Dome Light Wiring?

[sempaipaul]

Guys,

Hope you're well.

I am trying to figure out why the dome lights and the door lights (along with the trunk light) won't operate in my 1984 928S. I see that the clock on the dash works (which I believe is wired under the same fuze) and, I did check and the fuse is good. I can't however seem to get the lights to work.

Any advise?

Thanks
Paul

[Mal81]

Check out the door switch guide in the Common Issues and Fixes Thread. That's usually where the problem is.

[Mrmerlin]

disconnect the battery,
then remove the top lamps from the hatch and above the mirror,
put heat shrink on every connector end ,
and examine the lamps for melting,
any that are melted should be replaced,
best to use the VW lamps and install LEDs

[Mal81]

Another bonus with VW lamps: you can get the type with a capacitor wired in, which gives a nice illuminated entry and exit delay.

[honerboys]

these lights are weird in that it's actually the negative side that has the switch in it - so there is always power to the actual light - that's why mrmerlin suggested disconnecting the battery before working on them - you can short them by pulling them out and accidentally touching one of the hot wires to the car metal - pull one of the door switches and touch it's wire to metal - light should go on - if it does the problem is in the door switches - would be odd that all the door switches don't work but these cars are that old - if it doesn't light up then the problem is in the hot side - fuses, connections, broken wires - make sure your testing the correct fuse - also press the little switch on the light itself firmly both ways - i have found the contacts on these get corroded and won't make good contact