boot light problem!!

fearruanua

hi.
i have a toyota corolla saloon 97. when the boot is closed the light on the dash says that a door or boot is open and then when the boot is open the light goes off. is there a simple solution to this. i know this is only a small thing but find the light distracting es pecially at night. i know the black insulation tape solution but would prefer not to use it. thanks in advance for any advice.

Esel

If the wires to the switch were reversed could this cause the problem?

colm_mcm

Hmmm, sounds like you have a Liftback, didn't know the boot was wired to the interior warning light..... old 97 or new 97 model?

fearruanua

its the new model colm.

colm_mcm

On the saloon the boot light shouldn't make the interior warning light come on. I only know the basics about wiring, there are others on here who do it for a living. it could be a symptom of another problem. I doubt it's the switch, I'm thinking it could be an earthing problem if it's a saloon. does the boot light itself come on when the boot is open?

fearruanua

the warning light always worked properly. eg when the boot was open the light would come on. now its the opposite. when the boot is open the warning light goes off and when its closed the warning light comes on. this has only started up in the last few weeks.

crosstownk

Given it worked fine until recently, I'd be inclined to suspect the boot lock contact switch. I'm no Toyota expert, but this will either be contained within the lock, or a push switch on the boot frame.

Steve

It's been a while since I had a corolla but the wiring is probably the same:

Find the switch - normally on the body near the lock, could be in the boot lid though and go out through a loom.

There is normally a single wire attached - when the boot opens the switch grounds the wire to the bodywork and causes both the courtesy light and warning light to come on.

First thing I'd try is disconnect the wire from the switch, the light should not work at all now. If this is the case then repair / replace the switch.
If the problem persists after you disconnect the wire then there is a short somewhere else - probably near the loom from the lid to the body.

fearruanua

took your advice steve c. disconnected the wires. i think i'll know if my boot is open!!!!!!!!

Steve

Sounds like a faulty switch so.

Just to add - if you have an alarm, it may take a signal from that wire to say the boot's been opened so you may have also disabled that.

At least you have identified the cause:)