Interior light at liftgate not staying on long... annoying!

[02blackenvoy]

On my 02 Envoy, the little light at the rear gate stays on for about 1 min. I drive a truck for a living, and I keep all my supplies in the back of the Voy. When the light goes out, I have to go open one of the other doors to make the light stay on back there.

Is there a fix to this so it will stay on when the gate is up? Or could I even take one of the same type of light (like from above the drivers door) that I can push on and off as I need?

Its really annoying and a little pet peeve with the truck.

Thanks!

Shawn

 

[IllogicTC]

It seems to me like maybe the sensor that detects when the gate is open is not working properly. It would definitely be worthwhile to troubleshoot it and determine if repair/replace is needed since you spend plenty of time in the liftgate area, and have a proper fix. I'm not sure if the pushbutton-style lamp could be installed, but I'm sure with a little bit of modding know-how it's doable.

 

[Blckshdw]

I know there's only 2 wires feeding the cargo light, compared to 3 that feed the switchable lights, so you'd have to do a little rewiring to have that function if you wanted it.

 

[IllogicTC]

I know there's only 2 wires feeding the cargo light, compared to 3 that feed the switchable lights, so you'd have to do a little rewiring to have that function if you wanted it.

True. One's for ground, one's for courtesy lamp purposes, and one's for on-demand lighting.

 

[kickass audio]

Something the OP may benefit from, granted this would bypass the rundown protection so be careful, is to either get a mercury switch you can mount to the lift gate or a toggle switch you flip on yourself and have constant 12v going to those wires so when you either flip the switch or open the lift gate, the light stays on. That would be more beneficial to you if you are in the back longer than the rundown protection gives you time for. The rundown protection will do exactly as you are reporting where it shuts the light off to help prevent you from killing your battery if you accidentally left a door open with the engine off.

And not to threadjack but since you guys mentioned it, I have LED's in my dome lights and when I turn on the reading lamp, it is dim as hell. Do you know if splice the one wire for the reading lamps into constant 12v positive if that would fix it? I didn't get the chance to get in there with my o-scope yet and see the voltage on it but its next to nothing for light output.

 

[Blckshdw]

get a mercury switch you can mount to the lift gate or a toggle switch you flip on yourself and have constant 12v going to those wires so when you either flip the switch or open the lift gate, the light stays on.

I dunno why I didn't think of this, considering I just did the same thing with my under hood lighting about a month ago. Good call.

And not to threadjack but since you guys mentioned it, I have LED's in my dome lights and when I turn on the reading lamp, it is dim as hell. Do you know if splice the one wire for the reading lamps into constant 12v positive if that would fix it? I didn't get the chance to get in there with my o-scope yet and see the voltage on it but its next to nothing for light output.

It's a PWM signal I believe, so if you traced that wire back to the BCM and installed a cap, that should fix it. Not sure on what value you'd need though.

 

[Einst-Hawk]

Here's an idea if you don't mind the tackyness of it. You could get one of those stick on battery powered lights. Like the kind you would put in a closet. No wiring required.