1966 mustang door jam switch

mustang66gtaqua · 07-09-2009

My interior lights work only when i have the left door open...when i open the right door there is no interior lights....i replaced the door jam switch...and nothing..can someone help

dne' · 07-09-2009

Hi, dne' here,
Do you remember the passenger side door light switch ever working? You may want to pull the little switch back out, take a test light and see if one of the wires is Hot(12 volt). Maybe possible to have a bad switch or a bad ground. New things can be defective too. I'm unfamiliar with your year model, I have a '67 and just figuring your switch is like mine. If neither of the wires reveals no voltage, then you'll have to trace the wire back to where it came from. Maybe it came unplugged from its source(unlikely), but who knows been in the wiring harness over the years. A shop manual could be quite helpful utilizing wiring schematics.

Hope this helps a bit.
dne'

Jay H 237 · 07-09-2009

The switch is only a spring loaded contact. When the spring is extended (door open) it presses the contacts together to complete the circuit (lights on). When the switch is depressed (door closed) the contacts are separated and the circuit is broken (lights off).

There's two things you can try and DNE' mentioned the first by looking for voltage. The second is use the multimeter on ohms and go between the connections on the switch as you press and release it. You should have an "OL" (open line) reading with the switch depressed and 0.0 ohms (or possibly a faint reading depending on your meter) with the switch let go, plunger out.

mustang66gtaqua · 07-12-2009

hey guys thanks

Print Dad · 07-14-2009

Hello Mustang66gtaqua,
Great advice already given but I offer a quick try.
When you say right side doesn't work I assume that you refer to pass side.
Open the door and look where the wires go into the front end of the door.
Frist look for obvious breaks, then try to squeeze the harness that surrounds the wires. I have often seen these wires break inside the harness.
It is more common on the driver door (more usage) but it does happen on the pass side as well. If you get lucky, wiggling the harness may make a contact allowing the light to go on. The you will need to resplice the broken wire but at least yo will have an idea of where the break is (if any).....Just an idea that is simple to try......Print Dad