1988 Chevy Corvette Interior Lights
 

When I open the doors on my 88 Chevy Corvette, the interior lights will not light up. The lights on the door panels, hush panels, and cargo lights will not come on unless I turn the headlight switch all the way to the left. Also, the switches on the door panels will not open the rear cargo hatch. However, the yellow button in the center console will open the hatch.


Also, if I do not start the car for a few days, the battery goes dead. I was wondering if anyone could steer me in the right direction to resolve these problems.

Interior lights
 

The issue with the interior lights not coming on unless you turn them on via the light switch sounds like the Interior Lights Delay Relay is bad. I've seen you can get a new board at either Ecklers or Corvette Center (can't remember which one at the moment). Alternative is to remove the white relay and connect the white wires together (so I've read) and it will work like conventional interior lights.


Hope that helps. Can't speak to the other issues.

So, where is this relay located at in the car

Relay
 

According to the FSM, it's wrapped on the large bundle of wires in the dash, right side behind the breadbox.

Check the door switch near the outer edge of the door panel. Mine sticks, its near the cargo open button. You know if its the switch if everything works from the passenger door. Worst part for me is my radio wont shut off when exiting untill I play with the switch, untill I get it fixed.
As for the battery, I think its time for a new one. $89.00 at Wal-Mart.

How do you get the bread box out of the car?

I tried pulling the switches that cause the interior lights to come on from the door jamb. I cleaned them up with electric motor cleaner. They looked pretty good. But, still the lights do not come on when the doors are opened up.


There were three wires connected to the switch on the drivers side door jamb. But, there were only two wires connected to the switch on the passenger side door jamb.


Is this the way that it is supposed to be set up or did a wire break loose on the passenger side switch.


Is it easy to get to the interior light delay by removing the hush panel on the passenger side and taking out the ECM.

Misc
 

You'll need a factory manual to figure it out. I'd suggest you take the hush panel off the bottom of the dash then get a light and a mirror and work from the bottom and see if you can get to it that way.