Hondaman4ever

Hello all.

All of a sudden the dome light in my '03 Civic stopped working when doors open (or when sliding the dome button to the "ON" position). I thought it was the bulb but then found out the bulb is good. I know this can be a little more complicated than in previous models. So, any one can tell me what to look for ?
Is this in any way tied to the DRL issue these cars have?

mac25

Go to an auto parts store, buy a Haynes manual for your vehicle.

check all the fuses/relays that the manual lists in the circuit.

NDNV

Check the #3 (7.5A) fuse in the under-hood fuse/relay box. This fuse also protects the trunk light, ignition switch light and spotlights.

ezone

What else doesn't work?
Door ajar chime still works?

Hondaman4ever

Sorry about the late reply and thanks for the replies. Last time I checked there was only the first reply. So I stopped checking.

ezone, door ajar chime (when key's in the ignition) still works. It's only the dome light. It actually worked a couple of times after posting here, then stopped, then worked, then stopped again and it isn't working at the moment. So, looks like some kind of contact problem maybe. My DRL is on and I'm wondering if they're connected in any way but I don't think they are.

NDNV, I'll try to check it tomorrow.

Thanks.

ezone

DRL should be completely separate and unrelated, search threads here I think there are several about resoldering the board components in the controller



Dome light circuit is grounded via its mounting screws, remove lens and make sure they aren't loose


or remove the dome light assembly and backprobe the harness connector to figure out if one power source or the other is missing at the time the light is inoperative


EDIT: Harness has one constant power wire and one switched ground wire, and the housing is still grounded through the mounting screws

NDNV

Sometimes the door plunger type switches on the chassis can get mangled from an errant seatbelt caught in the door when closing. This could cause the dome light not to operate when opening the door. Try the passenger's door to see if any difference or just check that the driver's door switch is OK. Just another possibility.