Please don't answer if you don't know. Thank you.
Our dome light has not worked for some time now. My husband tried to replace the bulb yesterday. The brand new bulb flickered and then went off. Now every time we cut the car off and then crank it again, the clock goes to 1:00. Also, the door locks don't work unless the car has been running for awhile. What could be going on, and why did it start just because my husband tried to change the bulb? Thanks.
2006-09-29 17:26:15 · 10 answers · asked by SuzieQ92 3 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
This is a 1997 Toyota Camry if that makes any difference.
2006-09-29 17:52:02 · update #1
I am not suggesting my husband is to blame for the problem. It just seemed awfully coincidental that just when he tries to change the bulb, these other problems begin happening. I agree the dome light is a symptom of a bigger problem, because now that I think of it, some of the display panel doesn't light up properly either. Sometimes I have to turn the air conditioner off and then back on for the panel to light up properly. It's like it has a short or something.
2006-09-29 17:54:12 · update #2
i own a repair shop,,and i don't think it has anything to do with the bulb he changed on it,,it has lost its ground wire somewhere that's whats causing it,,i specialize in electrical at my shop,,and i have seen a lot of vehicles loose ground,and this is what they do,,its trying to ground through another source and it cant get a good enough ground to do it with,,,this is why the clock looses memory on it,,id start by checking at the battery ground there should be 2 ground wires one to the body,and one to the engine,,make sure both of them are clean and tight,and if there OK look in under the dash area,,there is a ground block under there that has several ground wires on it one of them may affect the dome light ,,try checking all this and somewhere you,ll run across the loose ground wire,good luck with it,i hope this help,s.
2006-09-29 17:38:31 · answer #1 · answered by dodge man 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
The dome light bulb is just a symptom, not a cause. I would first check your battery cables and connections to the battery to make sure there is no corrosion (that crusty white and blue-green stuff) and that there is a tight connection to the battery. You can clean any corrosion off with a solution of baking soda and water. In a pinch, soda-pop can be used, too.
The door locks aren't working unless the car's been running a while because that's when the alternator is charging up the battery. (And, in fact, the electrical system is mostly running on just the alternator. Although it's hard on the alternator to do this, you can actually remove the cables from the battery once the engine is running, and it will stay running. It can cause voltage spikes, though, so it's risky to the alternator's diodes.)
The clock resets because it's losing power.
If the battery, cables, and connections check out,
auto parts stores will check the battery for free to see if it's putting out the voltage and cranking amps it should.
2006-09-29 17:36:18 · answer #2 · answered by Jay S 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
SuzyQ92 ,, it sounds like your husband put the wrong type of bulb in the dome light socket,,, your car blew a fuse on the clock memory circuit, and the door locks are on the same circuit !!!!! Note: compare the old bulb with the new bulb, top and bottom and you will probably find a difference !!! mainly look at the contact points on both bulbs, and there is a possibility that the new bulb was shorted, look very closely !!!!!!!
2006-09-29 17:51:09 · answer #3 · answered by john l 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes it seems like a grounding problem by the way you talk but one other thing everyone overlooked was the possibility that the bulb is in backwards reversed polarity can cause strange things to happen in some DC electrical systems, so if not ground strap at battery and these problems were not there before installation of dome light check to make sure it was inserted correctly (GOOD LUCK)
2006-09-29 23:46:31 · answer #4 · answered by rotor29334 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Like Mikey and frank f have suggested. You did not get the full tale. there is not any way the police or all and sundry even with the indisputable fact that the owner of the automobile is going to ought to pay for damages and prefer reported right that is why. If spikes are used on a automobile, it develop into maximum likely in a pursuit. this signifies that the motive force is breaking the regulation for no longer pulling over. (even with if it develop into the incorrect automobile) At this element the motive force is going to be arrested and is committing against the law. The police use spike strips to quit the automobile, and motive force is arrested. Any damage to the automobile it quite is brought about is the duty of the motive force or proprietor at this element.
2016-12-04 01:25:53 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Symtoms indicate a bad ground, Locate the ground at the battery, a loose wire somewhere. This happens more often than not when having these kind of problems. And yes check your fuses.
2006-09-29 18:00:50 · answer #6 · answered by Dale 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Your question is way to vague.....what kind of car? Surely your
husbands lack of mechanical ability did not create your problem.
It obviously existed before he tackled the bulb problem.. Interior
lighting and door locks are part of your PATS system and will
most likely require a trained Technician to Diagnose your prob.
Sorry I could not help....
2006-09-29 17:33:49 · answer #7 · answered by RiverRat 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Clean the battery posts and connectors. Done
2006-09-29 17:48:15 · answer #8 · answered by Motorpsycho 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
sounds like a bad chassis ground
2006-09-29 17:30:53 · answer #9 · answered by rudee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Check ALL of the fuses in the Fuse block, one of them is blown.
2006-09-29 17:35:01 · answer #10 · answered by TommyTrouble 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋