Liftgate Light Problem
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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Liftgate Light Problem
With the liftgate closed the interior lights are off as they should be. As I start to open it, the lights come on and stay on as long as the liftgate is only open slightly. Open the liftgate all the way and the lights go out and stay out.
Anybody have any ideas?
Anybody have any ideas?
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Georgia
Well....without looking, I'd guess that the light switch is mounted in the liftgate rather than the door frame.
If that is so, then I would suggest a loose connection or bad wire somewhere in the wire bundle that goes from the van body to the liftgate.
It sounds like the connection is good when the door is closed or nearly closed. Once you lift the door, the wire bundle is bent/streached or whatever causing the loose connection. It could be a wire on the back of the switch. I would open the door to get to the switch and check the wiring. Check the connection. Wiggle the wires and see if the lights go on and off. Measure for voltage at the switch...
Of course, if I'm wrong and the switch is in the door frame then......
Gee....I'll have to think about that some more.
If that is so, then I would suggest a loose connection or bad wire somewhere in the wire bundle that goes from the van body to the liftgate.
It sounds like the connection is good when the door is closed or nearly closed. Once you lift the door, the wire bundle is bent/streached or whatever causing the loose connection. It could be a wire on the back of the switch. I would open the door to get to the switch and check the wiring. Check the connection. Wiggle the wires and see if the lights go on and off. Measure for voltage at the switch...
Of course, if I'm wrong and the switch is in the door frame then......
Gee....I'll have to think about that some more.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 624
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From: Georgia
OK, I looked at mine during lunch. It appears that the light switch is built into the latch mechanism.
With the door open, if I engage the latch jaws (using a stick or something) as if the door was latched shut, the lights went out. This could be an answer to another problem someone had with leaving the liftgate up and running down his battery. But that's another story. So the switch is activated by the opening/closing of the latch.
I still go with my loose connection/ bad wire mentioned in my last post. Check it out and let know what you find.
With the door open, if I engage the latch jaws (using a stick or something) as if the door was latched shut, the lights went out. This could be an answer to another problem someone had with leaving the liftgate up and running down his battery. But that's another story. So the switch is activated by the opening/closing of the latch.
I still go with my loose connection/ bad wire mentioned in my last post. Check it out and let know what you find.
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Junior User
Joined: Mar 2003
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Finally got time and good weather to look at this. The problem was the plunger/switch built into the latch. Works the same was as for any door, but is pushed in or released by the latch mechanism, turning the light off or on. Pushing in on the plunger didn't turn the lights off, but jumping the wires did. Dirty switch. I cleaned it with some solvent, works fine now. May have to replace it later though.
By the way, while I had the trim off I noticed the rubber around the lift handle was mostly gone, probably age and use. However, this allows water and dirt to enter inside the liftgate behind the panel. Never would have noticed without having the panel off. Something others may want to check.
Appreciate the help Tom.
John
By the way, while I had the trim off I noticed the rubber around the lift handle was mostly gone, probably age and use. However, this allows water and dirt to enter inside the liftgate behind the panel. Never would have noticed without having the panel off. Something others may want to check.
Appreciate the help Tom.
John
