Interior dome lights come on by themselves in cold temperatures

[Chilledspode]

Hi Folks, this one is driving me nuts. For reasons I have yet to figure out, my 98 turns the interior lights on when it cold soaks and runs the battery dead overnight. This is not me leaving a dome light on. Shut the truck down, lock it and wait for 30 seconds and make sure all the interior lights go out. Get up in the morning and interior lights are on and the battery is effectively dead. What could possibly be calling for the interior lights that would be temperature driven (resistance change or contactor/relay closing) ? For now, I am managing the issue by using the interior light lockout switch. Thanks for any suggestions. Mark

 

[df2x4]

I would be suspicious of the door jamb plunger switches. Maybe thermal expansion/contraction is causing one of the switches to break contact?

 

[Chilledspode]

Good suggestion, I have recently replaced both of the front ones but maybe they are behaving poorly and I haven't even considered the rear ones - thanks
Mark

 

[99Wildcat]

I had a similar problem after I installed tow mirrors with cargo lights in them. I supplied a ground to the dome light circuit without realizing it. I grounded the cargo lights to the kick panels. Once the dome light module removed the ground to shut the interior lights off, my cargo light ground provided a path for current but only enough to keep the interior lights on real dim. I assume you have a ground being supplied to the circuit where it shouldn’t be. I wrote up a post to describe the system once I figured out what I did. I’ll see if I can find it and post a link.

 

[99Wildcat]

maybe this post or the link internal to it will help ya.

https://www.gmt400.com/threads/tow-mirror-cargo-light-wiring-help.46316/

 

[Chilledspode]

Thanks for the input - however my dome lights come on at full intensity so I suspect it is a switch/relay vs a leak to ground. Cheers. Regardless, off to read the link you provided!

 

[ak diesel driver]

You used to be able to buy a color matched plastic shim for the door jamb switches. I had the same problem on my 96

 

[Erik the Awful]

Also, if you replace your bulbs with LEDs, there's less chance they'll drain your battery before you discover the lights on. I bought a box of a dozen bulbs cheap on Amazon.

 

[Chilledspode]

You used to be able to buy a color matched plastic shim for the door jamb switches. I had the same problem on my 96

Thanks for this but I am not sure I am following you, though. Are you referring to a thin wear pad stuck to the door that would hold/push the plunger a little farther in ? If so, that is genius!