Thread: interior light
View Single Post
Old Mar 27, 2011 | 10:43 AM
  #6 (permalink)  
maxcichon's Avatar
maxcichon
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 8,015
Likes: 14
From: MOFN, AL, 70 miles from George
Default Re: interior light

If you have an intermittent problem with the dome/map light, it may require some repair/renovation.
They are really not made very well. The bulb holders are easily damaged if you try to replace the bulbs from below. They should be replaced from above. The bulbs each have a little holder. If you push too hard from below, it breaks the thin plastic. Look these over carefully.
The electrical lands (runners) that supply power to the various connections on the assembly are melted onto the assembly. Little bumps poke through the runners and are melted into place. Just not very well. The bumps break off and the runners come loose.
If you remove the assembly and look at it real close under a good work light, you can repair these things with a soldering iron and some super glue.
Be very careful taking this thing out. I think most of the problems stem from the choice of plastic used-it is quite brittle.
I've repaired 3 of these in the last couple of years and it's an easy fix.
If the damage is not too bad to start.

And I suggest replacing the bulbs with LED's. Then you won't ever have to replace them again, and they don't get even warm. All of the ones I've repaired had heat damage at the bulb base (browning/discoloration). It's only 5 watts, but it's enough to make the brittle plastic even more so...
 

Last edited by maxcichon; Mar 27, 2011 at 10:56 AM.
Reply