Interior lights not coming ON when door is opened.

On my 1997 Mercury Sable 3.0L V6, the interior lights not coming on when door is opened.

The door ajar light on the dash was takes a long time to disappear after you close the door and drive the vehicle. However, the dome light does not come when you open the door.

I can turn the dome light by manually flipping the on/off switch next to the dome light. However, the dome light does not turn ON if I manually turn the dimmer switch all the way up.

I fixed the door ajar light by spraying WD-40 as what other folks have suggested. Now the door ajar light on the dash immediately goes away after closing the door.

The problem is still with the dome light not coming ON when opening the door or turning the dimmer switch all the way up. Any advise is appreciated. Thanks.

Common problem cured by spraying lube on the switches. Run a search using the search engine, "interior lights won't come on."

Does your Sable happen to have the slide switch on the dome light where you can select "Off - Door - On" rather than just "Off - On?" If so, is that set to "Door." It's been awhile since I had my 1998 Taurus, so I don't remember if it had that slider or not.

If the switch is just for "Off - On" have you tried switching it to "On" now that you've fixed the door pin switch with the WD-40? FWIW, I don't recommend using WD-40 but rather electrical parts cleaner. However, many have had fairly long term luck with WD-40 though.

-Rod

-Rod

It just have ON or OFF on the dome light switch.

BTW

I'm looking at the schematic diagram and it seems that most relay including the dome light is controlled by Generic Electronic Module (GEM). I've read that it needs to be programmed when putting a new GEM. Do I still need to reprogram the GEM when using a used GEM from the same model and year of my 1997 Mercury Sable 3.0L V6 SOHC?

Do you have an owner's manual for the car? If so, check to see how the switches should be positioned. I suspect you need to have it in the On position, and there may be an "entry delay" which keeps the interior light on for a few seconds after the door is closed to allow you to find the ignition key cylinder, postion your cel phone, etc.

-Rod

Do you have an owner's manual for the car? If so, check to see how the switches should be positioned. I suspect you need to have it in the On position, and there may be an "entry delay" which keeps the interior light on for a few seconds after the door is closed to allow you to find the ignition key cylinder, postion your cel phone, etc.

-Rod


If I leave it ON position on the Overhead light, it just stays ON all the time whether the doors ared closed or opened.

I've pulled up the wiring diagrams from the Ford factory service manual for a 1997 Sable and, according to the diagram, if you have the moonroof, your switch is a three position switch - Off, Door, On. If you don't have the moonroof, you have a couple of map lights with On and Off switches and a dome light that is only controlled by the door or interior illumination dimmer control of the headlight switch.

Do you have a moonroof? Which light are you referring to, the one in the center of the roof or the two just above the windshield?

-Rod

I've pulled up the wiring diagrams from the Ford factory service manual for a 1997 Sable and, according to the diagram, if you have the moonroof, your switch is a three position switch - Off, Door, On. If you don't have the moonroof, you have a couple of map lights with On and Off switches and a dome light that is only controlled by the door or interior illumination dimmer control of the headlight switch.

Do you have a moonroof? Which light are you referring to, the one in the center of the roof or the two just above the windshield?

-Rod


I don't have a moonroof. The dome light has a manual ON/OFF switch on both sides. I can turn the dome light ON using the switch and I can also turn it off using the switch. I used to remember that the dome light switch must turned OFF all the time, otherwise if left on ON position then it will never turn off if I close the doors. When the dome light switch was on the OFF position, I used to be able to turn the dome light on when I turn the dial switch for the dash illumination all the way up. Right now the dial switch for the dash illumination does not turn the dome light when it is turned all the way up.

I don't have a moonroof. The dome light has a manual ON/OFF switch on both sides.

Well, let's make sure we're talking about the same light here. Are you referring to the map lights by chance? Since you mention there is an On/Off switch on both sides, I suspect you are. The map lights are only controlled by the switch next to the lamp. These would NOT come on when a door is opened.

Since you don't the moonroof, there will be a dome light in the assembly with the map lights (three bulbs - 2 for map lights, one for dome light), this is the bulb that will come on with the door. There is no switch located with this light, it is controlled via the door pins or the illumination dimmer control.

I suspect that maybe your bulb for the dome lamp is burned out. Have you tried other doors to make sure it's not just a problem with the driver's door pin switch in the latch?

-Rod

Well, let's make sure we're talking about the same light here. Are you referring to the map lights by chance? Since you mention there is an On/Off switch on both sides, I suspect you are. The map lights are only controlled by the switch next to the lamp. These would NOT come on when a door is opened.

Since you don't the moonroof, there will be a dome light in the assembly with the map lights (three bulbs - 2 for map lights, one for dome light), this is the bulb that will come on with the door. There is no switch located with this light, it is controlled via the door pins or the illumination dimmer control.

I suspect that maybe your bulb for the dome lamp is burned out. Have you tried other doors to make sure it's not just a problem with the driver's door pin switch in the latch?

-Rod

Thanks for your reply folks and thanks Rod.

I checked the fuses and none of them are open.

I opened the dome light cover and found three bulbs. You are right. Both sides are for the map lights and the center one is for the Dome Light. The bulb is not burned out and the filament is still intact. Come to find out that the metal part on side of the bulb is not making contact of the wire filament. I pushed in the metal end of the bulb and the light turned ON even though all 4 doors are closed. The dimmer switch is down. So, I guess the problem now is with the door pin switch.

Update:

Re-sprayed the door switches with WD-40 and now the dome light will turn off after the door is closed. I might try to get a contact cleaner when I get to the store.

Thank you all.