Phantom Overhead Light Switch

My 2002 Pathfinder has a strange problem. It first showed up only when the vehicle was very cold, below 32F. Now it shows up almost all the time at any temperature. When I really accelerate, or when I make a sharp left-hand turn, the front overhead light comes on for a couple of seconds, and then fades out like it is being triggered from the electronics rather than from a door switch directly.

Has anyone else had this, and any ideas for troubleshooting? I don't know where the electronics module is located, so I'm really flying blind here. Have many years of electronics experience, so not afraid to taackle this, once I find out where the module is located.

H. R. (Bob) Hofmann

Reply to
hrhofmann
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My '02 Pathfinder has had lots of electrical ghosts, but not this one (yet). In almost every case cleaning/reseating electrical connectors, grounds and/or loosening wiring harness clamps to allow more slack in the wires has cured the problems.

The overhead light fade-out circuit is invoked whenever one of the doors is opened & then closed, so I don't really think its a control module issue. You still should be looking at the door & tailgate switches. Try working them manually & I'll bet you will find a switch that's bent or sticking. Failing that, check the wires to the door switches for breaks in the insulation.

Reply to
E Meyer

does the light normally come on when the rear hatch is opened? could be a problem with the switch there (maybe the gasket/seal has compressed too much or isn't there).

Reply to
: P

forgot to mention to check the rear hatch latch. could be a problem there which causes a slight give of the hatch under heavy acceleration, which may also cause the light switch to momentarily make contact.

Reply to
: P

Where/what is the hatch light switch mechanism, I don't see an obvious switch like for the doors?

Bob Hofmann

Reply to
hrhofmann

Thanx very much for the info. It looks like the hatch swirch is toward the bottom of the door, I will have to explore that area. I wonder if it is a reed relay switch, or a microswitch, or what. Do you have any experience with these switches. The door switches are regular push type switches, but I don't see anything that looks like that on the back hatch.

Bob Hofmann

Reply to
hrhofmann

I have always had to close the door hard to get it to latch. Do you know what the rear door switch is? Something has changed from what it used to be. Worst case, I'll take off the hatch liner and tackle it.

Bob Hofmann

Reply to
hrhofmann

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