Interior lights not coming on

[sarkie83]

right another query, but a much more minor one this time!

when I open the doors, the interior lights fail to come on (and yes, they are on the correct setting before anyone asks )
You can switch them on manually, and I know the door switches work, as the window/sunroof lights go on when you open them.

My first though is that there must be a capacitor somewhere that may need replacing which keeps them on when you first close the door?

[Brianmoooore]

Sunroof working means nothing. The switches for the lights are separate, although part of the same assemblies.
Did they stay on after the door was closed before they went wrong?
Does the central locking work?

[sarkie83]

oh, i kind assumed the switches for the switch lights would be triggered by the same thing.
they've never worked since i've had the car...so i'm not sure.
the central locking works ok - yeah

[DaveD]

I have exactly the same problem on my cabbie ..I have changed the switch to no avail..learned to live with it but I would like to fix it

[sarkie83]

same here
bump...

[shedrool83]

Mines are the same but aint looked into yet ,so will watch this thread closely.

[robsy]

check the contacts in the light fitting itself, especially where the switch flicks over as this can get out of reach or dirty -

Also try wiggling and cleaning the door contact - cant remembr if i had the same problem and my leccy windows switches still lit up - but try it anyway..

[brooklynballer]

Check the wires they might have got rotten

[Brianmoooore]

Gets very difficult trying to sort three E30s at once which may appear to have the same problem, but in reality, have completely different faults!
Aimed at all of you: Do both the interior lights work on their manual, always on position?
Does the central locking work?
Have you removed the door pin switches and cleaned them up? A small sliver of plastic can build up where the contacts make, that needs to be removed with a craft knife. While the switch is out, short the wires to earth directly.
Check the wiring in the interior lights. I've come across them where the wires have been put back incorrectly. The red/green must go to the end of the bulb at the other end from the switch, but it doesn't really matter which way around the other two go.

[BEMER_LAND]

when putting in my radio wires crossed and i lost my rev counter and the interior lights used to work but now they dont, they work on the on position but when you have them in the position to come on when the doors open they dont work it also blew something for the back lights for the heater controls, still cant find the sorce of it

[Brianmoooore]

when putting in my radio wires crossed and i lost my rev counter and the interior lights used to work but now they dont, they work on the on position but when you have them in the position to come on when the doors open they dont work it also blew something for the back lights for the heater controls, still cant find the sorce of it

For the panel light problem, you have probably destroyed the rotary dimmer switch that is part of the main light switch, but this will have nothing to do with the interior light fault.
One of the radio supply wires is fed by the same fuse as the interior lights (#21), but if this is blown they wouldn't work in the manual position.

[BEMER_LAND]

For the panel light problem, you have probably destroyed the rotary dimmer switch that is part of the main light switch, but this will have nothing to do with the interior light fault.
One of the radio supply wires is fed by the same fuse as the interior lights (#21), but if this is blown they wouldn't work in the manual position.

well the rest of the back lights are working perfect?
iv looked at fuse 21 and its fine iv changed all the block fuses (cant think of the name ) iv read other people have had similar problems where they crossed a wire for the radio and the rev counter stopped working but cant find whats the problem ?

[Brianmoooore]

well the rest of the back lights are working perfect?

That blows that theory, then! There are two bulbs that illuminate the heater panel. Which part is out?
One of the bulbs is immediately below the clock, so you could have caught this with the wiring I suppose. Maybe the bulb and its holder have just been knocked out of where they fix into?
The radio wiring fault that kills the rev. counter is when you blow fuse 21 - it feeds part of the instruments as well.
If the car is fitted with a module that delays the switching off of the interior lights there can be a few reasons why the interior lights won't work from the driver's door, but the passenger side wiring is extremely simple - just a wire to the door pin switch that earths the wire when the door is opened.

[BEMER_LAND]

That blows that theory, then! There are two bulbs that illuminate the heater panel. Which part is out?
One of the bulbs is immediately below the clock, so you could have caught this with the wiring I suppose. Maybe the bulb and its holder have just been knocked out of where they fix into?
The radio wiring fault that kills the rev. counter is when you blow fuse 21 - it feeds part of the instruments as well.
If the car is fitted with a module that delays the switching off of the interior lights there can be a few reasons why the interior lights won't work from the driver's door, but the passenger side wiring is extremely simple - just a wire to the door pin switch that earths the wire when the door is opened.

both are blown i think could be just the bulbs?
fuse 21 is fine and iv tried other things such as 3 different clocks which all work but not in my car and the wires for the pulse from the spark leads, my car has a magnetic saftey that you have to put a special key ring into a magnet thing before you start it or else it wont, could that have anything to do with it?

il have a look at that earth