Weird electrical problem, power coming on randomly Options

[Rider]

Ok here's what happened today...hope you guys can figure it out. After getting out of my car, I closed the driver's door and as soon as I did, the power in the car came on (gauges, lights, stereo). The parking brake light and door ajar light were dim and flickering.

I tried a few things and ONLY AFTER turning the interior light switch to 'off' instead of 'door' was I able to close the door without the power coming on. However, the door ajar light stayed on.

A little earlier, I had been reading in the car with the key in the ignition, but in the 'off' position. Suddenly, the power came on as I described earlier. It went off after I pulled the key out.

Anyone have any idea what happened? Should I call a priest to exorcise the demons?



EDIT: I just realized it might have to do with the indiglo gauges or the aftermarket headunit that the previous owner installed...Also, I don't know if this is relevant, but the driver's door handle is kinda loose...maybe that has something to do with it.

This post has been edited by Rider: Feb 13, 2008 - 8:12 PM

[rjbibeau]

do you have a factory alarm

[Rider]

do you have a factory alarm

The factory alarm has been removed from the car.

[Rider]

Any help would REALLY be appreciated.

[jason]

if you turn on your parking brake lights or your headlight, when the interior lights and all are supposed to turn on, does your radio turn on as well? or does the radio turn on only when you turn the key to on or accessory?

if the first - sounds like someone was messing with your door plunger switch things.

i know with mine its the opposite, and i think its due to the cold.

if i OPEN a door, the interior lights dont come on, if i jiggle the lil pushbutton thing the door hits when it closes then everything pops on fine for a while.

possibly theres a loose wire on your switch and it thinks the door is open when its not - may only happen when theres a vibration, or some force applied to wiggle it loose (closing door, bumping door while reading/turning pages)

i would start with that, hold the switch in with the door open, and hit the heel of your hand into the door jam to see if that causes any of your effects

if its the second and the gauges and radio come fully on... they possibly could have tapped power into that circuit? or if it has an aftermarket alarm, they may have hooked the lights up to an auxilary channel and something there is going wrong

[Rider]

if you turn on your parking brake lights or your headlight, when the interior lights and all are supposed to turn on, does your radio turn on as well? or does the radio turn on only when you turn the key to on or accessory?

if the first - sounds like someone was messing with your door plunger switch things.

i know with mine its the opposite, and i think its due to the cold.

if i OPEN a door, the interior lights dont come on, if i jiggle the lil pushbutton thing the door hits when it closes then everything pops on fine for a while.

possibly theres a loose wire on your switch and it thinks the door is open when its not - may only happen when theres a vibration, or some force applied to wiggle it loose (closing door, bumping door while reading/turning pages)

i would start with that, hold the switch in with the door open, and hit the heel of your hand into the door jam to see if that causes any of your effects

if its the second and the gauges and radio come fully on... they possibly could have tapped power into that circuit? or if it has an aftermarket alarm, they may have hooked the lights up to an auxilary channel and something there is going wrong

Jason, thanks for your help. I think there is something wrong with the pushbutton that the door hits when it closes. I tried to jiggle it back and forth and the "door ajar" light kept dimming or going off when I hit a certain spot. I'll have one of my friends look at it too.