Car interior lights not working? Here's what you need to do!

When your car's interior lights do not function, it becomes an annoyance, or your safety could be at stake as a worst-case scenario.

This article from Philkotse.com will help you determine the possible causes of failing interior lights and the possible solutions to fix the problem. 

What is interior lighting?

Car lighting has two types. First, the interior lighting and the other is the exterior lighting. Exterior lighting is the lights in the outside part of your car, like headlights, taillights, and the like.

The interior lights of a vehicle, from the term itself, interior, pertains to the lighting inside an automobile.

The interior lights of a vehicle pertain to the lighting inside an automobile

>>> For your information: Car lights and the importance of checking them regularly

What are the different car interior lights?

Car interior lights have their distinct purposes. Dashboard lights enable the driver to clearly see the instruments, especially at night, for instance, the speedometer. Most of the time, it can be adjusted to avoid night blindness.

Dashboard lights enable the driver to clearly see the instruments, especially at night

Dome lights are typically found overhead to brighten the car at night. Map lights are situated near or on the visors and initially designed to assist in reading the maps physically during nighttime.

Dome lights are typically found overhead to brighten the car at night

Other cars feature specialized car interior lights like stepwell lights that facilitate the driver to prevent stumbling when getting into the car at night.

Others also have interior lights called "welcome mat" that shows a logo or simple lighting on the ground once you open the door.

How failures in a car's interior lighting happen

Circuits involving car interior lights could be composed of one or several circuits depending on the vehicle. Aggregate switches can also control it, and so the risk of failing is incredibly high.

Aggregate switches can also control it, and so the risk of failing is incredibly high

For example, your car's dome light might have a hand-operated switch on it, and it could also be switched on or off, or dimmed, through a switch located along with the dash.

>>> Check out: Causes of a malfunctioning car interior light and how to fix it

How to fix your broken dome or dimmer switch

When repairing your car interior lights, it is recommended to start the reparation on the easiest light to fix - the dome or dimmer lights.

Usually, the root cause of this trouble is when other people are operating the dimmer switch or dome light other than the driver. It can keep the interior lights of the car from illuminating when you bring yourself inside your vehicle.

If the dome lights are not working, most probably, other people are operating its switch other than the driver

It all depends on the wiring and the kind of switches your interior lights have. It may be necessary to push various combinations of the switch to enable the lights to turn on.

Generally, you can start by rotating the dimmer (if ever there's one) and try moving it in opposite directions. There are cases that when you continuously switch the dimmer in one direction, it will click that indicates either the on or off position.

It may be necessary to push various combinations of the switch to enable the lights to turn on

When you maneuver your interior light button in various positions and directions, you can examine your map light, dome light, and other interior lights in accordance t their respective switches.

When this doesn't work on your interior lighting, most probably, you are dealing with real failure somewhere else.

Blown fuses as the cause of interior light failure

The next potential factor to check is the fuse when the other parts of the car still work like the radio, but the car interior lights start to malfunction all at once.

Your fuse box can be located inside or along with the glove box, underneath the dashboard, or in your engine compartment. It depends upon the set-up of your car.

Your fuse box can be located inside or along with the glove box

The driver's manual could be very helpful in finding the fuse box of the car because there are cars that have multiple fuse boxes. You can also surf the internet if you can't find your owner's manual.

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How to tell whether it is a blown fuse

Blown fuses need not be evident at plain sight. Just because it looks well doesn't mean that it functions well. Fuses can be examined if it blows or not by a test light or a multimeter.

If your multimeter doesn't show a continuity between the ends of the fuse, that entails the fuse blown.

Blown fuses need not be evident at plain sight

A test light is the most effortless way to determine if the fuses are blown. To check, the test light should be clumped to the negative battery terminal and then to the positive one.

If both sides light up, that means it is good. However, if only one side lights up and the other doesn't, it indicates a blown fuse. If both sides won't light up, it doesn't mean a blown fuse. The fuse just doesn't have power going through it.

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How wiring problems and short circuit affect interior lighting

On a daily basis, it is uncommon to observe a blown fuse without an inherent problem. Blown fuses of interior lights can be subject to a short inside the system. It can be a permanent or temporary fault, simply change the fuse to know what really happened.

You deal with some short circuit if the new fuse blows again. You may or may not manage to do it yourself, so seeking professional help is advisable.

Blown fuses of interior lights can be subject to a short inside the system

Shorts are common in locations where the wires are habitually twisted and folded. Thus those are the best areas to begin the inspection.

If the map lights of your car are inside the sun visor or there are lights connected to the doors, these locations are where you can commonly observe short circuits happen.

>>> Worth reading: [Philkotse guide] 6 DIY car wiring tips that you definitely need to know

Interior lights and bad door switches

Bad door switches are the last factor that causes failure to your car's inside lighting. They are mostly situated in the door's elevated surface or the door's jambs.

Bad door switches are the last factor that causes failure to your car's inside lighting

Thus it is also called the door jamb switches. They are frequently covered by a synthetic rubber case that you could remove through a plane blade screwdriver. It can be unscrewed and can also be tested by a multimeter.