Damned interior light 88 Targa

[dosie]

1988 Targa...earlier thread [I can't find it] describes fixing the ever present problem with interior dome lights. I take apart the door switch, grease it, put it back, still doesn't work. I reach up to the dome light, pull it out and find that the contacts are VERY touchy...try several things, WD-40, moving the contacts, finally get tired of working with my arms way up in the air, and decide to de-wire and do a work bench re-build. Pull one wire off with difficulty...pull the next one off with greater difficulty...finally go for the last one, [right side - brown] and struggle...struggle...pull with all my might and, "B A N G"...I end up with the light in my left hand and a brown wire about four inches long [with two female ends] in my right hand. Man, this BBS gets me into more trouble...well, I'll stuff this light back in, and, what the hell, it didn't work before...it sure doesn't work now. Get in the car later and, "what the hell!"...the radio doesn't work and either does the clock...you know the chances of finding where that brown wire WAS attached? Inside the windshield frame? I cannot imagine how much this is gonna cost! Any help?
Regards,
Jim Dosen
DIYer...[I don't think so]

[zuerchers]

i dont know about the brown wire, sorry. i think its just the ground and if you can find the other end with some long nose pliers you can just reconnect. when i was changing my light assembly ( 87 targa ) i made a few sparks and blew a fuse, the clock and radio stopped working. they are all on the same circuit. maybe you can just change the fuse and get 2 of the 3 working again and deal with the light later, again.
good luck

[dosie]

Man, I love this board...

...thanks, Zuerchers, a little light on the subject helped, along with your comments. It was the ground and the other end connects to a fitting right behind the light assembly. Replaced fuse and all is right [albeit dark] with me and the pcar once again!
Jim D.

[Eric H]

I guess all us targa owners go through this... I've been through all that, too. I blew fuses, messed with the door switches, cleaned contacts on the light part, and I just couldn't quite get it to work. Finally I just bought a new one. It's worked perfectly since the day I put it in. I never did figure out exactly what was wrong with the old one... I think the new one was only $25 or $30. Good luck,
Eric H 87 Targa

[zuerchers]

i picked up the new one for $28.00, about the cheapest part so far!

[gr8fl4porsche]

I had the same problem with my 87 Targa - dome lights would not work. I replaced all the door swithes and rubber boots, cleaned everything, replaced bulbs and it still did not work. I kind of gave up and decided to replace the trunk light switch. When I did all the lights in the car started working. I not positive but I believe that the grounds on the car form a circuit.
So you might want to check the glove box, trunk, engine bay, and license plate lights to see if there are any problems.

Just a thought - I'm definitely not an electrician but occasionally get lucky with persistence.

[Targa77]

Trust me, you're not alone. After replacing both door switches, my dome light still didn't work. Tried to fix it but no dice. Finally bought a new one and it's worked ever since.

[dosie]

OK,
I hate this board...
P.O. had hood off for repair and cut the wires to the trunk light.
I cannot trace...can't find the other end. Where is the switch?
Help?
Jim D.

[zuerchers]

the switch is located on the right side hinge, between the hinge bolts. a copper connector is crimped to the wire and to the switch.