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2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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RussellG
New User
Dec 17, 2015, 8:46 AM
Post #1 of 7
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2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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The vehicle:
2001 Chevy Tracker
Approx. 230,000km
Essentially, for some time now I have been irritated by some lights that flicker. Here's some details:
Both front and rear some lights are flickering.
They do it when the vehicle is off and on.
They do it when any and all doors are open or when they are closed (ie: they're turned on by the switch).
Dashboard lights, headlights, the little map reading light on the mirror: none of those flicker.
I have ensured that the battery connection is tight.
Since it does it with the vehicle off, I feel I can rule out an alternator problem (am I correct?). I suspect wiring, but I don't know where to begin. Any insights would be appreciated.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 17, 2015, 9:29 AM
Post #2 of 7
(3574 views)
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Re: 2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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General ways of dome lights that come on when a door is open:
There is a switch that grounds either at door jam or at latch in most all. You should have on this vehicle a way to disable them such that they are always off at lights or otherwise and another to make them stay on no matter if door open or not.
The flickering could just be one door and probably is. Look for switch at door jam first if it's there - I just don't know how this vehicle does it.
If there many you can adjust such that door touches switch a bit more or add material to switch or where it touches door like glue a penny size something right there.
Almost all are seeking a ground contact so the flickering suggests it gets just a little. You could temporarily put material at where switch is to find which one. If not that the switches themselves may be bad inside with wet dirt or corrosion and would have plain look at them and fix or find new or good ones,
T
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RussellG
New User
Dec 17, 2015, 10:00 AM
Post #3 of 7
(3570 views)
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Re: 2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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Thank you for the response. I will take a look at that this afternoon.
I will say, however, that the lights flicker regardless of which door is open. It also flickers when the door is not open (but the light switch is on).
I'll take a peek and report back, regardless.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Dec 17, 2015, 10:08 AM
Post #4 of 7
(3566 views)
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Re: 2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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Just remember if you pull a switch out it's supposed to have voltage waiting so defeat power to it while taking one out as many can touch ground just doing that. Plain see how it's done first without messing with much,
T
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VoltMan
Novice
Dec 19, 2015, 11:13 PM
Post #5 of 7
(3533 views)
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Re: 2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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You can rule out the door switches being bad, as in having a poor ground connection, because, you say it also flickers when in the on position also. The on position and the 3 door switches all use a different ground source. They would not all be bad. If the map light does not flicker you can also rule out the positive path as the dome and map share a 12 volt power source. That leaves only the dome light bulb contacts or the switch as the likely source of the problem. BUT, you said some lights front and rear flicker, what other lights flicker other than the dome light?
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RussellG
New User
Dec 19, 2015, 11:18 PM
Post #6 of 7
(3528 views)
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Re: 2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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Thanks for confirming some of my suspicions.
Two lights flicker: the main dome light and the rear dome light located over the cargo area. Absolutely no other lights flicker.
Occasionally, the lights will behave normally for a brief period of time then return to their flickering ways. I have tried to find a catalyst for this behaviour but have not yet succeeded.
(This post was edited by RussellG on Dec 19, 2015, 11:19 PM)
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VoltMan
Novice
Dec 19, 2015, 11:35 PM
Post #7 of 7
(3522 views)
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Re: 2001 Tracker - Dome Lights Flickering
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Then the easiest way to test is get a wire with alligator clips, clip onto a good ground and with the lights flickering touch the ground wire to the negative side of the bulb contact, it should stop flickering if it is a ground problem, if not, clip your test wire to 12 volts and put it on the pos. side of the bulb. Most of the time it is always ground problem. Make sure you know which side of the bulb contact is hot so you don't accidentally blow your fuse when touching it with the ground wire.
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