i was changing all my interior bulbs too a xenon white, and i was doing the last one left to do, and that was the courtesy light that you have to press the button for, next to the sunroof buttons. and then all of a sudden, the lights went out inside when i was taking the bulb out. the door, dome, and courtesy lights now wont work. i tried the fuse, and replaced it, but the fuse was fine, and replacing it didnt work. any thoughts or suggestions?

 

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Make sure the replacement bulbs are all the same wattage as the original one, if not you can burn out the bulbs a lot sooner or overload the circuit and melt your wires. It's the same principle as putting over-wattage bulbs in your headlights, not recommended.

As for the issue at hand:

1) even if the fuse looks fine, replace it
2) possible blown bulbs
3) melted wires or blown circuit

 

Yeah, I did replace the fuse, didnt work, I guessed the bulbs were blown, so I tried changing them to new ones, no dice. and isnt the fuse there to prevent melted wires or a blown circuit?

 

Not necessarily. The headlight circuits have fuses too but the harness or wires can melt before the fuse does. Now if the insulation on the hot side melts and touches metal or touches with the ground wire, you'll have a short and pop the fuse. Fuses only blow when there is a short in the circuit or there's too much load on the circuit than what the fuse (and wiring harness) can take.

Now you have to go to each light sockets and test the positive wires to make sure its getting 12v. If your fuse is good, as you said it is, and you are not getting 12v on the wires, then the wiring is probably melted. Test the wires for continuity from the fuse side to the bulb side. If continuity is there then you have an open in the circuit somewhere and its time to take it to an automotive electrical shop.

 

wow...all of this trouble for wanting to change my damn bulbs to xenon white...its just my luck. thanks for your help

 

Many people have had problems when replacing or messing with the door courtesy lights--you know, the ones on the bottom of the door that light when the door is opened. If one is not working, chances are you caused a short. That particular circuit goes through the window switch, and the entire switch assembly must be replaced for the light to work again. This is my understanding.

If your other lights do not work either, chances are you blew a fuse or two.

 

well, like i said, i changed the int. ill. fuse, and it was to no avail. unless there is another fuse i should be looking at? i guess i never asked which fuse i was actually supposed to be replacing, but i assumed int. ill. was it.

 

did you shut off the power like was the car off and the doors closed when you were changing the bulb.

 

the door was closed, but the car was on....its cold as he!! in these parts!

 

It happend to me when I was taking out front map light bulb out. I had to change the fuse (10A) and it was OK.

 

what fuse was it? i dunno if im changing the right fuse or not.

 

k, im going to try this again. my lights still dont work, and i tried changing th eINT ILL fuse and it was to no avail. Am i changing the right fuse?

 

Cmon, anyone? Any idea which fuse it should be since the INT ILL fuse wasnt it?

 

we had an oldsmobile, and it was the courtesy light fuse, even though there was an interior light and interior accesory fuse... hope that helps, just check for any other fuses having anything to do with accessories or lights.

 

alright cool, ill do that first thing tomorrow. Thanks for the help. Maybe ill just replace every fuse or take out every fuse in the fuse box.

 

Oh Davey. Your first and biggest mistake is working on the bulbs while they were actually turned on. Did you try the electronics fuse, one highlited in white or the other electronic or accessory fuses?

 

what about the relays in the engine bay? could any of those be giving him problems?

 

doubt it, none of them are related to interior lighting, none that i recall at least.

 

i check the engine bay fuses, and they were fine. the lights themselves werent actually on, there was power going to them though. like i said, the its sub zero here, and needed some heat, so i had the car on. but im going to go check out every possible fuse and let you guys know the results.

BTW Dave, whens the next gathering in Chi? I was there three days ago, but had no internet access. My mom now lives off of Harlem, which i believe is closer to you, correct me if im wrong.

 

Engine fuses aren't really related to the inside stuff. They are major component fuses. Check the ones under the steering wheel, dummy. We have a meet today actually, at the auto show. It actually started about and hour ago. Later we're meeting at d!cks last resort, 10:30pmish.

 

I did check those genius. I tried all of those, and none were blown other than my 02 sensor fuse, which i replaced. Looks like my interior lights are fried since nothing seems to work.