Map & Dome Light auto shut-off malfunction after Meso install?

Just installed a Meso Red LED Dome light. After dickin' around with the simple install, I buttoned up everything, put my tools away, and locked the truck. Went back about 10 minutes later and the Map & Dome were still ON. Thought I had left it in the "ON" position rather than "Door" position. Checked by sliding switch back n'forth, checked Map switch was in center "door" position and locked her up again. 15 minutes later on return, same thing as before. They were still on. Tried driving the truck after confirming correct positions and they wouldn't dim and go off.

I have checked every single fuse in the "in-cab" panel as well as a majority of the small fuses in the engine bay fuse box but I'm not sure what circuit the auto shut-off would be connected to. Returned the OEM light bulb back and eliminated the Meso LED thinking maybe it's a thermal switch or something and the LED isn't providing the resistance an incandescent lamp would be but the same situation exists. No fix. I have to turn the Map Light to "OFF" to get them to shut off under all conditions.

Anybody have a similar experience or some knowledge/direction of a troubleshoot?

 

Something is grounded that shouldn’t be. The lights have a constant 12v signal, and the ground floats (that is how they fade). So if the lights are grounded, they will be on.

 

Sometimes the most dumb answer is the correct one, are the lights “pushed” in the on position?

 

Could it be polarity? I wouldn't think so since the incandescent is like a buss fuse....or is it? The Meso has a positive and negative on the adapter that takes the place of the OEM bulb. Perhaps making the wrong contact caused a fault? The light turn on so I assumed it was all good. I looked on Meso site and there is no listed instruction available like there is for the other goodies.

 

That was my first thought, but OP did say the dome light as well.

 

That was one of my first thoughts but unfortunately it's not the answer after checking.

Yeah...equally affecting both map & dome so THAT light circuit is okay on the 7.5A fuse but I wonder if I somehow fucked the dim/shut-off system. I can't find an identifier for a circuit in the Owner's Manual...which is weak sauce when it comes to fuse ID. I should rub the genie's bottle and ask @caribe makaira about that.

There's a big ass relay in the engine bay that's listed as "Dimmer" but I don't know if that's the same circuit I'm screwing with.

 

I wouldn’t think so. When you changed the lights, did you pull the over head compartment?

 

That’s what happens when you don’t read haha.

 

I read it twice just to make sure

 

Did you disconnect the ground cable on the battery before installing the LED bulbs?

 

Negative. Just pop the lens off the dome and the bulb is right there so I never went anywhere deep.

 

Did not but I had the circuit OFF at the map light assuming it was killing power to the dome.

 

I'm still hanging on this thought now and thinking there's something to it. I'm gonna check the possibilities of different bulb orientations in the morning, especially the polarity of the LED because I could have it reversed.

Thanks for ALL the input up to this point. It's all very helpful!

 

You most likely damaged the switch at the map lights by doing it without removing the console and unscrewing the bulb holder.

 

@caribe makaira That will be handy when I get the replacement Map Lights but in this situation, I never touched them. This install was exclusively the Meso Dome Light. I only used the Map switch to kill the circuit, turning OFF the linked dome light.

 

I don't know if it's the case, but I had a similar situation on my previous 2018. Went to install some LEDs (not the Meso, just LED) and even with the switch off, (I think) I shorted the LED against the frame and screwed it up. Apparently there are several slightly different lengths and although they are all listed as compatible, the slightly longer version is a bitch to get in. Any way, the short "blew" the fixture which needed to be replaced. It reacted exactly as you describe.

 

Hmm, this is of interest to me as I have the meso dome light coming in my stocking on Saturday

Only thing I can think of is one of the doors maybe not being fully latched? Happens all the time on my new truck, the seals are thick!

 

Interesting. The Meso adapter is a spring loaded deal so you squeeze it together to reduce its size and it expands into place being held by the indents in the contacts. I wonder if I did the same while fitting it? It wasn't obvious if I did.

Waiting for the sun to poke up over the hill before I go out to dick with it. It's cold here for the CA Coast.

 

Try this: remove the cover and added LED. Then remove the light assembly from the roof panel, disconnect the harness to it. Test the Map lights. That way you'd narrow it to the Center light assembly.

 

Good plan. Gonna go start now. Thanks.