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2008 Dodge Ram Interior Map Lights

S

squeeg22

Senior member
On the '08 Dodge Ram 1500, the interior map lights are activated by depressing the lens cover of the lamp. I recently noticed that on both of my lights, depressing the cover doesn't turn on them on (either the left or right one). However, the lamps do light up when I open the doors, which tells me that it probably isn't a blown fuse or wiring problem.

Anyone know what could cause this and how I can fix it?

Thanks.
 
maybe the key has to be on?

dodge was weird for that kind of thing.

in my dads challenger i think the key has to be on for him to use the horn.
 
Tried it with the truck on and off - same result either way. Also, checked the dimmer switch and that controls the dome light, but not the map lights. If it was a blown fuse, the light shouldn't work at all, right?
 
strange wiring for that truck...

the cluster provides a ground when you push the button for the map lights...

do you have vanity lights on that thing?
 
i'll leave you with this.

k30z7c.jpg


the lamps are grounded by the instrument cluster so you may have a broken wire or if the vanity lamps don't work you may have a dead driver in the cluster.

my bet is a broken splice in the head liner.
 
The vanity light doesn't appear to work at all (there's only a left light on the mirror). The reading lamps turn on when the doors open or dimmer switch is turned up, and they turn on and off when the lens is depressed. Must be the dead driver as you stated.
 
squeeg22 said:
The vanity light doesn't appear to work at all (there's only a left light on the mirror). The reading lamps turn on when the doors open or dimmer switch is turned up, and they turn on and off when the lens is depressed. Must be the dead driver as you stated.
Click to expand...

i bet its the splice in the roof liner

should be easy to pull down.

i once found 4 dead mice and a chewed up wire in a headliner.

should be a yellow with gray striped wire.

does the rear dome lamp work?
 
It's possible the switches under the lens cover have failed. Did they both stop working at the exact same time? Does the click of the switch, when you push on the lens cover, feel like it should?
 
I'll try checking the splice in the roof liner. Better not be any mice in mine!!!

The switches under the lens cover work when the doors are open, so they appear to be working fine.

Yes, the rear dome lamp works, both when the doors open and when the interior dimmer switch is activated. The rear dome lamp doesn't have a lens cover switch.
 
squeeg22 said:
IThe switches under the lens cover work when the doors are open, so they appear to be working fine.
Click to expand...
Those are different switches. There are switches in the door jamb which control when the lamps light as the door is opened, and there are switches built into the lamp cover.
 
Wingznut said:
Those are different switches. There are switches in the door jamb which control when the lamps light as the door is opened, and there are switches built into the lamp cover.
Click to expand...

I wonder if they are the old style switch.

When you press the light does it click or feel like it gives into the pressure at a further point?

I would agree with the notion it is a bad switch.
 
inachu said:
I wonder if they are the old style switch.

When you press the light does it click or feel like it gives into the pressure at a further point?

I would agree with the notion it is a bad switch.
Click to expand...

The lights are the type that click. To turn them on/off, you depress the lens cover and hear/feel a click. Press again to turn on/off.

And to clarify, when the door is opened, all interior lights turn on (as they should). If I press the light while the door is opened, it will click and turn off. Press it again and it'll turn on. But when the door is closed and the light turns off, I can't press the light to have it turn on again. So, when the door is opened the switch works normally. The switch doesn't activate the light once the doors are closed.
 
if the lights turn off when you press them with the door open and the rear dome lamp works its a broken wire for sure.

you can pull down the front light and ground the yellow gray wire and it should turn on with the doors closed.
 
Hello squeeg22. Did you get this figured out? I'm having the same problem with my Ram and having a hard time finding information online. Thank You.
 
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