Opening rear passenger door does not trigger alert/turn on interior lighting

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Dec 19, 2010 | 04:50 PM
  #1  
I noticed that opening my rear passenger door does not trigger an alert on the screen under the speedometer. It also doesn't turn on the lighting if I only open this door. Basically the car does not know that it is open when it is. Any ideas on where to start for troubleshooting this?

Thanks.
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Dec 19, 2010 | 05:58 PM
  #2  
Check to see if the button that is pressed when the door is shut may be stuck in the "IN" position.

Or

Take it to the dealer...if it's still under warranty.
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Dec 19, 2010 | 06:34 PM
  #3  
im sure its under warranty take it to them let them change it
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Dec 21, 2010 | 12:10 AM
  #4  
If the alert is working on one rear door, but not the other, this almost has to be associated with the button-activated switch in the door jamb that sticks out when the door is open, but is forced in when the door closes.

If that button is stuck in the closed position (all the way in), you may be able to diddle with it and get it loose and working again. If you can't free the switch, or if the button is actually sticking out and no alert appears on the dash, then the dealer should replace the switch.
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Jan 24, 2011 | 01:56 PM
  #5  
Quote: If the alert is working on one rear door, but not the other, this almost has to be associated with the button-activated switch in the door jamb that sticks out when the door is open, but is forced in when the door closes.

If that button is stuck in the closed position (all the way in), you may be able to diddle with it and get it loose and working again. If you can't free the switch, or if the button is actually sticking out and no alert appears on the dash, then the dealer should replace the switch.
I fiddled around with the switch, it does not appear to be stuck at all. I am still unable to get the alert to work for the rear passenger door. All 3 other doors, as well as the trunk alert, work fine. I really don't want to bring my car to the dealer for various reasons. Does anyone know what part I could swap out to possibly fix this? I'd rather spend a few dollars to fix it myself than have to deal with the dealership...

Thanks
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Jan 24, 2011 | 01:57 PM
  #6  
Also one other note... I have no idea if this has been a problem since I bought the car or not... but I did switch over all of my interior lighting to LED. Is it possible that I shorted something/blew a fuse while switching out the lighting on that door?
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Jan 24, 2011 | 05:26 PM
  #7  
Quote: Also one other note... I have no idea if this has been a problem since I bought the car or not... but I did switch over all of my interior lighting to LED. Is it possible that I shorted something/blew a fuse while switching out the lighting on that door?
Won't be a fuse, as all four door lights will be on the same fuse. All courtesy lights come on and go off together. I don't see how your fiddling with the light above the rear door could cause this problem. Had you done something wrong there, it should affect only whether the courtesy lights work or not. From your post, I gather the light over the door still comes on when you open the door. If so, your LED work should be fine.

This almost has to be either the trigger switch in the door jamb is broken internally (you have already checked the external operation), or there is a broken or shorted wire between that switch and the Car's computer.

If the car is still under warranty, and not stolen, I would take it to a dealer. If there is a particular dealer you don't like, take it to another dealer. I understand dealer trips can be very inconvenient for working folks.

About all I can think of would be to replace the door jamb switch. If that doesn't fix the problem, then we are into wire-chasing, trying to find a broken or bare/shorted out wire. That can be very difficult. Service departments can use ohmmeters, etc, and find if a wire is good before changing out the switch, and without having to do major opening up parts to visually check wires.

But finding the problem could be tough for non-technicians like you and I.
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Jul 24, 2011 | 10:40 PM
  #8  
Unless someone has any other idea, I guess I'll have to try and bring it to the dealer. It's such a huge inconvenience that I wouldnt mind spending a few bucks on a switch, if I knew for sure that's all it needed. Is there any way to look up the part # online?
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