door panel lights

[Brian Zaniboni]

The lights on the interior door panels won't work . Checked setting on overhead also checked fuses. Seems weird they would both stop working at same time. Anyone have any suggestions as to what the problem might be....Thanks

[Loren]

Exact model and year of your car please?

[Brian Zaniboni]

2002  911 Carrera 4

[Ahsai]

Does your window drop automatically for 1/2" or so AND STAY THAT WAY when you open the door?

[Brian Zaniboni]

Ahsai the window drops when you open the door then returns to fully up when door is closed. In fact everything else seems to work fine

Edited September 7, 2017 by Brian Zaniboni
Spelling

[Ahsai]

Do your vanity mirror lights work? They are powered off from the same circuit as the door panel lights. The door panel lights are directly controlled by the alarm module. Can't explain why both went out. Have you checked the bulbs?

[Brian Zaniboni]

Ahsai 

i will check that out first thing in the morning. I also found it odd that they both stopped working at the same time. Maybe I'm looking at the wrong fuse also

[Brian Zaniboni]

Ahsai 

vanity mirror lights are working. Do you know how I can get the cover of lights on the lower section of the door panel off so that I can check the bulbs

[Ahsai]

Use a soft plastic spatula to pry it up carefully on the rear section of the cover.

Edited September 8, 2017 by Ahsai

[Brian Zaniboni]

Just checked bulbs seem to be ok but when I get a chance I will change both 

do you happen to know which fuse might control these lights

[Ahsai]

You got a strange problem and it's not the fuses (B8, E1, E4) because as I tried to explain before, the vanity lights are on the same circuit as the door panel lights.

[Ahsai]

The orientation light (LED) above the inside door latch is also from the same circuit. Are those working? They may be very dim and can only be seem in total darkness.

[Brian Zaniboni]

Yes the led lights are working 

[Ahsai]

You can use a 9v battery to test your bulbs. If it's not the bulbs, I have no other ideas.

[Brian Zaniboni]

Just now, Ahsai said:

You can use a 9v battery to test your bulbs. If it's not the bulbs, I have no other ideas.

Bulbs are fine

thanks for all your help I really appreciate it

[cds72911]

Any chance someone had the interior door panels off and just forgot to plug the lights back in?  You'll know immediately when you pry the lenses out.

[judgejon]

Good point re connectors.  sometimes things do come loose.  

I doubt that would happen in both doors at the same time, unless the car had been apart for restoration or painting or something that required both door panels to be removed.

I'm not sure that's likely.

Only other possibility is that the fuses were rewired to accommodate a radar detector or other accessory and were not properly remarked.

Good luck.

[Brian Zaniboni]

The lights are now working have no idea why but they work 

[judgejon]

great.

something is probably loose somewhere.  maybe a connection flexes or moves around on bumpy roads, etc.

smooth sailing.  

[Ahsai]

Great, you got a self-healing 996! :)