Jeep interior lights are a necessary part of the driving experience. They allow you to see what is going on in the car when it is dark, and also provide a measure of safety when you are driving at night. However, there can be problems with Jeep interior lights like lights won’t turn on when doors open.
As usual, there are certain reasons behind this problem. The major causes of this problem may include the dome lights, bad door switches, blown fuses, or the dashboard cluster. Wiring problems can also cause malfunctions in the interior lights.
However, if jeep interior lights won’t turn on when doors open, there are usually pretty straightforward solutions that can be gained by following some easy procedure. So, let’s dive into the depth of each cause and its solutions.
Why Jeep Interior Lights Won’t Turn On When Doors Open?
There are numerous reasons why the interior lights of a Jeep won’t turn on when the doors open. Among them the most common causes will be the following:
- Damaged light switches
- Faulty door switches
- Blown fuses
- Defective wiring harness
- Faulty dashboard cluster
- Burned out bulbs
- Damaged dome light
- Faulty dimmer switches
7 Easy Fix For Jeep Interior Lights Won’t Turn On When Doors Open Issues
By now, we are familiar with the most common causes of jeep interior lights problems. So, now we will discuss the seven most common problems in detail along with their possible solutions and fixing costs.
1. Faulty Dome Light: Flip the Switch in the Right Position or Replace the Bad Dome Light Bulb
The dome light is usually located in the middle of the ceiling of your jeep. It is the largest source of light in a car. If the dome light stops turning on when doors open, there may be a malfunction with the switch or there may be a blown fuse in the line.
First of all, go to check the switch if it is in the right position. Basically, the dome lights have three settings: “Off”, “ON”, or “Door”. When the “Door” option is activated the dome light will come on when the doors open. But if somehow the switch is in the wrong position, it won’t work.
So position the switch to the “Door” option and check again if it works when the door is opened. If it still doesn’t work, it may be a result of a bad dome light bulb. So, check the bulb and replace it as it’s required. To do so, pop the old light bulb out using a flat screwdriver and insert the replacement.
In that case, the overall cost for a bad dome light replacement will run between $60 and $75. The expected labor cost can be between $30-$60 while the bulbs are priced between $10 to $25.
2. Damaged Door Switches: Diagnose the Bad Door Switch and Replace It
Door switches or connectors are those which give the command to the interior lights to come on or off. These switches are located in the door jambs of your jeep. So, When you open the door, they will literally turn on and they will turn off when you close the door.
But when the interior lights of your jeep don’t come on, the problem may lie in the door switches. To solve the problem, check the connectors if there is any power. In that case, you can use a multimeter. If there is no power, it means the switch is damaged.
By then, go for replacing the bad door connectors. The average cost for bad door connectors replacement is between $85 to $105. The labor cost is estimated between $40 to $60, while the new connectors will cost between 10 dollars and 25 dollars.
3. Blown Fuses: Remove the Blown Fuse and Replace It
Jeep interior light problems may be detected, when there is usually one or more blown fuses in the line. To explore the exact problem, take a multimeter and check if there is continuity between the terminals of a fuse. If not, it means it is blown.
The easiest solution for this problem is to remove the blown fuse and install a good one. But remember you should only use the same type of fuse while replacing the blown fuse.
You can get a new pack of fuses for $15-25, while the technician will charge you between $80 and $95. So, the average cost for replacing a blown fuse on your jeep will be around $110.
4. Damaged wiring harness: Fix The Damaged Wiring
Once you replace the blown fuses but still have problems or the fuses are frequently getting blown, it means there is a wiring problem in the line. In most cases, it may be the result of a short circuit.
So, visually inspect all the locations where the wires are usually bent and crimp. If the wires are loose, broken, or blown, remove them and replace them with a new piece of wire.
On average, the cost of fixing a damaged wiring harness is between $1000-$1300. The labor cost is roughly between $400 to $500, while the wire harness will cost from $300 to $700.
5. Faulty Light Switches: Replace the Faulty Light Switch
A defective light switch is one of the most common causes of interior light problems. Light switches tell the lights how to behave or react to your actions. So, when there is a problem with the switches, it fails to control the lights and the lights fail to come on.
When there is a faulty switch, it fails to scroll between the modes or sometimes it tends to create cracking sounds. In that case, call the mechanic to ensure the exact problem and replace the faulty switch with a new one.
In that case, a new light switch can cost you between $10-20 while the mechanic will charge from $40 to $60.
6. Faulty Dashboard Cluster: Remove the Bad One and Install a New One
A faulty dashboard cluster can also be the reason for your jeep interior lights problem. The dashboard cluster also called the instrument cluster is the part of your jeep where all the meters are installed. So, if there is any issue detected in the instrument cluster, it can badly affect the lights from working.
To solve the problem, the only solution for this problem is to get a new cluster and replace the defective one. In that case, a professional car mechanic can help you to install the new cluster to your jeep.
The mechanic will charge you around $150 as his labor cost. Besides, the average price range of a new cluster is about $150-$450. This price range can also vary by your jeep’s model.
7. Burned Out Bulbs: Replace the Damaged Bulb
If one or more interior lights won’t turn on while the other bulbs are still working, it is mainly the reason for a burned-out bulb. To make sure if the bulb is burned out or the problem is somewhere else, uncover the bulb and diagnose the exact problem.
Replace the damaged bulb with an active one if the original one is actually burned out.
The average cost for replacing a burned-out bulb will run between $85 and $95. The parts are estimated between $15-$20, while the labor cost will be around $65 to $75.
FAQs.
By now, we have pretty good knowledge about why the jeep insights won’t turn on. So, now we’ll give the answers to a few more questions that will help you to know more about this problem.
Why won’t my interior lights come on when I open the door?
The most possible cause for why the interior lights won’t come on is there is a damaged light switch. A short between the fuse and the door switch is still another potential culprit.
What controls the interior lights in a jeep?
The room light switch turns on and off all the interior lights. Besides, the door light switch allows you to see whether the rear or front lights turn on when a rear or front door is open.
How do you change a jeep interior bulb?
To change a jeep interior bulb, start by removing the plastic cover using a flat-head screwdriver.
Then pops out the damaged bulb and install a new one. Now pop the plastic cover back into the palace.
How do you turn on the interior lights in a jeep?
Flip the dome light switch to the “Door” position. It will let the interior lights turn on automatically when the doors open.
What to do when your jeep interior lights stop working?
The first thing to do when your jeep interior lights stop working is to figure out the exact problem and the reason behind the problem.
After that try to do the possible replacements. If you are unable to solve the problem by yourself, call a certified technician to fix the problem.
Conclusion
By the end of the article, we would like to suggest one more thing. That is, always try to do a regular check-up of the functions of your jeep interior lights if there is any problem detected.
The jeep interior lights are very significant parts of your jeep that illuminate the inside of your car and also work as a safety feature in the car. So it’s essential to make sure that the lights are working properly.
But what if the interior lights of the jeep don’t illuminate when the doors open? Hopefully, we have already got the answer. Though the problem can be very annoying, it is undoubtedly very easy to replace the interior light bulbs when they are malfunctioning.
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