Thread: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden?

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  1. #1 Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    SE Level Member Centauri's Avatar
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    It started this morning and I noticed it on the drive to work. For the life of me, I can't think of what I might have done. They continue to stay on after I've left the car and set the alarm, but they do go off eventually (though I'm not sure how long exactly)

    Any idears?
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  2. #2 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    GrandPrix Junkie idrivejunk's Avatar
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    Might want to go see if the wheel below your headlight switch is cranked all the way to the fat end. That thing (on 97-03 GP) controls guage lighting brightness but if cranked all the way to bright, theres a detent and it switches your "dome light" on. Easy to bump the switch without knowing. Thats the manual dome light switch, its kind of a carry-over from the old days when you crank the headlight knob all the way left for inside lights. A tiptoe through the owner's manual can familiarize a driver with subtle features such as this one.
    All Grand Prix, all the time. 69 Model J, 99 GT & GTP coupes. All junk, haha.
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  3. #3 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    SE Level Member Centauri's Avatar
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    Nope, already tried checking that.
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  4. #4 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    GrandPrix Junkie idrivejunk's Avatar
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    Glad to know basics are still on the front line! You open and shut all the doors yet? I believe the door switch is in the latches on these cars. It could get complicated, I defer to higher powers and have nothing further at his point. Electrical is my kryptonite, just thought I'd ask about that switch because I found mine on the other day. It does eventually time out, does it? Hmmm... good luck with it.
    All Grand Prix, all the time. 69 Model J, 99 GT & GTP coupes. All junk, haha.
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  5. #5 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    Solving problems BrandonHall10's Avatar
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    Typically its a bad door actuator, but not always. I had the same symptoms but it was due to a different issue.
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  6. #6 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    SE Level Member Centauri's Avatar
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    Lock actuator or blend actuator?



    I've had gurgling sounds from within the dash due to, I assume, a supposedly bad driver's side blend actuator but was noticing today that the gurgling seems to have doubled.

    1999 Grand Prix GTP sedan

    Speed Daddy headers, 3.25" on a ZZP MPS, high-flow cat, 180
    ° t-stat, Autolite copper 104s, shift kit, ReptileTune...
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  7. #7 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    Solving problems BrandonHall10's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Centauri View Post
    Lock actuator or blend actuator?
    Lock actuator. Part of the latch assembly. If you have a DVOM, you can check functionality of each actuator at the BCM. No need to pull the door panels unless or until you find a bad actuator.

    Like I say, door actuator is MOST likely, but other possible causes are faulty headlamp switch, faulty BCM, or short to ground on courtesy lamp circuit.

    I can't imagine a faulty blend door actuator causing a "gurgling" sound. Usually bubbling or gurgling in the dash is from air in the heater core. Haven't had to fight that problem yet. I'll let someone else chime in on that issue.

    I'll focus on the lighting problem because I've been there before.

    Let me know if it turns out NOT to be an actuator. I can send you some trouble trees to work through to narrow down the cause.
    Last edited by BrandonHall10; 03-09-2015 at 10:00 PM. Reason: Added info
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  8. #8 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    SE Level Member Centauri's Avatar
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    I'll have to have a friend test the actuator but in the meantime I pulled the interior lights fuse and all of the lights do go off. I even switched it with another 01 fuse but my problem remains.

    I was noticing too that I can sometimes get the dome lights to go off by playing with the wheel underneath the headlamp control knob. But everything else stays on. Hmm...

    You know, this all started yesterday when I left my driver's door open after I started the car up and let it run as I walked to the mail box, which is something I've never done before.
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  9. #9 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    GXP Level Member Turbocharged400sbc's Avatar
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    I pulled the fuse on my 97 because my drivers door lock actuator switch was bad....it's cheaper to just use a small LED flashlight in the cubby hole
    ~James~ Psychotic Gearhead
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  10. #10 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    GrandPrix Junkie idrivejunk's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Centauri View Post
    I was noticing too that I can sometimes get the dome lights to go off by playing with the wheel underneath the headlamp control knob. But everything else stays on. Hmm...
    Play with it faster! Just kidding, that didn't sound right did it? The parts inside that headlight switch could just be dirty from lack of use. Do like we did back when twisting the old-school knob made the dash lights flicker... work the switch back and forth vigorously and repeatedly. That might fix it. Or at least tell you theres an issue in the headlight switch.
    All Grand Prix, all the time. 69 Model J, 99 GT & GTP coupes. All junk, haha.
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  11. #11 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    Killa Bee Scottydoggs's Avatar
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    that dimmer wheel for the dash lights, clicks at the brightest setting and the inside lights come on. iirc thats part of the head light switch, it goes bad.

    98 Buick Regal GS, F body brakes, Caddy STS wheels, tinted tails L36 bottom end, lightly ported heads, 1.95 roller rockers, headers, gen 5 N* 3.0 pulley, FSIC, 42 lb injectors, a BrandonHall rebuilt trans, DHP tuned and AEM water/Meth injection https://goo.gl/gpV5kW
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  12. #12 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    Solving problems BrandonHall10's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by idrivejunk View Post
    The parts inside that headlight switch could just be dirty from lack of use
    I suppose that's possible also. It's crazy dusty here.
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  13. #13 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    GrandPrix Junkie idrivejunk's Avatar
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    It happens to all the stuff with rheostats or whatever those spring lookin thingys are called, that dim the dash lights. Thats why I brought it up first thing, so you would notice any funny business if you cycled the switch. Anybody remember scratchy-sounding volume knobs on stereos? Same thang, just work hell outta the switch to buy time until you can replace the whole switch or clean it.

    Edit: this still might not be the whole issue!
    Last edited by idrivejunk; 03-10-2015 at 07:36 PM. Reason: added last sentence
    All Grand Prix, all the time. 69 Model J, 99 GT & GTP coupes. All junk, haha.
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  14. #14 Re: Why might my cabin lights be staying on all of a sudden? 
    GT Level Member sugaryuk's Avatar
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    I had a similar problem with my 97 years ago...turned out that battery acid had dripped onto the wiring harness that runs underneath the battery and corroded some of the wires, causing all sort of weird electrical glitches. Cleaned it up and patched the broken wires and then all was good. Might be worth taking a quick look.
    02 GT- L32/Gen V, 3.3 mps, zz 1.9's, N*, slp front to back, OverKilled, 180 tstat, 104's, K&N cai, lowered with GMMP susp, 12" PBR brakes
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