# Driver door light sometimes stays on when the door is closed

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** accord, lights, honda\
**Created:** [February 18, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083 "2015-02-18T22:42:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![GrumpyCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/958977/32.png) [@GrumpyCat](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GrumpyCat)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/1 "2015-02-18T22:42:45Z")

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This seems to happen a lot when it gets really cold out. Started happening a few weeks ago. Sometimes if I notice the light starts to flicker on, at a stoplight I’ll open the door, push down the rubber button that triggers the light, and shut the door. It’ll usually stay off for a little bit.

I noticed that there’s a little dent on the door where it presses against the button, and I’m wondering if that’s a possible reason why this issue is happening.

I have a 1997 Honda Accord LX

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**Author:** ![GrumpyCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/958977/32.png) [@GrumpyCat](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GrumpyCat)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/2 "2015-02-18T22:44:10Z")

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![](http://i.imgur.com/9mPLhiP.jpg)  
 ![](http://i.imgur.com/oQJsC7U.jpg)

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 10:48pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/3 "2015-02-18T22:48:30Z")

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It certainly looks like a sticky switch. Either disconnect it or have the door repaired and fix it at the time. A light left on will quickly drain your battery.

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**Author:** ![GrumpyCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/958977/32.png) [@GrumpyCat](https://community.cartalk.com/u/GrumpyCat)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/4 "2015-02-18T22:56:36Z")

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How do you disconnect it.

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**Author:** ![knfenimore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9fc348/32.png) [@knfenimore](https://community.cartalk.com/u/knfenimore)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2015, 11:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/5 "2015-02-18T23:27:44Z")

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More than likely there is a couple screws to remove after you pull off the rubber cover.

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**Author:** ![bing](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/bing/32/4619_2.png) [@bing](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bing)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/6 "2015-02-19T03:47:11Z")

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I would just get a new one for starters (or junkyard). Can’t cost that much. If you disconnect it, you’ll have to insulate the end of the wire so it doesn’t make contact with metal or sparks will fly. It is hot all the time. Also I’d make sure you can fish the wire out again if you need to. The other option is you can always swap the left and right one out if it is an intermittent issue, and the right is seldom used.

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**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 4:17am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/7 "2015-02-19T04:17:02Z")

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Remove the cover and spray the switch with CRC Electrical Contact Cleaner.

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**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 5:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/8 "2015-02-19T05:11:05Z")

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It appears to me from pic 1 wear indications your problem may actually be door alignment related, and are those dents factory original?

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [February 19, 2015, 5:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/driver-door-light-sometimes-stays-on-when-the-door-is-closed/89083/9 "2015-02-19T05:19:55Z")

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I think the dents are from the seat belt tab getting slammed in the door. With the area that contacts the switch dented a new switch may not solve the problem.

Straightening the door will be difficult. I would glue a thin rubber pad to the spot that contacts the switch or several layers of duct tape may work.
