interior light

[Bones]

anyone got a simple answer for this....i've read other threads but need more info before i waste more time looking.......the door switch interior light won't go out when the door is shut and the light switch is in the correct position for this to happen......(it will if it's pushed to the central position and it stays on in the position it's meant to).....does anyone think that it's more likely to be the light switch itself i.e. it needs cleaning or is it likely to be the door switch?

[jjrowe]

I have the same problem, ever since I got the engine back in the car after a rebuild. The buzzer in the trunk has been on and the interior lights are on all the time. I unplugged the buzzer and turned the lights off. It would seem the car thinks the doors are open, don't know what that would have to do with the engine removal.

Jesse
76' 911S

[304065]

Perhaps the wire has fallen off the back of the switch and is grounding against the body sheetmetal. That or the wire has a break and is grounding out somewehere.

It's not the light switch-- a short there would result in a blown fuse. It's the door switch probably.

[dram]

I had the same type of problem. Mine is an '87 Coupe, so I don't think it is the same light, but in my case the lights stayed on when they should be off and the door buzzer buzzed all the time the key was in the ignition.

I checked the door pins first with no luck. If you just un screw them and pull them out so that they are not touching the body the lights should be out. I then pulled the lights. When I pulled the passenger side they went out. Apparently one of the terminals on the light was making contact with the body and completing the curcuit. I bent them down a little and put everything back together. No problems now.

Hope this helps.

Don

[Bones]

If you are removing the door switches hold the central black 'pin' with a pair of pliers as you turn the locking nut . I didn't know this trick and consequently the wire broke of the switch terminal and has never been seen again since!
Now at night I have a very black interior , not that that pathetic design lit up much anyway .

[jjrowe]

I pulled the lights and did not find anything out of order, though there is a third connector on the light that is not plugged to anything. This connector (male) is in the middle of the light socket assembly. It appears that the light grounds to the body at the switch when its in the always on position. When in the "door open on" position it stays on whether the socket is in the body or just hanging loose (the always on position is dead when the socket is hanging loose). Am I perhaps missing this other wire that should be connected to the third connector?

Jesse
76' 911S Coupe

[targa80]

The compartment light comes on when any door switch provides a ground for the 12 volts supplied to the light. Disconnect the wire from each door switch one at a time to see if the switch has gone bad (shorted to ground all the time). If the light still stays on then the wiring is shorted to ground somewhere in the harness.