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Drivers door courtesy lamp stuck on...

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Audio and Electronics' started by dbastille, Mar 30, 2014.

  1. dbastille

    dbastille Junior Member

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    Hi All,
    This problem just happened and not sure where to look for solution.
    Just noticed while I was driving that the led lights in lower drivers door courtesy lamp was on.
    All other lights like dome are off.... I can open door and dome comes on and close and it goes out but my drivers door lamp just dims a little but stays on.
    I tried to leave the car and lock....all lights shut off but the drivers lamp!
    Had to disconnect lamp for now to avoid drain.
    Any ideas on what could cause this?
    Any help would be appreciated!
    Thanks!

    Just a thought.....could the LED lamp go bad and cause this?
     
    #1 dbastille, Mar 30, 2014
  2. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    link deleted

    Down load "GEN-III-ZVW30 files (2ea.) In the electrical wiring diagrams go to Interior lights. If you can use a meter that should get you to the source of the problem.
     
    #2 frodoz737, Mar 30, 2014
  3. dbastille

    dbastille Junior Member

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    Thanks for the help but don't think I have the diagnosing experience for this.
    Was hoping that this May have a easy solution from it happening in the past.
    Might swap other lamp to eliminate that idea.
     
    #3 dbastille, Mar 30, 2014
  4. bisco

    bisco cookie crumbler

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    just a wag, but perhaps the door switch is directly wired to the door lamp and there is an issue inside the door panel. might it be under warranty?
     
    #4 bisco, Mar 30, 2014
  5. kenmce

    kenmce High Voltage Member

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    No, the LED has no way to call for power. Something upstream isn't shutting off.
     
    #5 kenmce, Mar 30, 2014
  6. frodoz737

    frodoz737 Top Wrench

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    The door jam switch provides the ground for the lamp through the connector at the ECU. Sounds like the lamp has found a minor short (ground) based on you saying it dims a little when the door is closed. If the door switch was bad, all the lights "should" be affected. You really need a meter to chase it, otherwise you'll just be shot gunning parts at it.

    If you don't have or know how to use a meter, first wiggle the wires going from the door to the car frame to see if the light flickers indicating chafed insulation, broken wires, shorted or loose pins, ect... Next, borrow the lamp assembly from the good door and slave it in to set if that works. This will save $$ because you can't return electrical parts if that's not it.
     
    #6 frodoz737, Mar 31, 2014
  7. dbastille

    dbastille Junior Member

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    Thanks for your ideas and will try that once the weather gets better here. Been an icy rainy mess for awhile and need some dryness before I go into door panel if swapping lamps don't work.
     
    #7 dbastille, Mar 31, 2014
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