Has anyone experienced a problem with their car interior lights not working correctly? For whatever reason I can't turn mine off using the switch.

They stay on for every journey (in daylight or darkness) and only extinguish after a longer than normal period, after locking the car.

Yesterday evening I was setting up Forscan to read the Lamda sensors (which I did ok). I needed the interior lights on to see what I was doing and they wouldn't switch on. To get them to work I left the drivers door ajar. 

I'm guessing the events are somehow connected but I'm mystified as to why. Have gone from can't switch them on to can't switch them off and with an extended delay after locking the car.

Is there something I need to reset?

Can you post a photo of the light fitting that you have? 

 

These are the fittings, front and back. As can be seen, the front light still stays on but today the rear has decided not to come on at all 🙄

That looks pretty grim around the edge.  I wonder if the connections are corroded if it's damp up there?

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

That looks pretty grim around the edge.  I wonder if the connections are corroded if it's damp up there?

Yes Tom, doesn't look great. Didn't really want to remove them but looks like I'll need to.

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

That looks pretty grim around the edge.

Yep, that rust staining around the fitting on the headlining doesn't look promising...

The front and rear fittings are ........... "intelligent" as Ford would call them. They are electronic and don't just use a simple on/off switch. Also the rear light is actually a slave unit which is controlled via the circuit on the front light.

I think it quite possible that a replacement front light will be needed. Have a look on eBay or it's a trip to the local scrapyard.

Fixed the interior light!

I decided to take mine apart to see if there was anything obvious and I found the switch contacts were all corroded (see photo). The circuit board can be carefully unclipped from the light housing and reflector; rubber keypad easily comes off the board.

I carefully cleaned up the gold contacts (and associated button contacts), re-assembled and refitted the light and now all is good 😀

Couldn't find a suitable replacement at a price I was prepared to pay on eBay. Plenty listed but are a confusing collection of different part numbers. To buy new they are over £100.