danglerb

Good candidates for LED replacements.

CaseyH

I realize I could buy LEDs, but I'd like to get the problem fixed. I have too many projects right now to add another on the list. I thought this was a pretty common problem, as it is usually one of the first places people recommend to check. What is the best way to fix this?

WICruiser

I think that the interior light that must be manually turned off to prevent it from being illuminated tells the story. You have a dorr switch problem and all the lights that are functional stay on when they should shut off when the door is closed. I think you said you do not have the passenget door switch installed right now, but I would guess that doesn't prevent the passenger door from getting power as a result of the drivers door switch (same as the other interior light that you are turning off manually).

CaseyH

So...what is the best way to fix this? Can I just disable the switch for the door warning lights, or do I need to hook the passenger courtesy light up?

Bill Ball

Just FYI, in my 89, the underhood light only works when the parking lights are on. I think that is true up through 90. Check your owner's manual.

Charley B

Bill B Thanks Bill. It's cool how you help me out on something perplexing me, even when I haven't asked. I think I've thrown away two good bulbs working on that damn hood light.

StratfordShark

On my 88 S4 the under-hood (bonnet in BritSpeak) light works when the parking (side) lights are on. To get mine working needed a new bulb and a thorough clean of the socket using fine sandpaper. It's very useful when you need to quickly check something at night.

The interior light switch contacts (the 'triggered' contact more than 'always on', I expect because it's mostly in that position) do seem to just fail with age as the sprung contact loses er springiness. All of mine bar the rear seat light are now working but I had to buy 2 brand new ones from 928 Intl (very cheap) to fix. The rear seat light doesn't work when you open a door, only in always on position. I got same result picking up an old interior light on eBay. I haven't been bothered to test that eBay light properly but I bet I'll need to buy one more new light. It's tricky to check the lights in the car with power on, as it's all too easy to blow a fuse when a flying lead touches something so the easiest fix just seems to be to buy brand enw lights.

Adrian

Mrmerlin

brand new lights will work for a long time if they are not kept on for a long period IE when the car goes in for service and the door is laft open if the light stays on for a longer period of time lets say longer than 10 minutes the plastic can start to melt and then all kinds of strange elex problems develop including have a hot wire break off of the light fixture and shorting out the harness most likely on the light over the mirror I recommend that you take some heat shrink and cver every lead with it so the heat shrink passes the ends of the plugs on every light fixture , and turn off the lights when you have a door open for a long perid of time, Stan

CaseyH

So, are the red warning lights, or whatever you want to call them, connected to the courtesy lights? Is it possible they are staying on because my courtesy light isn't hooked up? This seems odd to me, but it seems like thats what you guys are saying.

CaseyH

This problem still isn't resolved. How can I fix the light so it does not stay on all the time?

Thanks

WallyP

Casey,

The interior lights have three positions, selected either by switches on the light, or by swiveling the light lens:
- OFF
- ON
- AUTO - ON when a door or the hatch is open (and for a short period after they are closed on later cars), OFF when the doors and hatch are closed.

The red warning lights on the door edges have no switches - if the interior light circuit is grounded by a door or hatch switch, they are on.

If your interior lights don't work properly in the AUTO position, you probably have a bad door or hatch switch. Until you fix the faulty switch, you will have a current drain that will cause you problems.

You said, "My passenger side courtesy light is not even hooked up right now. My driver's side light works in both positions. My under-hood light does not work, I assume the bulb is just burned out.

My rear light between the rear visors only seems to have two positions. In one position the light is always on and in the other position the light is always off. There is a third position for the light, but the light still stays on even when both doors and the hatch is closed. So I always have that light in the off position."

Having that light in the OFF position does nothing to turn the door edge lights off. Check the switch in the bottom of the hatch lock receptacle first...

CaseyH

Well, today I just removed the bulb. It doesn't really serve much of a purpose and when the little "plunger" is depressed all the way the light still stays on. The light should never be on when that "plunger" is depressed all the way.

CaseyH

Just for future Rennlisters that might have a similar problem--removing the bulb has fixed the problem. I was worried there might be some other factor, but there isn't. The car starts up great every time now. I'll have to take a better look at actually fixing it later...but all I care about for now is being able to drive my car without worrying about it not starting.