I have a '97 Civic EX and I am having trouble figuring out the dome light. I have an aftermarket head unit installed (car didn't come with the OEM one, and i don't want to buy one to hide behind the dash). I searched the problem and found out that the issue lies in the similar problem as "no keyless entry" without the OEM head unit. I also found out that all is needed to do is add a jumper between the lt. grn/red wire and lt. grn/blk wire in the green connector for the keyless entry/security system that was originally plugged into the OEM head unit... or you can buy Scosche Part Number: HA03B http://www.scosche.com/products/productID/297

When I add a jumper, the dome light comes on, but will NOT go off when the door is closed. Also, the dome light will continue to light when it is unbolted from the ceiling (ground nut removed) which makes me think all that the jumper is doing is grounding the dome light thru the harness. And yes, I do have the dome light switch in the correct middle position.

I am planning to add a Valet 712T keyless entry system very soon, and it has an option for "dome light supervision", so if wiring that up will fix my problem, then please let me know how to do that.

Cliffs notes:
'97 Civic EX
aftermarket head unit (no OEM unit at all)
dome light doesn't turn off when doors are closed

thanks,
Don

 

It could be that one of your door triggers are not working properly.

Whenever one of the doors are open, I *think* it sends a ground to the dome light [I could be wrong] (so you would not need the grounding nut which is probably only for when you have it in the ON position). So maybe even though the doors are closed, the trigger (small black rubber pin on the inside of the door, close to where it latches) is still acting like it is open.

You can unplug each door trigger, one at a time until you find it. If I remember correctly (and it is like most Civics), you just pull the rubber back and there is a 10mm bolt holding it in place. You'll probably have to take the panel that is behind it off (or at least the door seal).

 

And I don't believe "dome light supervision" will solve your problem. I know it turns your dome light on when you unlock the car, and it's supposed to turn the dome light off when you lock it, but I think it just puts it back to "normal" how the car should be operating (which in your case, it isn't and it would leave the dome light on)

 

i was kinda thinking it might be a faulty door trigger. the one on the right rear (the car is a sedan) had the metal connector unplugged from it when i bought the car. i plugged it back in, but just didn't seem to fit exactly right.

something i did notice is that when i have the key in the ACC position, the door open chime sounds when i have the driver's side door open, but not the others (from what i remember, will confirm today after work).

thanks for the help

 

Pretty much what whizdumb said.

The door pins supply the dome light with a ground, the 3 pass. doors are common but the drivers door supplies the ICU with a ground and the ICU in turn supplies the ground to the dome light, [common wiring with the other doors] this of course is through the stock radio for dome light suppervision, the ICU also controls the chimes, if chimes work properly then drivers door switch is working properly.

The dome light is staying on because it is still getting a ground from a door pin or the common door pin wiring, [possible "short" to ground] or you have not jumped the correct leads, domelight side is correct but other side may not be.

I would start by removing all pass. door switches and unplugging them and see what happens. 94

 

replaced the one door jamb switch that i thought was to blame and it fixed it! thanks for the help on that.

another problem has started though, and seems to have started since i was messing around jumping pins on that green connector. the turn signals don't work now. is there anything that is in that connector that i could have jumped and blown something to cause the turn signals not to work?

i already checked the 7.5A fuse for the turn signals in the underdash fuse box and it was fine.

holy crap... i was just getting ready to list what all i had unplugged and realized that the hazard switch was unplugged. ran outside to see if that was the problem and sure enough, they work now. well that problem is fixed, thanks Don.