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Lobstah's avatar
Lobstah
Explorer
Jul 03, 2013

Porch Light and Handle Light

Getting ready to figure out why my porch light and door handle light both stopped working at approx. the same time. I took at look at fuses, but don't see any that are obviously bad, but can pull each one and check them later.

The odd thing is (to me, at least), we have a switch, just inside the door that controls those lights. The switch itself has a small neon light in the switch. It is a push-to-make/push-to-break switch. We we push the switch, the neon light comes on, telling us the lights are on. I would ASSUME (yeah, I know...) that the small light in the switch is being powered by the same circuit that powers the lights, which means there's power to the circuit.

Any ideas? I don't see a fuse that's marked with anything that would make me think of the porch light....so not sure if it's possible they put that one under the hood?

Jim
  • I agree. If the switch lights up, you have power, it is not a fuse.

    Most likely an open wire, somewhere between the switch and the lights.
    They will be wired in parallel, switched hot will go to one, and then on to the other. Problem could be either the hot or the ground side.
  • If the lights are wired in series and one bulb goes out both stop working (like old fashion christmas lights) I would check the grounds. The lighted switch only indicates power to the switch, pull the switch and check the connections on the back of the switch.
  • Did you check the bulb. My light in the handle just went out, I have one on order.
    JR