try going from under the dash.

Offline tylermaster195

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Buy it cheap, fix it up for less
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #11 on: December 03, 2010, 12:38:41 pm »
I bypassed the switch by jumping the prongs on the switch plug from the battery feed to the dome light (what I believed was the light) Still didn't come on.

Offline choptop

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2476
  • Extended cab fanatic
    • conversiontrucks
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #12 on: December 03, 2010, 04:46:58 pm »
It sounds to me that you have a ground issue. Have you pulled the housing out and looked at the connections. Honestly I haven't had one out in years so I don't remember what's back there. If you haven't found it by tomorrow, I'll pull one of mine apart and look.What year was it?
76 C10 Choptop,76 C10 Swb
85 C10, 85 K10, 85 K20,86 C10,86 K10 (all extended cabs)
86 C30 extended crewcab

Offline choptop

  • Senior Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 2476
  • Extended cab fanatic
    • conversiontrucks
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #13 on: December 03, 2010, 04:48:04 pm »
Sorry, I looked again. 85- got one
76 C10 Choptop,76 C10 Swb
85 C10, 85 K10, 85 K20,86 C10,86 K10 (all extended cabs)
86 C30 extended crewcab

Offline tylermaster195

  • Newbie
  • Posts: 13
  • Buy it cheap, fix it up for less
Re: Dome light not working...
« Reply #14 on: December 04, 2010, 12:49:54 pm »
The lights connections are pretty corroded.