Just got my 2000 TJ Solara last week, and have an interesting "why does it do that? is it normal?" question...

The interior/cabin roof mount light ... the unit where the whole lens moves left-centre-right for on-auto-off. When the car is running, if I move it to the on position, the light doesn't come on. With car not running, and I move it to teh on position it comes on. Why only when the cars not running? How is the passenger to read a map in the dark if you can't have the interior light on whilst moving?

It seems to work fine otherwise ... on when opening doors, disabling alarm/locking, staying on for 30secs after exiting car, etc.

[QUOTE=Mouth] Why only when the cars not running? How is the passenger to read a map in the dark if you can't have the interior light on whilst moving?

Maybe for safety reason. When light is 'on' you can’t see road outside because of light reflection.

The light fitting may possibly be faulty. Try jiggling (whacking maybe?) the dome might if its in the ON position and doesn't turn on.

I have a TJ Solara - I can at least confirm that the behaviour you experience is not normal. Has an alarm been fitted? Perhaps the alarm is plugged into the wrong wire on the Body Electronics module - the light should come on when you open the door, and go off and start the car. The manual ON should be possible at all times regardless of ignition setting. Reversing the situation, when you turn the car off and exit the car, the light should stay on when the door is closed, until the alarm activates - does that happen? If that doesn't happen there's your clue I think.

I have a TJ Solara - I can at least confirm that the behaviour you experience is not normal. Has an alarm been fitted?
Yes, an alarm. I thought they were factory with the Solara's? Redbook suggests so.


Perhaps the alarm is plugged into the wrong wire on the Body Electronics module - the light should come on when you open the door, and go off and start the car. The manual ON should be possible at all times regardless of ignition setting. Reversing the situation, when you turn the car off and exit the car, the light should stay on when the door is closed, until the alarm activates - does that happen? If that doesn't happen there's your clue I think.
Yes, those things happen. On when entering car, off after a short period or upon starting. On when exiting the car, and off after a short period of time or activating the alarm.

Sitting with the engine off, and switching the light to the ON position and it came on. But while the car was running, switching the light to the ON position and it didn't come on. Thanks for your info, and affirmation that this is not normal. Perhaps I just stuffed it up, or didn't click it into the ON position correctly whilst we were moving. I'll check it again tonight.

"Yes, an alarm. I thought they were factory with the Solara's? Redbook suggests so."

Factory Immobolizer yes - alarm no... Change your bulb - its possibly got something intermittent happening - that's the cheapest possible next step.

"Yes, an alarm. I thought they were factory with the Solara's? Redbook suggests so."

Factory Immobolizer yes - alarm no... .


Actually incorrect.

Factory immoboliser yes, very basic alarm yes.


Alarm (Via the horns) will go off when a door is unlocked from any possible way. Don't test it with the key however, theres a transponder receiver (like RFID) in the keyhole on the door handle, so it will deactivate the alarm without the need to use the remote.

Thanks all.
Took another look tonight, and it's working fine and as-expected. Has a 'twitchy' contact point for the ON position. When I lightly press up (towards the roof) on the left (passenger) side of the interior lights lens when it is in the ON position, the light turns-off. Stop pressing, so it returns to 'rest' position (but still in the ON position) and it lights-up once again. So just a minor shorting or poor connection issue for the ON position.