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Chevrolet Camaro 2010-Present: Why Won't My Interior Lights Turn On/Off?

The dome light is one of those components that you don't really notice until it's not there. Tasked with lighting up the cabin of your Camaro, it's a relatively simple system, but one that is prone to problems over time. If yours isn't working properly, check out a few of these quick tips to troubleshoot the problem.

By Jeffrey Bausch - March 8, 2016

This article applies to the Chevrolet Camaro (2010-Present).

There are two ways to tell if your dome light system is on the fritz: either it doesn't light up when you enter/exit your Camaro, or it never turns off. Either which way, it needs to be fixed. The dome light is hooked up to a super simple system, so in order to diagnose the problem, all you need is a few minutes of free time to figure out what's causing the issue.

Camaro dome light
Figure 1. Do you have a case of the dome light blues?
Chevrolet Camaro 2010-Present Why Won't My Interior Lights Turn On/Off?

Material Needed

  • Flat head screwdriver

Step 1 – Check the dimmer slider

It could be stuck on/off.

If it's all the way up, or all the way off, it could be the reason why the dome light never goes on or never goes off.

Car's light dimmer
Figure 2. Check the dimmer to see what's what.

If the dimmer slider is okay, then continue to Step 2.

Step 2 – Check the door switch

It might be malfunctioning.

If your door switch is mucked up or otherwise faulty, this could be affecting the dome light. Turn the key to the on position so the radio comes on. Now, remove the key—the radio should stay on. Go ahead and open the driver's side door now. If the radio turns off, then the door switch is working fine. Repeat on the other door(s). If the radio stays on when you open the door, you've found the door with the faulty switch. It's integrated with the latch, so take a close look at it and determine if there's anything caught in the area that might be mucking it up or making it stick. Clean/adjust as necessary; worst case scenario, you may need to replace the door switch/latch.

Car door, interior lights
Figure 3. The car may think the door is still open.

If anything looks good with the door, then go on.

Step 3 – Check the fuse

There could be a lose or burnt fuse.

Take out your owner's handbook, determine which fuse is tied to the dome light system, and analyze it for damage or burnout. Replace as necessary.

Interior lights fuses
Figure 4. The source of the problem could be just a bad fuse.

If the fuses are okay, then move on to the light itself.

Step 4 – Check the bulb

It could be damaged or dead.

This might seem a bit obvious, but it's worth mentioning because oftentimes, owners will immediately jump to checking the electrical system or other components before checking the most simple and obvious of things. Remove the dome light cover and check out the bulb to see if there's any damage to it or its surrounding area. Replace as necessary.

dome light bulb issues
Figure 5. The issue could be just the bulb.

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