240sx Hatch Door open/ interior lights come on when braking or going over a bump

[redtop91]

My 1991 Nissan 240sx Hatchback Redtop SR20DET has a problem which before was simply an annoyance but it is getting worse as of late. Whenever I do any hard braking (as in anything more than a light stop) or go over any light bump in the road (potholes etc) the dash light that says a door is open comes on and the interior lights under the dash flash on for a split second like a door is open. I've checked and double checked all doors and they are shut. Any suggestions as to what it might be? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[redtop91]

Bump.

[redtop91]

Bump about bump problems

[jdm_master_X]

im thinking that your courtesy lights are intermittently being grounded when you go over bumps. check the light circuit and see if part of the wire is touching ground.

[vancouverbc]

http://img264.imageshack.us/my...4.jpg

i agree with above post. the courtesy lights have continuous 12v+. when you open the door , you close switch that supplies ground to the lights. if these wires touch any metal part of car , your lights will go on. wiggle the wires on both doors and see if you can duplicate symptoms.

[redtop91]

Wow. Thanks for the replies. Now I'm going to demonstrate how much of an electrical noob I am.

Can you give me specific locations for this:

check the light circuit and see if part of the wire is touching ground.

And this:

wiggle the wires on both doors and see if you can duplicate symptoms.

On the chassis. Thanks again guys...

[vancouverbc]

thats the tricky part. the wire that is grounding goes to both door switches and both courtesy lights and also goes to the interior light switch. grounds usually occur where someone has cut wire or at the connections/switches. start by hitting all the areas where you know the wire is.

[positron1]

That same thing happened to me, it turned out to be the switch on the door jam. When the door is closed there is a rubber grommet that covers the switch and also pushes it in and that turns off your interior lights. My rubber grommet or cover had come apart so the switch was not making full contact with the door and with every bump in the road the switch would lose contact and my interior lights would come on like my door was open. I could also push in on the door while it was closed and the lights would come on. Replace the rubber cover and your problem will be fixed, unless you also need a new switch too.You can see the switch here with the rubber, accordion like cover on it.This is a new switch and a new switch with a new rubber cover on it.