OK, what stupid obvious thing am I missing?

[dirkus]

The interior lights (and for that matter, cargo lights, running board lights, etc.) of my 2006 F-350 are not coming on automatically when you open the door or unlock the truck with the remote like they used to.

The lights were working OK earlier tonight but when we got home I opened my door and they came on for a bit. While I was unloading, though, they went off and now don't work. The lights themselves still work (at least the ones that I can manually control -- the front and rear reading lights) so it doesn't seem like it would be a fuse. But they won't come on automatically and will not come on when I move the dash light control past the detent. Also, the Door Ajar message still comes up on the message panel so it can still sense that.

I found one reference in the manual that says the lights will not come on if the Dome Light Control (if equiped) is off. I don't have a dome light control (the aftermarket DVD system replaced the dome light).

Is there a fuse that might have gone? Is there something else that I should check?

Thanks in advance for your help!!

[klhansen]

Sounds to me like the switch in the door has hung up, and the light controler think the door has been left open, so it has turned the lights out on a time-out period.

On the older trucks, when the door switch gets messed up, the lights (and door ajar light) just stay on.

The solution is to douse the latch mechanism with WD-40 or similar solvent. It's at least worth a try.

[NCHornet]

I agree look at the door switch.

[maxxgb]

Lube up door latches mine did samething 2weeks old. I do mine once a month pain in the A-- if lights stick on at nite and u have a long trip home.

[dirkus]

Is it the latch mechanism that needs lubing (in the door itself)? I just reread this and saw that -- I have been looking for a switch near the hinges (or even just a small button switch like other vehicles that I have owned had) but couldn't find anything.

So, basically, just aim the WD-40 into where the door latch is and spray away?

TIA

[klhansen]

Yes, the switch is inside the door connected to the latch mechanism. When mine went bad, I knew exactly what to reach for. Just stick the nozzle into the latch where the striker bolt goes and let fly. Don't be stingy with the WD-40. Should fix you right up.

[DrSpeed]

it's under warranty, so do you have time to swing it by the dealership?

another option...but that prolly takes too long..

[dirkus]

If I can't fix it with a squirt of WD-40, that's what I'll do. The nearest dealer is about 20 miles away (and the place I bought it is nearly 50).

Thanks, I'll try the lube tomorrow.