98 Camaro SS dome light problems

We've got a 98 SS convertible that the dome lights don't come. Even if you over-ride them with the dimmer switch they don't come on... I have checked the fuses, and all the bulbs. Although if you turn the map light buttons on the mirror on those lights will work. When I took the side panel lights out and used a test light on them both wires coming to the light show they have power. (blue and white) I was wondering if anybody has had a similar problem or can help me out.

Thanks

Does anyone know what would cause this?

cmon guys help him, i cant really help cause it didnt happen to my 99' so ill try to ask my uncles tomorrow and see if they can help

Convertibles have dome lights?

good call... what lights are you talking about?

good call... what lights are you talking about?
im confused on that too lol

he is talking about the ones on the rear view mirror im sure??? come on guys use your heads, thats the only way they came...

Have you removed the dimmer switch and checked ohms or just check power at that point??? im thinking its gotta be around that area...

The lights that are not working are the ones on the mirror and the back side panels below the rear speakers (that's were they are on convertible). What's weird is that both wires going to the light bulb both are hot with 12v. I thought that the dome lights worked with a ground system like the older cars. When the door was open it closed the ground circuit and turned on the lights. But both leads going to the light are hot.

Maybe the door switch is sticking. Does it tell you if the door is open when it's in gear?

98 and up Camaros the switches are built into the door stricker... Lights don't come on if you open either door or if you turn the dimmer switch. I don't have a clue why both leads coming to the light have power.

do you have a alarm or keyless entry??? is so the problem may be there...

I'm experiencing the same problem with my 99 convertible. I've tried programming the lights several different ways and to no avail.

I just bought a used 98 Camaro Conv. V6 for my daughter. It has the same problem, no interior lights come on when you open a door. It has the security system but is programmed for "Exit Lighting" & "Delayed Illumination" which is the default (Mode 4). I have 12 volts coming to both leads of the light which is located in the rear, side panel, by the speaker. I also hooked the light directly to the battery and it worked fine. The other side is the same. I assume when you open one of the doors, the door pin is suppose to ground one side of the circuit. I took both door pins out and tested their continuity and they are working fine. I was wondering if there is a controller that has gone bad, maybe the chime box located behind the glove box?? It has a lot of wires running to it. My map lights work only with the switches on the mirror. The owners manual says the map lights are suppose to come on when you open the door. The interior lights do not come on when you rotate the dimmer wheel all the way up also. When you open either door, there is no chime nor no lights. This sounds like a problem common in convertibles. The chime does work if the headlights are left on and the door is opened.

I think my problem is a bad BCM (behind the glove box). I left all 3 of the harnesses unplugged from the BCM. At the Black harness, I jumpered the Orange (battery 12 volts) wire with the Blue/White (courtesy light) with a 20 amp fuse in-between (same as the courtesy fuse). In the large light blue harness, I jumpered the White wire (D1) to ground. Sweet! The courtesy lights came on! I then jumpered the White wire (D1) with the Grey/Black (D11 driver door pin) and the lights came on when I opened the driver door. Ditto for the passenger door pin (Black/White D12) and dimmer (grey C7) wire. I plugged the 3 harnesses into the BCM and the lights did not work again. Now that I know I did not have a short, I jumpered the wires as described above in the light blue harness, but this time with all of the harnesses pluged into the BCM and the courtesy lights worked. So I'm 99% sure the BCM is bad. How much you ask? Around $200. I think my extended warranty I bought from the dealer will cover it. It lists electronic control module as a covered component.

has anybody tried testing the door switches??

GREAT JOB! Let me know if your extended warranty cover that for sure and the exact cost of the BCM if you don't mind. Thanks.

I think my problem is a bad BCM (behind the glove box). I left all 3 of the harnesses unplugged from the BCM. At the Black harness, I jumpered the Orange (battery 12 volts) wire with the Blue/White (courtesy light) with a 20 amp fuse in-between (same as the courtesy fuse). In the large light blue harness, I jumpered the White wire (D1) to ground. Sweet! The courtesy lights came on! I then jumpered the White wire (D1) with the Grey/Black (D11 driver door pin) and the lights came on when I opened the driver door. Ditto for the passenger door pin (Black/White D12) and dimmer (grey C7) wire. I plugged the 3 harnesses into the BCM and the lights did not work again. Now that I know I did not have a short, I jumpered the wires as described above in the light blue harness, but this time with all of the harnesses pluged into the BCM and the courtesy lights worked. So I'm 99% sure the BCM is bad. How much you ask? Around $200. I think my extended warranty I bought from the dealer will cover it. It lists electronic control module as a covered component.

I know the door swithches work because the alarm is functional when each door is opened.

has anybody tried testing the door switches??

Just got it back yesterday. It was the Body Control Module (BCM). The dealer will need your VIN number for replacement. The BCM is around $200. Since we just bought the car, the dealer paid for it. I noticed they had changed the part number from the original.

My extended warranty only covered the "Electronic Contol Module" or the main computer, not the BCM. This is not a factory extended warranty.

My extended warranty only covered the "Electronic Contol Module" or the main computer, not the BCM. This is not a factory extended warranty.
WHAT???? That IS the main computer. A BCM is short for Body Control Module. Without it, your car shouldn't start and definately not function correctly.

WHAT???? That IS the main computer. A BCM is short for Body Control Module. Without it, your car shouldn't start and definately not function correctly.

This is what I meant to say:
My extended warranty only covered the "Electronic Contol Module" (also known as the main computer). My extended warranty does not cover the BCM. Since I recently purchased this used car, the dealer replaced the BCM at no cost to me. My extended warranty is not from General Motors.