Dome light issue

[TRACKMKIII]

When I open my door dome light doesn't come on, but when I press the button for the individual lights they come on. I tried the dome light with the switch in the middle in both positions. When I open the door the red lights that are mounted on the door come on. Is there a way to test the switch the is attached to the dome light or the switch that controls it from the door?

[IJ.]

It's a crap ground inside the dome light that does it!

[Yellow 13]

I think I do remember a ground up there. Just pop the cover off and remove the three screws to check.

[IJ.]

It's the grounds under those screws 13! ;)
(Mine didn't work since I got the car in 1997 and I only got around to fixing it a few weeks back)

[xarewhyayen]

would that be the same issue if the light comes on if i operate outside drivers door handle and also works if i open passenger door from inside or out, but the opening of the driver side door from the inside doesnt trigger it. Tricky tricky my little supra u are

[Yellow 13]

would that be the same issue if the light comes on if i operate outside drivers door handle and also works if i open passenger door from inside or out, but the opening of the driver side door from the inside doesnt trigger it. Tricky tricky my little supra u are

I think theres a switch thingy on the back of the handle that may be your culprit. If not do what I used to do and take the door panel off and jiggle stuff around till it works. I miss being a 16 year old mechanic.

[xarewhyayen]

im starting to think that my door sensor ( the one that says if the door is open or closed) is broken... i think i may get into that with a multimeter and see what it tells me. The light DOES operate if i pull up the handle from the outside.

[isnms]

it's the rivets

Check if the dome light works with the buttons. The buttons provide direct ground.
That only leave the rivets. If you have 12v at the connector but not inside the assembly then that rivet is bad.
Same for ground. If you get 12v inside the assembly but it does not come on with the door open then the rivet for ground is bad.

What I did to fix it. Drill out the rivet. run the wire through to the back. Silicone the hole. Put new spade connectors on both sides - wiring harness and assembly. Wa'la dome light works :)


courtesy of Oper8or
the rivets are in the grooves above the letter C. the wires are attach to them.
disregard the circle
http://users.adelphia.net/~oper8or/domelight2.JPG

[chuck_norris]

Ain't you seen my movies?

[Yellow 13]

Chuck Norris dont drive a supra.

[chuck_norris]

I drive the bad guys into the ground...

[89jdm7m]

thanks a lot for the tips, and pics guys, although i didn't even ask for em :) I now have working dome lights, after nearly 3/4 a yr. of having my car :biglaugh:

[IJ.]

thanks a lot for the tips, and pics guys, although i didn't even ask for em :) I now have working dome lights, after nearly 3/4 a yr. of having my car :biglaugh:
Owned mine since 1997 and only got em working this year ;)!

[89jdm7m]

haha, wow, that's a LONG wait... :nono:

[IJ.]

LOL had no ida why they didn't work and couldn't be bothered trying to trace the wiring and 27 relays Toyota use ;)!

Saw a post here on how to fix it and bingo we have light!

[89jdm7m]

LOL had no ida why they didn't work and couldn't be bothered trying to trace the wiring and 27 relays Toyota use ;)!

Saw a post here on how to fix it and bingo we have light! lol, i used a circuit tester, and the connector that connected to the 2 prongs on the light housing had power, but it wasn't transfering to the other side... so, even without this thread i woulda fixed it eventually, but this thread helped a lot :thumbup:

[IJ.]

I had NFI how the cover came off and knowing Toyota they're $1000 and special order from Japan so it helped me to ;)!

[89jdm7m]

I had NFI how the cover came off and knowing Toyota they're $1000 and special order from Japan so it helped me to ;)!
lol, i found that out on the mkiii group on myspace before i joined this :icon_bigg

[IJ.]

I was still a bit freaked out by how much pressure I had to put on 20 year old plastic!

Was worth the effort in the end though as it's always bugged me :D

[Big Wang Bandit]

I guess im lazy and went and bought one from a junkyard.

[87CandyBlueT]

My dome light and cig lighter have not worked since I've owned my supra. I checked and replaced the fuses(they didn't appear blown but i replaced them anyway.) after just seeing the name of this post I went into the garage and pulled the dome light cover off (I know what ya mean IJ, when it came loose my hand went almost all the way down to the shifter.) Anyway both bulbs were blown. So I got new ones and put them in a few hours ago. Messed with the wiring a little. Still nothing, I would like to resolve this issue but do not know where to look. I looked at the wiring diagram here:
http://www.cygnusx1.net/supra/library/Wiring/index.html
Any Ideas or steps to diagnos it?

[IJ.]

9 times out of 10 it's the little ground strips under the screws CBT.

[89jdm7m]

do you know what a circuit tester is... if so, test the connector that plugs to two prongs on the light housing (you have to look under the whole housing by unscrewing 3 medium size screws) there will be a connector that runs to the housing, it has red and black wires... first see if you're gettin electricity to the connector, then check the wires on the under side of the housing and see if there's a charge. Most likely there isn't. there are 2 rivets that hold the 2 prongs on the top side of the housing and link the ground and live wire to them on the other side, they tipically go bad, so the sollution is to drill them out, and run wires from the under side to the top side, and connect them somehow... there's kinda a pic of where the 2 rivets are on the 1st page

[89jdm7m]

if you want pics, i guess i could take some real quick

[isnms]

87CandyBlueT - Does the vanity mirror light work?
If so; the problem is most likely in the dome light assembly i.e. the rivets.

[87CandyBlueT]

87CandyBlueT - Does the vanity mirror light work?
If so; the problem is most likely in the dome light assembly i.e. the rivets.

Vanity light mirror not sure what that is?


and 89jdm7m yes I would like pics.

[isnms]

passenger visor mirror light

[87CandyBlueT]

yep it works. Also what about the cig lighter if anyone has ideas for it, I really need the radar detector.

[IJ.]

CBT: Make sure the connector on the back of it is plugged in!
(It's not a locking plug as can come adrift if you've been working in there)

[89jdm7m]

gimme like 30 mins. i'll go snap some pics :icon_bigg

[87CandyBlueT]

Awesome, yea and friend here at the community told me to check that a few weeks back it's all hooked up with the little clip/plug attached.

[IJ.]

Second Clip done up?

Fuse blown?

Sometimes the socket rusts up a bit try twisting the detector plug around a bit in it and see if it comes on.

[87CandyBlueT]

not sure about the second clip as I only dissemabled enough to make sure the clip on the back of it was secured.

I checked and replaced fuses (they didn't appear blown but changed to be safe and to eliminate as a problem.)


Also i do not have a circuit tester with me a lot of my tools and things are still at my parents houses.

Thank you so much 89jdm7m Pictures are always easier to work with.

[89jdm7m]

in this pic, red arrows point to 3 medium size screws needed to remove the whole housing... blue point to 2 small screws needed to remove the metal piece w/ the buttons on it

[87CandyBlueT]

Awesome thanks, I thought the tiny screws would have to removed as well when i was looking at it replacing the bulbs. 3 easy to get screws =] Thanks again.

[87CandyBlueT]

Removed the dome housing. The wires seem to be fine. I need a tester! lol maybe I'll pick one up tomorrow. Been messing with it, still yet to see the light :(



http://www.necro-inc.net/domehouse.jpg
http://www.necro-inc.net/domehouse2.jpg
http://www.necro-inc.net/domelight3.jpg (I wonder why theirs tape here... hmmmm...

[isnms]

does your dome light work when using the individual buttons on the dome light? (when fully installed)
if so you are getting 12v there (vanity light working indicates 12v getting there) and the buttons provide direct ground.

now; with the door open and the assembly connected - wiggle, move, massage the spade connectors, if you can get to them, or the wires underneath and see if the lights come on.

if they don't come on, try opening the other door. you may have a bad door switch.


the tape is fine.

[89jdm7m]

:-/ ok, it's official... the site won't let me upload any more pics.. period, i've resized em like 50 times, i dunno what's wrong

[89jdm7m]

in your dome light pic #2 the 2 rivvets are in the top right hand corner... they're in 2 u shaped grooves, and there's 2 black wires and one white one running to em, they go to the connector ont he other side. just drill the rivets out and link the prongs that go into the connector to the 2 black wires and one white wire on the other side.

[87CandyBlueT]

in your dome light pic #2 the 2 rivvets are in the top right hand corner... they're in 2 u shaped grooves, and there's 2 black wires and one white one running to em, they go to the connector ont he other side. just drill the rivets out and link the prongs that go into the connector to the 2 black wires and one white wire on the other side.

My dome light doesn't work at all not even pushing the individual buttons. It hasn't worked since I've owned the car neither has the cig. lighter.

[89jdm7m]

i know that, neither did mine... trust me, just find a way to get around the rivets, and i'll bet ya $500 it'll work

[87CandyBlueT]

i know that, neither did mine... trust me, just find a way to get around the rivets, and i'll bet ya $500 it'll work
Sorry If I'm stupid, but I don't understand what to do with the rivets. I do understand the rivets your talking about the ones that go the switch that goes left to right. I drill them out and then do what exactly. Sorry for so many ?'s but I'm not getting it?

[89jdm7m]

it's cool, just link the prongs on the underside to the wires on the other side some way with a wire (sauter, wrap wire around the prongs and connectors on the other side) basically wou're gettin rid of the rivets (they serve as connectors) and connecting the wires and prongs using another method (for some reason the rivets stop transfering current)

[87CandyBlueT]

Alright thanks, I get ya now. I'll try and get it fixed when I get home from work. I'll let you all know how it goes. Thanks again for everything.

[IJ.]

it's cool, just link the prongs on the underside to the wires on the other side some way with a wire (sauter, wrap wire around the prongs and connectors on the other side) basically wou're gettin rid of the rivets (they serve as connectors) and connecting the wires and prongs using another method (for some reason the rivets stop transfering current)

It's just the age old electrolytic reaction between the different metals used in there that causes corrosion at the rivet.

Give it a bit of a wiggle or a tap with a punch and it'll come good.

[Allan_MA70]

that soooo needs replacement with LED's

[87CandyBlueT]

I don't think LEDs would be much brighter at all.

[boltpride05]

Hey well might shiats dont even work so what should i do first? dumb question i know but i want to do it right

[89jdm7m]

^^^^^ :wtf: that makes NO sense at all

[Kai]

My 'dome' lights dont work either - and theres no vanity mirror to check. I was under the impression that if the integration relay was bad, then that would cause it.

Am i correct in thinking then, that the rivets are the interior lights 'path to ground'? If so, would *any* ground point on the bodywork be just as good, cause i really dont know how to drill out rivets :S

[isnms]

does it work with the individual buttons?

if not then it's your 12v line that has the problem.

The buttons provide a direct ground on the assembly screwed into the roof. The ground on the harness connector is provided by the door switch.

[Kai]

does it work with the individual buttons?

if not then it's your 12v line that has the problem.

The buttons provide a direct ground on the assembly screwed into the roof. The ground on the harness connector is provided by the door switch.

Buttons dont work either :(

Relay or other bizarre problem? Cause the door lights work, as does the footwell, boot and the key light...

[isnms]

then it's the 12v line
either it's not getting there or the rivet on the 12v connection is causing your problems

[MKIIITrbo89]

Just got around to messing with my dome lights. Initially nothing worked, but my vanity mirrow does work. I took it apart and just played around with the wires. Now the dome lights work when the door is open. However they do not work when the seperate button for each light is pressed. Is this the rivet issue?

[Mr.PFloyd]

mine has a small water leak from an improper windsheild install which cause rust which caused the leak... i took em out. i dotn need em anywya, got a big ol flashlight anyway...

[isnms]

Just got around to messing with my dome lights. Initially nothing worked, but my vanity mirrow does work. I took it apart and just played around with the wires. Now the dome lights work when the door is open. However they do not work when the seperate button for each light is pressed. Is this the rivet issue?
Are you testing the buttons with the assembly mounted?
The buttons get a direct ground from the mounting screws. If they work with the door, you know 12 is getting there. It's something to do with the button ground.

[MKIIITrbo89]

I actually only had one screw in when I tested it. I put in the other two and now the individual buttons work. I really did not do much except fiddle with the wires. Hopefully it will continue to work.

[IJ.]

I actually only had one screw in when I tested it. I put in the other two and now the individual buttons work. I really did not do much except fiddle with the wires. Hopefully it will continue to work.
That's exactly how I fixed mine :)