Front interior lights go on and off with door shut/auto door closers started working?

[86560SEL]

Well some may know of my car starting problems, well the car starts now and runs fine.

I was about to wash the car and I noticed the front overhead interior lights on, then they went off... then I got the hose and looked again and they were on! I stood there and they kept going on and off. When I would lock the doors, they would go off and stay off, but if the doors were unlocked, the interior lights would go on and off. What gives? I imagine that this is what ran my battery down. I am guessing a faulty door interior light switch?

Lastly, the "automatic door closers" had never worked since I have owned the car, but today I closed the trunk and it pulled down on its own! I tried and doors and they work too! What in the world is going on with these? lol.

The MB tech I talked to about the car said they had not worked for years and it was going to be $$$$ to repair, so the owner never bothered with them, now suddenly they work fine.

I thought the interior light deal may be where the auto closer was not closing the door tight, but I closed them tight without the closer doing it and the interior lights still came on and off.

Any help appreciated! The car is a '93 W140.

[Elektri]

I would look at the factory wiring diagrams, then use a multimeter to see what is going on at various places in the circuit.

If I determined it was a door switch problem, I might try disconnecting one switch at a time until I found the problem switch.

Also as I checked various points on the electrical circuits, I would clean all electrical connections I came across with electrical parts cleaner.

[86560SEL]

Thanks. Well it is one of the front doors, because the front lights do not come on when the rear doors are opened, so it should be a little easier to track down.

I am also puzzled as to why the auto door closers started working out of nowhere... they have not worked since I have purchased the car.

[Elektri]

Originally Posted by 86560SEL

...I am also puzzled as to why the auto door closers started working out of nowhere... they have not worked since I have purchased the car.

If you purchased the car in winter (this is your first summer), then that could be a poor electrical connection somewhere. Those connections might not work when the outside temperatures are cold, but work when things warm up. (Or the other way around.)

The problem is finding that poor electrical connection when everything is working! You pretty much need to wait until the problem occurs again, then track it down with a multimeter.

[86560SEL]

Thanks! Well I am not much at guessing games, so I guess it is another thing for the mechanic to check.

Thanks again.