George Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 1994 Vert: Are the roll bar lights suppose to come on the when the doors are open? Seems like they would. Mine don't come on, neither does the light on the back of the center console. The rollbar lights come on by turning on the switches (possible broken ground wire going to the door switch). The center console light never comes on (possible bad bulb). Anybody know any common problems, possible causes and solutions? How about wire locations, colors and such? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldscsc Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Yes the lights are supposed to come on when you open the door(s). The center console light, I assume, is also supposed to come on with the doors opening, although I cannot confirm this as mine doesn't work (even tried a new bulb...). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontiac6ksteawd Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Sounds like he has a fuse blown if both dont work.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Mine don't work at all. I think I need a new light bar because I cannot even press in my buttons. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldscsc Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Mine don't work at all. I think I need a new light bar because I cannot even press in my buttons. The switches have gone bad. Very common problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontiac6ksteawd Posted November 20, 2009 Report Share Posted November 20, 2009 Theres a write up somewhere on here on how to replace the lights for LED's, I dont know if thats what you are looking for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willsboattail Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 What size bulbs are those? Can they be replaced with LED's of that size? Kevin in ND Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 They are glass tubes with metal connectors on the end, I'd say a rough estimate would be inch to 1/2 inch. Give or take. I found one in my junk drawer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 Theres a write up somewhere on here on how to replace the lights for LED's, I dont know if thats what you are looking for. he still has to get power there for any light to work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pontiac6ksteawd Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 Getting power there might not be the problem if it has the hot tube bulbs in there. They could have melted the contact leads. A multimeter would help eliminate the issues thou. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted November 21, 2009 Report Share Posted November 21, 2009 very good point....I was assuming the bulbs were good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gearhedd Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 Just an FYI that might be worth checking... Had the same problem on my '92 (except my rear console light DID work), figured it out when I was putting the new top on. My two switches on the light bar (push-button type) were both fried, but the lights didn't work even after I wired in a replacement switch. Turns out the wiring had been damaged sometime in the past (some of the insulation had been partially stripped off), and water had wicked up into the exposed area, corroding the wires. I was only getting about 5 volts to the light bar. Traced the wiring back, found the problem along the outside of the passenger footwell (under the carpeting), cut the bad section out & sealed the repair with shrink tubing. Finally, I replaced the two switches and the light bar now works for the first time since I've owned the car. Use a VOM and check across the two bulb terminals (for the same bulb) with the door open, or instrument dimmer switch all the way bright. There should be battery voltage across the terminals. If there's none, check the (crtsy?) fuse and/or the switches for the light bar. If you have voltage, but it's lower than batt voltage, it'll be in the wiring. FYI - if you need new push-button switches, try using ones for the rear seat lights from a 4-dr Cutlass or a late '80's - '91 Grand Am. The GA ones seem to be a bit heavier duty, and so far are working great in mine. They mount to the light bar in the same way as the originals, too (just snap in the slotted hole in the backing of the light bar). Good Luck, and let us know when you get it figured out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swift13 Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 there is some one on here selling switches at a very good price. funny thing mine had a problem happen a while back and i never got a chance to look but was driving down i-57 back home from tenn when out of nowhere all the interiors turned on and wouldnt go off until i pulled the fuse. any ideas?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galaxie500XL Posted December 3, 2009 Report Share Posted December 3, 2009 My '95 convertible was doing the same thing when I first bought it, turned out the wiring along the left hand side of the driver's foot well had been moved, and a blue wire had abraded, causing it to short against the floor pan. The wiring bundle sits right there at the driver's side kick panel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Posted December 16, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 Thank you for the suggestions. I will look for a broken wire as soon as it warms up a little as I have a 1962 International scout model 80 project in my garage at the moment. From what I understand the power goes from the fuse box to one side of the lights, through the lights to the dome light switches with a ground wire continuing directly to the the door pin switches. The dome light swithes are grounded indiviually and seperately so you can turn the dome lights on with the dome light switches without the door being open. Does this sound correct? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidHowell3633 Posted December 16, 2009 Report Share Posted December 16, 2009 That sounds correct to me. I've traced passenger door lock problems to the pasenger side footwell. The connector is laying in the lowest point where water can collect causing corrosion and a broken wire. Other than that, the center console connectors can allow one (me) to connect two lights incorrectly causing the gear indicator lights (I think it was) not to work. I did not check to see if the rear passenger light on the back of the console was affected. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Posted December 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2009 Thank you, I will check it out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pmc73gto Posted February 27, 2010 Report Share Posted February 27, 2010 service mans. are avail. on ebay. they are what you need to ans. your ques. they have all the wiring diagrams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Posted April 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 I finally found the problem- Woo Hoo. P/O had replaced The rollbar dome light switches with incorrect switches and the white wire is not connected so the the dome ilghts don't come on when the doors are opended. looks like i need to hit the j/y for some correct switches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
94 olds vert Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 You don't need switches. I had mine wired up(white wire connected) and the lights came on when the door opened. Finding a factory switch that still works is a very slim chance. There is a thread on the board where someone sells new switches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Psych0matt Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 You don't need switches. I had mine wired up(white wire connected) and the lights came on when the door opened. Finding a factory switch that still works is a very slim chance. There is a thread on the board where someone sells new switches. x100000 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GOT2B GM Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 If you want to fix it right, buy a set of these. Exactly like OEM. http://www.w-body.com/showthread.php/33843-Convertible-Dome-Light-Switches Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j_mezz Posted April 25, 2012 Report Share Posted April 25, 2012 (edited) My ears are ringing...I'm the one who's got the repro switches and LED bulbs. Just PM'd George back, if anyone else needs them let me know. To help with rewiring the incorrectly wired fixture here's a basic diagram of the wires on it... Edited April 25, 2012 by j_mezz Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Posted April 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted April 26, 2012 Thanx J_Mezz I will follow the diagram on install. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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