Dome Light Stays On

[swampedout]

I have a very long and uneventful thread where I track the headaches of my truck's electrical problems, but I've come to a very specific question that seems like it could be quickly resolved with all the knowledge the good people of this forum possess.

I replaced the 15a dome fuse and got my dome (and footwell) light working again. However, the door switch doesn't turn it off. When I close the door, it dims a little bit like there is contact somewhere but not enough to close the switch. Anyone had this problem and know how to resolve it?

Thanks in advance,
Sam

[FuzzFace2]

I have not had this problem but do you have 1 or 2 door switches?
IIRC some trucks only had 1, left door.

Have you tried to push that button in more with your finger to see if that made a change?
Same with the other side if you have a switch.
The one that is not turning off all the way I would unscrew it and check it out.
It could be the switch is rusted and making just a little contact.

Oh last thing how old it the head light switch?
Have you tried to rotate it back and forth to turn on & off the dome light to see if that is the cause?
I have seen green stuff build up on the rheostat to cause issues.

When rebuilding my truck I just replaced the head light switch as I did not want to have to go back in to replace it later.
Dave ----

[ArdWrknTrk]

I agree, it's probably the switch in the door jamb not opening. (Or some other corrosion in there causing the problem)

[swampedout]

Thats what I figured. I closed it by hand and had the same result as closing the door. So I unscrew the exposed portion and clean it?

[ArdWrknTrk]

When the plunger extends the contacts touch.
If pushing it in doesn't break the circuit something in there has gone wrong.

[kramttocs]

May be too far in. You can remove it, slide the nut down (will likely be tough), reinstall and then shut the door. The door closing will set it to the correct depth in the nut.

[swampedout]

I pulled both switches out and fiddled with them and now they work.
Thanks for the help everyone!
Another minor victory.

[kramttocs]

Good deal.
May have already been discussed but I'd grab some dielectric grease to have on-hand for anytime you separate and reconnect a connector.

[myrl883]

Another thing to look at is the door jamb switches themselves. When manufactured, they are longer than they need to be. When installed, they "adjust" themselves the first time the door is closed. With age, sometimes they will collapse a bit, and become too short to open the circuit when the door is closed.

For illustration, google Motorcraft SW-6345 and compare the length to one of the switches on your truck.

[swampedout]

Thanks for the tip. Im sure Ill have that problem too now that theyre working