Most vehicles have interior lights that are also called dome lights or courtesy lights. These can be located on the ceiling of the vehicle and illuminate when people enter or exit the car. The lighting normally stays lit until the vehicle is turned on so the passengers can safely fasten their seat belts. In addition, interior lights can aid in reading maps or finding lost items in the dark. The following are a few things you should know about your car’s interior lights.
Dim Lights
If your interior lights seem dim, this may be a sign of an alternator failure or the battery is going out. A simple way to determine if it is the alternator is to test the voltage. Special equipment, such as a voltage meter, is placed on the battery terminal and is read while the engine is running. If the reading is low, it may be time for an alternator replacement.
Flickering Lights
Flickering lights can be a mean a variety of different things, some of which include corrosion on the battery, electrical problems, a malfunction on a switch, or a bad alternator. The best idea is to have a mechanic do a basic inspection on your vehicle including battery and cables, to find out the root cause of the problem.
Lights Stay On
If your interior lights stay on even after the door closes check to make sure the front hood is properly latched. If it is, a sensor may not be working properly. A mechanic will be able to properly diagnose the problem and make any adjustments to your vehicle.
Replacing Interior Lights
Interior lights generally only need to be replaced when the bulb goes out. Some people do prefer LED bulbs in their vehicles, if you are one of them, YourMechanic can change out the bulbs for you. It takes proper tools and knowledge of the vehicle’s lighting system to properly change the bulbs, so this is best left to the professionals.
The interior lighting system of your vehicle comes in handy when putting on your seat belt, reading a map, or finding lost objects while going down the road in the dark. It is important to have a professional mechanic take a look at your vehicle if you have any problems with the lights, as it takes special knowledge and tools to deal with the car’s electrical system.
