Last night while loading the car to return home, I discovered that the front interior lights don't come on when the passenger's door is open. The driver's door switch is working fine and both rear doors turn the rear interior lights on without a problem. I'm pretty sure that the problem therefore is with the pillar mounted switch on the passenger's door.

Has anyone had a similar problem? Is the issue likely with the switch or the wiring? My understanding is that these switches close the circuit to ground - is this correct?

Thanks
jlc

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Jeff

'87 560SEL 267K (177K on motor) Blue/Blue
'98 Buick LeSebre 60K (wife's car)
'56 Imperial Sedan 124K
Past Cars:
'67 Dodge Monaco 130K (Sold)
'87 Chrysler 5th Ave 245K and going strong (sold)
'73 Plymouth Satillite 175K (sold)
'96 Chrysler LHS 80K (totaled)

I had a similer problem with dome light,and it was the [seat belt warning relay]

Seat belt relay problem only applies if the lights don't come on with the driver's door open--like my car. The best thing to do is swap the switch with one from another door-easy to do. Then try grounding the switch with a jumper wire if the switch is good. (Make sure it is a ground connection, beleive it is.)

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2002 Mercedes-Benz E320 4Matic
1995 Mercedes-Benz E320 Wagon
2005 Land Rover LR3 V8 SE
1999 Audi A8 4.2L quattro

Don't these work just like your refridgerator door switch (normally open)? Pop the one out on the passenger side and connect/jumper the 2 wires together. It's the switch if the light comes on...

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1986 560SL
2002 Toyota Camry
1993 Lexus

the MBZ door light switch was apparently designed in about 1937--and hasn't been improved. They regularly fail to make connection when they get a few years old. Either 'work them' with contact cleaner or replace--they are cheap--both to buy and quality wise.