I seem to have a ghost in my car that is turning on my drivers' side map light all of a sudden. This happened about 6-8 times during a 4 mile drive home last night and never before in six years of owning this car. Each time, I touched the lamp to turn it off. It seems to turn on mainly when I take a turn (either left or right) and sometimes when I brake.


I'm taking the car to the dealer in a couple of weeks for annual maintenance and the TPMS issue, but I'd like to find out if other have had this issue and what the solution was.


Thanks.

 

It's a known issue and they replace the board in the light or the light itself. Mine was done under warranty.

 

Yes, very common issue.
Many have fixed it by replacing the stock globes with LEDs, me included.
As an added bonus the bright white light from the LEDs is much better than the sickly yellow from the stock globes, well IMHO anyway!

 

Thanks. Looks like the dealer will be able to fix it easily. The timing works out well since my Geico warranty has a single $250 deductible for each visit rather than for each separate item or problem that is fixed.

 

Curious ..why will just swapping with LEds will address the issue? Also do we have the part number of the replacements?
Thanks in advance.

 

I don't know why it worked for me, it could be that simply changing the globes created a better connection.
Heaps of suitable SMD LED globes out there, just look on eBay for T10 LEDs.
Replacement is very easy, lever the console down (use a screwdriver to open a gap in the side of the console near the back edge, then pull down with your fingers, it's tight so be careful!), unclip the wiring plug, twist the globe holders out, replace the globes, put the holders back in. Plug the wiring connector back in and test before you push the console back into place (the whole thing will hang from the wiring connector without any problems), if any of the lights don't work take the globe out again and turn it around 180 degrees and test again.
After doing this you will need to reset the auto lights on function (so they turn on when you open a door), just wave/hold/press the centre light switch for 3 to 4 seconds until it flashes twice.

 

HERE'S AN FYI.......




My 2009 XF's map light started turning itself on, so I took it back the dealer, unfortunately it wasn't covered by the warranty, as the car is now 6 years old.


Nonetheless, the part was $27.50, and they charged $57.50 (1/2 hour) for the labor, for a grand total of $85.00 + tax, which wasn't TOO bad. I thought I read in a couple of other discussions that the dealers were replacing the entire console assemblies, at a cost of around $800!!




FOR THE DIYers......the part number for the replacement pad is.....C2D38636

 

What is that actual part? I can't locate a pic of it. Wondering if I lower the console ...it will be plug and play ?

Thanks

 

Most of the shop techs don't like people looking over their shoulders, so I didn't get too close. Secondly, a friend of mine from the sales department wandered in, and got me involved in a conversation, so I lost track of how this part is actually changed out.


However, the tech had the car near his work bay, and had removed the upper console from the car, before I realized he was even working on it. I then saw him using a small pair of needle-nosed pliers, to remove the power plug from what I assume, is the circuit board that goes bad. That was the point my friend appeared, and I stopped watching the operation.


I can't be all that complicated, though, as he was done within another 6-8 minutes.....I did see the tech walking away from his workbench with an envelope that bulged slightly, and I'm pretty sure that it was the bad part from my car. I'm thinking a small circuit board, although the parts callout calls it a "pad".....

 

Ok many thanks....i'll track it down...not sure if ill replace the pad/board or try LEDS first....appreciate it.

 

[QUOTE=OzXFR;1257676 just look on eBay for T10 LEDs.
[/QUOTE]

Do any of the T10 LEDs work and are all the interior lights the same? I found this 10 pack on Amazon. I just want to make sure they will work.

 

Yep, they will work.
The only potential problem is they might be just a tiny bit wide to fit through the bulb holder holes.
These are the ones I have used (or very close to it): 10 x T10 168 194 W5W White 28 SMD LED Wedge Light Bulb Lamp 12V for Car RV Light | eBay
A bit cheaper than the ones you linked to, and if they don't quite fit you simply file down the edges of the chips a little bit until they do.

 

When mine started acting up (both driver and passenger side) they ended up replacing the entire console under warranty. That actually did away with the parking sensor button, much to my wife's chagrin...

 

They replaced it with the wrong OH console. I would make them get the correct one!