Hello again lads.

For the last couple months I've been having an intermittent problem with
the driver's side courtesy lamp under the dash staying on, and the chime pinging
while the driver's door is closed. I can usually get the light off and chime
to stop by fidgeting with the latch or giving the door a stern slam. (Hate that.)

I've had the door panel off a few times to poke around, and it seems the
connector (with a number of wires) attached to the latch mechanism is the
culprit. I can get things back to normal by lightly pressing outward on the connector, and get the symptoms to return by pulling in. Toggling the symptoms actually requires very little movement.

Anyhow, for a long time now I been reading posts here regarding dead batteries, and the various troubleshooting tactics. The coin on the glove box door, the trunk lamp, etc.

A couple days ago, my battery was so low, the engine wouldn't start. Actually, I've had this dead battery problem numerous times over the past couple years. Now, I KNOW it's not glove box light or the trunk light. And I KNOW the courtesy light was off over night. Yesterday I took the door panel off again to snoop around and I discovered IT IS POSSIBLE for the electrical connector to the latch mechanism to turn off the chime and dash courtesy light but STILL have the RED driver's door courtesy safety lamp on! I saw the tell tale red glow inside the door with the key out, and all other interior lights and chimes off.

Right now I corrected the problem by turning in a small screw beside the connector to sorta simulate my "pressing outward on the connector." If the problem returns, I guess I'll just remove the lamps and chime.

If anyone is experiencing the occasional dead battery, and the usual suspects aren't the problem, I recommend checking the red courtesy safety lamp. If you open the door after it has been closed for a while, and the red lens is hot or warm to the touch, you've located your dead battery problem.

So, dead battery mystery solved! Finally. For me anyhow.



- thumbs