Weird Interior Light Happenings!

[Ex-Vec]

My 2002 Galaxy's interior light has gone "weird" !

 

You open the car on the fob and the bulb in the main light console comes on but it's really really dull. Buy a new bulb you say?? But there's nothing wrong with it!

You start the car and the light is as bright as it could be!! Keys out, a bright light!

Open door after locking, dull feint light, start up bright!

 

What on earth is going on.

 

 

I belive my battery is fine and we just had

[ncb]

If you have a voltmeter, check the voltage at the bulb when it is dull and also when you say its bright. For what its worth, a new bulb will be 75p anyway so might as well buy a new one.

 

 

Also is your battery the same old one. When the alternator went, did you let the battery die down? When batteries are discharged they dont usually go to there full capacity when charged up again, especially if they are a few years old.

[Ex-Vec]

If you have a voltmeter, check the voltage at the bulb when it is dull and also when you say its bright. For what its worth, a new bulb will be 75p anyway so might as well buy a new one.

 

 

Also is your battery the same old one. When the alternator went, did you let the battery die down? When batteries are discharged they dont usually go to there full capacity when charged up again, especially if they are a few years old.

 

Thanks

Indeed it did die completely, infact when it was being driven to the garage is when the alternator gave! No lights, indicators etc etc etc, it was a nightmare for the last 2 miles. But the garage checked the battery and said all was fine with it after a charge. It's had 4 weeks of some good charging journeys since. The car wouldn't start if the battery was on it's way, and it starts fine. A battery that wasn't juiced enough to power a 5watt bulb certainly wouldn't start it.

 

I'll try another bulb, but I think it could be something else.

[Ex-Vec]

Checked.

 

Voltage, 2.6v when dim upon opening, car makes a click and light becomes bright and 12v after a short time.

 

Engine running 12v.

 

Just been out again car battery with no key in resting at 10.6v. Idling 12.2v

 

Lights are going dim, bright, on and off on their own now!!

 

HELP!! PLEASE

 

I'm confused.

Edited February 12, 2010 by Ex-Vec

[Bobd]

Unlike traditional interior lights that were just a switch that took the negative side of the bulb to ground, this must be controlled either via a relay or more likely an electronic switch in the door lock ECU. I don

[MrT]

The interior lights have an electronic timer controller which I seem to remember is in the relay box and this could be playing up.

 

Your battery voltage seems very low. When my battery died it would start the car but it would go flat in minutes if any lights were left on or if I ran the radio whilst cleaning it. I don't know if you are on the original battery but I would expect it to be dying by now, mine lasted about 5-6 years (25000M).

 

I can remember unusual electrial behaviour when my battery died, the interior lights would play up, the doors would lock themselves a few seconds after opening them and I got false worn brake pad warnings.

Edited February 12, 2010 by MrT

[Ex-Vec]

Thanks for the input, I'll have a look over the weekend.

 

 

Talking of strange electrical behaviour, when the alternator was starting to go, you got ABS + Airbag warnings, things start to chime all over the place. Most disconcerting!!

[ncb]

Battery voltage when engine is off is low at 10.6v but more importantly is the voltage when the car is started. Should be at least 13.5V to about 15v is ok. 12v is definitely too low for a running car. Looks like either you alternator is not charging properly or the faulty/weak battery creating a large load on the alternator and is pulling the voltage down too much.

 

Dont know engine you have but my tdi starts (eventually) even though the starter is turning over vvveeeerrry sssllooowwwlllyy. These engines are really good for starting even though my battery is well knackerd (actually using a clio battery at the moment).

 

On the other side, 2.6v is too low and looks like a wiring problem or relay problem. I would start with the relay. Take it out and plug it back in again. If not solved, you can carefully open up the cove to the relay and inspect o clean the contacts very carefully.

[Ex-Vec]

It is a TDi and indeed the starter is slooooow.

 

However it was dead this morning, so new battery bought. It had died several times before the alternator was replaced a few weeks ago, so was probably on it's last legs.

 

The interior lights seem to be playing up big time. The N/S read door, kerb light does not come on, but does when wiggling the loom and also now the central locking has gone on that door. Windows however work.

 

The other interior lights were now staying on all the time, but when wigging that loom the kerb light was going on and off, and now no interior lights work at all.

 

There is possibly something loose in that loom as the other side passenger door doesn't work at all, and have to manually lock the door, though again the window works on that side.

 

So the interior lights are knackered, it can't just be a fuse as they were lighting up on and off on thier own accord. And the two passenger door looms have loose or broken wires in, which I think read was a Galaxy fault (one of many)

 

So, what can you do to look at the interior lights?? Is there a relay as well as fuse, which has probaly shorted out now!

 

This car is starting to pee me off :)

[Ex-Vec]

Bump??

 

Anyone please??

[Mirez]

Bump??

 

Anyone please??

 

 

You have indentified a fault that could cause these issues.

 

Get the door looms sorted before you do anything else, since each door signals the controller when its open/closed if those wires are shorting out then its no wonder the lights are all over the place.