1967 Fleetwood courtesy lights

[okccadman]

On my car, the courtesy lamps at either far end of the dash work when you turn the headlight switch counterclockwise with the rest of the interior lights but do not come on when you open either front door.  All of the other interior and door lamps operate just fine when you open a door, just not these.  Where should I check first?

[dplotkin]

The owners manual. They may not be designed to come on with the front doors. The 56 Cadillac dome lamp comes on only with the rear doors, not the front...had me screwing around needlessly until I figured that out.

Dan

[Richardonly]

Dan,

I have the same situation with my 1948.  The rear doors light the dome, but not the front doors.

YET, the front doors do have the "switch" which would indicate that they should?

Richard

[Richardonly]

Jim,

Wish I could help you, but I am unfamiliar with the "newer" Cadillacs.

For what it is worth, I understand that the wire connects the "ground", at least on older cars like mine.

Richard

[okccadman]

I know on my older cars (1954, 1956), the rear doors operate the dome and the front doors operate only the map light on the dash.  My manual says all courtesy lights should operate when a front door is opened on the 1967.

[Eric DeVirgilis CLC# 8621]

ok: I think the problem might be in the door switch(s). I've noticed on my '62 sometimes only the front courtesy lights will turn on when a door is opened- usually the lesser-used passenger door. Fiddling around with the switch I can get just the rear lights to turn on, just the fronts or all. I'm thinking there were two seperate circuits that run through the same switch somehow- that's the only explaination that I can think of.

To my knowledge, all courtesy lamps should illuminate when any door is opened with the possible exception of the map lamp on Cadillacs of a similar era to yours. The owners manual should have specific information on proper interior lamp function- as you've pointed out. Perhaps try spraying some "DeOxit" electrical contact cleaner into the door switches for a start.