02 interior lights??

I only got my 02 venture less than a week ago, but the interior lights won't come on when I open the doors, any of them, they will work when I push the button on the overhead, but not with the doors, small problem, but if there's a solution, i'd love to have it. I've checked the fuses and the light bulbs they all "seem" to be OK, i could have overlooked something, but I think we checked them all pretty good. any suggestions???

I only got my 02 venture less than a week ago, but the interior lights won't come on when I open the doors, any of them, they will work when I push the button on the overhead, but not with the doors, small problem, but if there's a solution, i'd love to have it. I've checked the fuses and the light bulbs they all "seem" to be OK, i could have overlooked something, but I think we checked them all pretty good. any suggestions???
First of all - Welcome to the forum!

You say the lights work when you "push the button on the overhead" - what button is that?

Since the van is new to you, maybe you have not found the "light disable" switch in the overhead console yet. It is the one nearest to the driver side. Make sure that it is in the "OFF" position (even with any other switches that are up there).

You can see a picture of the switch here (http://www.my-chevy-venture.com/replace-overhead-console.html).

Let us know what you find.

Take Care,

Thank you, and plz bear with me while i try to explain my van only has the overhead light (as in your picture) then the set of "switches" only one of those does anything, it turns on the interior lights, if you turn it off then open the doors, they don't come on, if you leave it on and turn the van off then close the doors the lights stay on. I'm confused to say the least. my van doesn't have any of the bells and whistles, the only luxury it has is the cd player and a/c. but i like it so far, it drives soooo good and with 2 very small children and an older child, it has been a great asset to me. the lights thing i can live with, if that's the only problem, but i'd like to fix it if i could. thnx greg = Cindy Dye

Thank you, and plz bear with me while i try to explain my van only has the overhead light (as in your picture) then the set of "switches" only one of those does anything, it turns on the interior lights, if you turn it off then open the doors, they don't come on, if you leave it on and turn the van off then close the doors the lights stay on. I'm confused to say the least. my van doesn't have any of the bells and whistles, the only luxury it has is the cd player and a/c. but i like it so far, it drives soooo good and with 2 very small children and an older child, it has been a great asset to me. the lights thing i can live with, if that's the only problem, but i'd like to fix it if i could. thnx greg = Cindy Dye
Hey Cindy,

Let's see if we can get this worked out.

It sounds to me like the interior lights are switched to ALWAYS be ON, and you are using the "Interior Light Override Switch" (that's what its called) to turn them off.

So ... there is only one thing I can think of that would keep the interior lights on all the time - that would be the "Instrument Panel Intensity Control" thumb-wheel control, under the headlight switch. If that thumb-wheel control is turned ALL THE WAY to the RIGHT, it would keep the lights on all the time.

http://www.my-chevy-venture.com/images/Light-Dimmer-Controls.jpg

So go out to the van (Yes - Right Now :grinyes: ) and see if the little bugger is turned all the way to the right. If it is, that's probably it. Turn that thing so that the DOT is in the middle, then open & close your door, and wait about 30 seconds. The lights should dim-to-off after about 20-30 seconds.

Oh yeah - do you have the owner's manual? If so, thumb through it and see what other cool little "features" you may have in the van. There may be more than you know about. If you didn't get the owner's manual with the van, let me know & I will tell you where you can go to download one.

Let us know what happens.

Take Care,

ok greg, i tried the control like u suggested, but alas, it still would not work properly:disappoin. I actually did a search for an owner's manual, but couldn't find one, that's sort of how i wound up here (begging for help :lol: ). If you know where I could find one that would be wonderful. then my next "problem" i might could figure out by myself (yeah right). Thanks for helping though. Cindy

ok greg, i tried the control like u suggested, but alas, it still would not work properly:disappoin. I actually did a search for an owner's manual, but couldn't find one, that's sort of how i wound up here (begging for help :lol: ). If you know where I could find one that would be wonderful. then my next "problem" i might could figure out by myself (yeah right). Thanks for helping though. Cindy
OK - But we're not done just yet.

Before I forget - If you go to www.mygmlink.com and register your van (and some stuff to show that you are the owner), you can download a PDF version of the owner's manual from there. I think it takes a day or two to get access to the manual.

Now back to the lights. Do ALL the interior lights (front lights near the overhead console, the dome light in the center roof, and the cargo light in the back-center roof) come on when you turn off the override switch?

The reason I ask is because there are switches near the dome & cargo lights that will turn them ON if you push them (& off if you press them again). And the lights up front will switch on & off if you press on the lens part (both sides).

So here is what I would do. Get in the van (doors closed), push the override switch so that the lights are ON, and then push UP on the lenses of the lights in the console. Remember you may have to wait 30 seconds after all the doors are closed.

If that doesn't do it, I would say that the Body Control Module (BCM) would be the next thing to look into, because that is what controls all the lights. But I hope that won't be necessary.

Take Care,

You really need to follow Greg's suggestions to a T and all should work out ok. The combination of the "dash switch', 'overhead switch' and the 'push on light fixtures' can be really confusing. ALSO CHECK FOR LINT AND DUST IN THE TWO LITTLE HOLES IN THE CENTER OF THE DASH... Vacuum works good for this.

Ask someone who knows...

Me. As I went through a mild panic myself about 4 months ago just after purchasing the van.

I was on here (automotive forum) posting thinking my headlight switch was defective. I eventually figured it out tho.


"my van doesn't have any of the bells and whistles, the only luxury it has is the cd player and a/c. but i like it so far, it drives soooo good"

I know I just love the ride in this van compared to my old plymouth voyager. No comparison... Trans Sport/Montana wins all the way.

Good Luck
Wayne