No Dash Lights until I open the door ?

[Joebug]

Hey out here!

Ok I have this 97 LSC I picked up recently and lastnight was the first "night" i decided to take her for a spin... so I turned on the lights and noticed none of the interior lights were working, so i opened the drivers door to check the exterior lights and the interior lights came on! I closed the door and they shut off?? i tried spooling the dimmer switch but that only operated the M/c and mileage lighting... so I figured it was something with the door,so I grabbed the bundle of wires going into the door and wiggled it around and the lights came on and off.. is there a switch in there somewhere? what type of switch is it? i dont see the typical switch you can push in and out. anybody have any idea why this might be happeneing? by the way all of the exterior lighting was working including the neon. but I cant drive around with no dash lights and they only work when the door is opened?? any info is appreciated, thanks

 

[topher5150]

If you grabbed the wiring harness and wiggled it around and the lights came on and off I'm guessing there is some wiring that has been exposed and could be shorting. The switch you are asking about is in the the door latching mechanism

 

[Joebug]

thats what I was thinking too... unfortunately

 

[Joebug]

yep you were right... I pulled the door panel off and the previous owner just slapped it back together the last time he was in there because there were several wires that were crimped and frayed causing them to short out on the metal hold down clamp. I'm just surprised it never blew a fuse being it was shorting out like that. everytime the interior lights would kick on the engine would labor for a second or two... anyway its fixed for now.

 

[97SilverLSCcobra]

Or you could have drove with the door open!