problem with interior car lights...

[joko]

they dont come on when i open the doors...they switch on fine manually, so the bulbs are fine...but no matter with position i leave the button in they still dont come on.

any ideas why?

i have a 2002 vw passast auto estate

thanks

[Answerprancer]

Your door switches are probably sticking in.
Usually they are simple spring-loaded posts that disappear into a hole as you close the door. They are usually located between the hinges of your doors and work the same way as the ones you find inside a fridge door. Try opening each door looking for a hole with a switch hiding in it that should have popped out - squirt a tiny bit of WD40 into it and if it it doesn't pop out, dig it out with something pointed like a jeweller's screwdriver or an opened up paperclip then test it by pressing it in - it should pop back out of its own accord.

[Toureman]

Not many cars made after 2000 have the push switches mentioned above, they are usually integral with the door locking mechanism.

You would need to take off the door cards to access them, have you checked the fuses?

[Graham-W]

Can't help you but I have the same problem with my Skoda Superb (based on the VW Passat).
Strange thing is the lights at the bottom of the doors work OK when you open the door so I don't think it's to do with the door switch.

[joko]

thanks all...i will check the mechanism, but as graham says the bottom lights come on when i open the door, just none of the interior ones...

i wondered about the fuses, but i havent checked them...the lights do work when switched manually though...so could it still be the fuses?