Dome Lights Coming on While Driving

[Demonic92]

I can’t figure this one out. My friends call it the racing lights. When i take an ever so slightly spirited right turn or drive normally down a slightly bumpy road, the dome lights either come on and stay on until i take a spirited left turn or flicker violently until the road smooths out. Thought i could have a bad door sensor, so i got them to come on and stay on after a sharp right turn and then pulled over. Opened and slammed all the doors. No difference. Take a sharp left turn, they turn off. My instincts tell me i have a loose wire or grounding issue somewhere. Not sure where to start with that. I should mention i added a cargo area dome light, but the same way everyone else does. Also added footwell LEDs for the front that come on only with the doors open, but all that wiring looks good with no shorts. What should i do next?

 

[desmocruiser]

Curious as well, same issue with my 96'. Haven't started diag yet, just assumed door striker adjustment or bad switch.

 

[enox]

Just sit parked and push on each door to see which one causes the loss of contact.

Might also be the rear hatch so give er a push there too

 

[LandLocked93]

You could keep all dome lights on manual and operate them only when you need them?
I do this to minimize the chance a dome light will come on while its parked up for a week and kill a batt.

 

[cahill]

Just sit parked and push on each door to see which one causes the loss of contact.

Might also be the rear hatch so give er a push there too

Or actually try pulling on the door instead of pushing as that (open door) will more likely be what triggers the light to come on.

 

[jonheld]

Very common issue.
Cut a "U" shaped spacer for the door pillar switches out of a plastic bottle and put 1 or 2 under the switch.
Problem solved.

 

[enox]

Or actually try pulling on the door instead of pushing as that (open door) will more likely be what triggers the light to come on.

i guess i should have specified push from the inside....

 

[jonheld]

i guess i should have specified push from the inside....

Pushing/pulling doors probably will not reveal the issue, as the body is flexing on the mounts while driving. At least I couldn't replicate it on my truck. I had a rolling disco when going over bumps. 2 thin shims on the right front door switch was all that was needed.

 

[Michael Hanson]

Hi, Also push in your switches by hand. If it’s smooth it’s ok, if its crunchy ,replace it. Mike

 

[Delta VS]

These things are the culprit, most likely: Delta Vehicle Systems - Toyota OEM Door Switch - https://www.deltavs.com/all-products/toyota-oem-door-switch

You can easily add some padding behind them, or some folks use a piece of foam/velcro on the door to push them in a little farther. They also just go bad over time. You can also find used ones in Camrys or something like that.

 

[Demonic92]

I have a new door switch already, bought it a few months back when i wasn’t as annoyed with this. The shim thing sounds more reliable tho. Thanks guys

 

[2000cruiser]

Very common issue.
Cut a "U" shaped spacer for the door pillar switches out of a plastic bottle and put 1 or 2 under the switch.
Problem solved.

Would love to see a picture

thanks

 

[Demonic92]

So the lights came on after a particularly spirited right turn again today and wouldnt shut off. I parked the car and unbolted every door sensor from the chassis that’s it’s grounded to. This should eliminate any signal that any door is open. Yet the lights stayed on along with the door ajar light on the dash. One thing i know for sure is that it at least isn’t the front left door sensor because the key-in-ignition buzzer doesn’t come on when the lights come on after a turn. Anyways, unbolted all the sensors and problem was still there, tried testing some voltages but none of the number made sense to me (had no idea what i wad looking for anyways) and then i proceeded to give all the areas by the door sensors and interior lights a good smacking to see if i could miraculously fix it somehow that way. Nothing. I put it all back together as designed, all the lights still on, and went for a drive. Took a sharp left turn, and the lights finally turned off. I’m very stumped now. Did i overlook something really stupid or do I have a gremlin?

edit: pushing and pulling and slamming and everything does nothing when they are stuck on.

 

[jonheld]

Do all the interior lights come on or just front or rear?
What year is the truck?

 

[Demonic92]

Do all the interior lights come on or just front or rear?
What year is the truck?

All of them come on. It’s a 91.

 

[6894kevin]

mine did this for a long time till I shimmed them, problem fixed, and it's been 2 years. I guess you could replace them using the delta or any other place but I'm cheap

 

[jonheld]

All of them come on. It’s a 91.

1991 had a much simpler interior light setup. Any ground downstream of either roof lamp will illuminate both. The hatch switch does not illuminate the dome lights in a 91, but it does trigger the open door warning light on the dash.
If you are CERTAIN that you have eliminated the 4 door switches, understanding that the 1 wire feeding the switches is the ground path to illuminate the bulbs, then you need to look further upstream towards the lights.
You have a short to ground somewhere in the system downstream of the bulbs.