Last night I unlocked the doors with the remote and the running board lights and interior lights came on, then poof they went off. My passenger said they saw a puff of smoke when they went around the left side, but when I got there it was gone.

These are the accessories that is not working:
All interior courtesy lights including reading lights.
Glove box light.
All windows including the rear side vent windows
The power mirrors.

What is working:
The power door locks and remote.

Will checking the circuit last night, I closed the doors replaced the fuse with the rear defroster/mirror heaters (15A) the windows worked until I opened the door and the courtesy lights came on.

Anyone experience this and what is the first thing to check, I'm going to get a bunch of 15A fuse to start troubleshooting tonight.

I did find a post from 03/08 but they never finished with a solution of what they found.

Thanks

 

Well I dove into the problem tonight after I went to AutoZone and bought the bulk pack of 15A mini ATC fuses.

I really wasn't sure where to start, so I started on the passenger side running borads, I missed in last nights post that the running board lights were also out on that circuit and they were out also.

I figured I'd start with the passenger side running boards, being that was where my passenger saw smoke. I followed the lights wiring that go through the rib in the board and didn't find anything visable without dis-assmebling the board...yet. Everything looked normal...Then I inspected the driver side running boards and found a wad of electrical tape on connector at the front end of the board where the light is.

Could I be this lucky, should I cruise down to Atlantic City to gamble my lifes savings away...

Sorry, appearently there was some sort of accessory no longer on the vehicle that was tied into this wire, very badly, twisted 1" piece of wire to extend it and taped to high heaven. I unplugged the light out of the socket removed the tape found my electrical box of butt connectors and repaired the wires, broke out the shrink tubing (borrowed my wifes hair dryer-couldn't find the heat gun) put it all back together took the fuse bulk pack out,
plugged it in, BLUE FLASH in fuse.

Went back under the running board and noticed a black connector on the backside of the inner fender well, unplugged it, tried another fuse, BLUE FLASH in the fuse.

Went back under passenger side found black connector on the underside of the floor pan at the rear of the board, unplugged it, Tried another fuse, they stayed on.

So now I figure it's the passenger side (smoke side) plugged back in the black connector on the driver side board the lights work, and so does the interior lights, power windows, and power mirrors.

I will disassemble the passenger side board another day, I was more concerned about the power windows and mirrors than anything else (6 FUSES later).

When I do get it apart in the day light I will take pictures, it was just to dark tonight. Another job for a different day.

Thanks for listening to my adventure, I'm a happier camper now...

 

Interesting. Please do post pictures.

 

water in the light socket??

 

No, I don't think so, my passenger saw smoke that dissipated quickly. I will check the boards this weekend and post pictures of my findings.