Interior Light -not working properly

[69porsche]

Gents,
My 85-911 interior lights-those lights above the driver and the passenger work, but not properly. I have not yet pulled them out from the headliner but will this weekend. they DO NOT work the front side is down(when the doors are open), but they work when they rear side is pressed down. Both bulbs work fine. I am thinking that the contacts are within the "dome light" are tarnished and perhaps the contacts are in need of cleaning....Any thoughts?
Thanks
Gordon

[spuggy]

Originally Posted by 69porsche

Gents,
My 85-911 interior lights-those lights above the driver and the passenger work, but not properly. I have not yet pulled them out from the headliner but will this weekend. they DO NOT work the front side is down(when the doors are open), but they work when they rear side is pressed down. Both bulbs work fine. I am thinking that the contacts are within the "dome light" are tarnished and perhaps the contacts are in need of cleaning....Any thoughts?
Thanks
Gordon

IThe door switch is a spring loaded contact that provides ground path to the interior light when a) the door moves enough to let it make contact and b) the interior light switch is in the appropriate position.

Peel back the rubber boot (which will probably crumble to dust anyway) and operate the switch; a spark (yeh, literally) when the door switch is operated will tell you if they're "hot". If you have to change them, be careful not to drop the wire inside the door pillar, that could be awkward.

[shking1]

I second spuggy!

[ossiblue]

Spuggy has you on the right path.

Quite often, the rubber boot which covers the door switch gets old, shrinks, and loses its suppleness, preventing the button/switch from moving completely outward to complete the ground connection to the lights. If you follow Spuggy's suggestion, simply removing the boot will let you know if that's the problem. If so, just order new boots. If not, continue with the removal of the switch and wire to check and confirm solid ground connections for that switch.

[porschenut]

Originally Posted by 69porsche

Gents,
My 85-911 interior lights-those lights above the driver and the passenger work, but not properly. I have not yet pulled them out from the headliner but will this weekend. they DO NOT work the front side is down(when the doors are open), but they work when they rear side is pressed down. Both bulbs work fine. I am thinking that the contacts are within the "dome light" are tarnished and perhaps the contacts are in need of cleaning....Any thoughts?
Thanks
Gordon

Don't the lenses have 3 positions on your car? In the 3.2 cars at least, the middle position (lens flat) is where the light comes on with the door open. The other two positions (front down and rear down) are for always on and always off. So when you said it does work with "front side is down", I'm not sure you've got it in the correct position.

[RedCoupe]

If the door switches don't work properly, the electric seat may still be "live" long after the car is switched off, and the battery can run down quickly. The door switch (either one) has to make contact for the seat to be switched off. I always make sure that the interior light goes on when I leave the car to be sure.

[Superman]

I am not clear on the problem you are trying to solve, but I just finished fiddling with mine. Here is a pic. The white plastic end goes toward the back of the car. In this removed condition, the light will not illuminate when you click the lens forward. The reason is because the fixture is not grounded against the body. On the left there is a metal spring clip visible which hold the fixture in place by engaging the sheet metal edge of the ceiling. This sheet metal spring must make electrical contact with the sheet metal ceiling in order for the light to work in 'continuous on' mode with the lens clicked forward.

If the lights are not illuminating in the lens-center position when a door is opened, then the problem is likely at the grounding switch in the door jamb. You can probably learn more by seeing which door's grounding switch is not working.

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by porschenut

Don't the lenses have 3 positions on your car? In the 3.2 cars at least, the middle position (lens flat) is where the light comes on with the door open. The other two positions (front down and rear down) are for always on and always off. So when you said it does work with "front side is down", I'm not sure you've got it in the correct position.

Yes per 85 model and manual ---Lens in center position-light comes on when door is open
forward half of lens depressed-light on
rear half of lens depressed-light off

I will get back with you later-been one of those days, appreciate your input.
Gordon

[911 Rod]

Easiest way to check the door switch is to see if the power windows still work after you remove the key from the ignition and open the door.

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Easiest way to check the door switch is to see if the power windows still work after you remove the key from the ignition and open the door.

the door switch works fine per your guidance

[69porsche]

Originally Posted by ossiblue

Spuggy has you on the right path.

Quite often, the rubber boot which covers the door switch gets old, shrinks, and loses its suppleness, preventing the button/switch from moving completely outward to complete the ground connection to the lights. If you follow Spuggy's suggestion, simply removing the boot will let you know if that's the problem. If so, just order new boots. If not, continue with the removal of the switch and wire to check and confirm solid ground connections for that switch.

Is witched out the rubber boots less than a year ago--they are flexible and the door activated switch retains it's springiness

[thisisgoodnews]

Originally Posted by 911 Rod

Easiest way to check the door switch is to see if the power windows still work after you remove the key from the ignition and open the door.

I know my door switches work, as interior lights turn on when doors opened. But should the power windows work, when the key is in OFF position?

My power windows work only in ACC position. If I put the key to OFF, they stop working, no matter if the key is in still in the ignition switch, or if the door are opened of not.

Is it wired incorrectly? Car is 1986 3.2 Carrera.

[darrin]

a relay's responsible for energizing the power window switches after turning off the engine (key off or out of ignition) and before a door is opened. Relay could have failed?