Honda Car Forum

My wife has about 10,000 miles on her 2003 CRV EX. Recently the dome
light sometimes doesn't work.

The light is supposed to go on when you open the door but doesn't
sometimes, especially at night. Then, during the day it comes on when we
open the door. I tried the dome light switch --on the light itself-- in
all three locations with no effect when it doesn't work.

Today she brought the CRV for an oil change and the service department
"checked all door switches" and said the light worked for them. My wife
confirms it worked then. (Of course!) Tonight the light again doesn't
work. I can open any door, put the light switch in any place and the
light won't work.

It seems to me that this is not a door switch. It must be some part of
the circuit common to all the doors. Any ideas? How do I get service to
fix it?

On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 00:00:47 -0400, M No spam <M_no_spam_@nowhere.net>
wrote:

>
>My wife has about 10,000 miles on her 2003 CRV EX. Recently the dome
>light sometimes doesn't work.
>
>The light is supposed to go on when you open the door but doesn't
>sometimes, especially at night. Then, during the day it comes on when we
>open the door. I tried the dome light switch --on the light itself-- in
>all three locations with no effect when it doesn't work.
>
>Today she brought the CRV for an oil change and the service department
>"checked all door switches" and said the light worked for them. My wife
>confirms it worked then. (Of course!) Tonight the light again doesn't
>work. I can open any door, put the light switch in any place and the
>light won't work.
>
>It seems to me that this is not a door switch. It must be some part of
>the circuit common to all the doors. Any ideas? How do I get service to
>fix it?

It's more likely in the light unit itself or the wiring to it. It's
probably a loose bulb.

Rgds, George Macdonald

"Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

Hi,
Replace the lamp and see what happens.
Tony

George Macdonald wrote:
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 00:00:47 -0400, M No spam <M_no_spam_@nowhere.net>
> wrote:
>
>
>>My wife has about 10,000 miles on her 2003 CRV EX. Recently the dome
>>light sometimes doesn't work.
>>
>>The light is supposed to go on when you open the door but doesn't
>>sometimes, especially at night. Then, during the day it comes on when we
>>open the door. I tried the dome light switch --on the light itself-- in
>>all three locations with no effect when it doesn't work.
>>
>>Today she brought the CRV for an oil change and the service department
>>"checked all door switches" and said the light worked for them. My wife
>>confirms it worked then. (Of course!) Tonight the light again doesn't
>>work. I can open any door, put the light switch in any place and the
>>light won't work.
>>
>>It seems to me that this is not a door switch. It must be some part of
>>the circuit common to all the doors. Any ideas? How do I get service to
>>fix it?
>
>
> It's more likely in the light unit itself or the wiring to it. It's
> probably a loose bulb.
>
> Rgds, George Macdonald
>
> "Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who, me??

"M No spam" <M_no_spam_@nowhere.net> wrote in message
news:S%Q9b.66744$Zw4.56654@lakeread03...
>
> My wife has about 10,000 miles on her 2003 CRV EX. Recently the dome
> light sometimes doesn't work.

This is why you have a warranty. Granted it is difficult for techs to fix a
problem they can't duplicate but just bitch until it is fixed.

-Will

I had a similar problem with my 2002 Toyota Avalon and it turned out to be a
loose ground wire.


"Tony Hwang" <dragon40@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:s58ab.8770$CU3.1460@pd7tw3no...
> Hi,
> Replace the lamp and see what happens.
> Tony
>
> George Macdonald wrote:
> > On Wed, 17 Sep 2003 00:00:47 -0400, M No spam <M_no_spam_@nowhere.net>
> > wrote:
> >
> >
> >>My wife has about 10,000 miles on her 2003 CRV EX. Recently the dome
> >>light sometimes doesn't work.
> >>
> >>The light is supposed to go on when you open the door but doesn't
> >>sometimes, especially at night. Then, during the day it comes on when we
> >>open the door. I tried the dome light switch --on the light itself-- in
> >>all three locations with no effect when it doesn't work.
> >>
> >>Today she brought the CRV for an oil change and the service department
> >>"checked all door switches" and said the light worked for them. My wife
> >>confirms it worked then. (Of course!) Tonight the light again doesn't
> >>work. I can open any door, put the light switch in any place and the
> >>light won't work.
> >>
> >>It seems to me that this is not a door switch. It must be some part of
> >>the circuit common to all the doors. Any ideas? How do I get service to
> >>fix it?
> >
> >
> > It's more likely in the light unit itself or the wiring to it. It's
> > probably a loose bulb.
> >
> > Rgds, George Macdonald
> >
> > "Just because they're paranoid doesn't mean you're not psychotic" - Who,
me??
>

>It's more likely in the light unit itself or the wiring to it. It's
>probably a loose bulb.
>
>Rgds, George Macdonald
>
>
>

Thanks, to all who answered.

After I wrote the message last night, I took the bulb out. I noticed
that the light went on when I touched the bulb (either the metal or the
glass part) but then went off when I removed my finger. The bulb is
clipped in place similar to a fuse. One metal cap contact came off the
bulb when I removed it. I suspected a bad bulb.

Today I put in a new bulb. (More than $4 for a bulb!) The light works
fine today and tonight. That seems to have fixed it.

My question is why couldn't the service tech have suggested this to my
wife? Did they even check the bulb? This is supposed to be the best
service oriented "Honda President's Award" dealer in my area. So much
for good service.

After 3 previous Honda's with many hundreds of thousands of miles, my
wife and I cannot recall ever previously changing a dome light bulb.
Hmmmm.....

On 9/17/03 10:41 PM, in article uP9ab.68610$Zw4.26657@lakeread03, "M No
spam" <M_no_spam_@nowhere.net> wrote:

>
>> It's more likely in the light unit itself or the wiring to it. It's
>> probably a loose bulb.
>>
>> Rgds, George Macdonald
>>
>>
>>
>
> Thanks, to all who answered.
>
> After I wrote the message last night, I took the bulb out. I noticed
> that the light went on when I touched the bulb (either the metal or the
> glass part) but then went off when I removed my finger. The bulb is
> clipped in place similar to a fuse. One metal cap contact came off the
> bulb when I removed it. I suspected a bad bulb.
>
> Today I put in a new bulb. (More than $4 for a bulb!) The light works
> fine today and tonight. That seems to have fixed it.
>
> My question is why couldn't the service tech have suggested this to my
> wife? Did they even check the bulb? This is supposed to be the best
> service oriented "Honda President's Award" dealer in my area. So much
> for good service.
>
> After 3 previous Honda's with many hundreds of thousands of miles, my
> wife and I cannot recall ever previously changing a dome light bulb.
> Hmmmm.....
>
>
Take the bad bulb back to them and ask for a refund since they should have
fixed it under warranty for free. If it gets back to the guy who fixes
these things, he'll know to look for it on the next one.

> Take the bad bulb back to them and ask for a refund since they should have
> fixed it under warranty for free. If it gets back to the guy who fixes
> these things, he'll know to look for it on the next one.

I agree. Take the bulb for refund. they should at least credit it on your
next oil change.