william_powell Posted January 31, 2008 Share Posted January 31, 2008 Hello, I just signed up today, I have 2 Reatta's and both have electrical problems, I want to just work on my 91 for now..The interior lights don't come on when the door is opened, they come on when the car is running (had to remove the dome light to drive) and they stay on a few min after the car is turned off. Also the radio/heater, light switches and shifter lights don't light up. The gauge cluster works fine my dimmer switch on the light switch broke but just won one on ebay (haven't received yet) and going to replace that when I get itThe 1991 is white/flame red with white bumper guardsthe other is an 1988 red/gray with sun roof.Anyone with any ideas would be helpfull, thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadster90 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Hello William and WELCOME to the forum....You will get wonderful advice here, learn a great deal, and make many friends....oh shoot...forgot....have a BETTER than great time communicating with fellow Reatta Folks.Anyway, I have not experienced your particular electrical problems, but I feel confident someone will be along in a short to help you....Again...Welcome Nic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 Your interior light problem is probably the door switch/button. This switch makes contact both when open and closed. They are easy to pull (one screw) and you can bench test them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roadster90 Posted February 1, 2008 Share Posted February 1, 2008 William, replace the dimmer switch you are expecting, and remove and test your door post switch (and possibly replace)as Barney indicated above---see what gives at that point....get back to us.Please send Barney (same as on above post) your VIN numbers for the data base ( barney@texas.net )so that your vehicles may be registered at www.reatt.net . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
william_powell Posted February 10, 2008 Author Share Posted February 10, 2008 hello thanks for the help, I replaced the light switch and now everything is working!!! the only problem was while trying to get to the switch I took the black inner bezel off and broke some snaps found out later the crome plastic bezel comes off with it. anyway I had to remove all the plastic snaps and then use rubber cement to glue on the blace bezel to the crome one....I picked up a factory repair manual for my 91 and I wanted to replace the turn signal flasher, the manual says it is under the LH side of dash next to RH side of steering columnI found it by turning on the emergency flasher and it was under the shifter behind the fuses... the manual is for the Riviera also so going to have to do more research on some things I guess Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted March 26, 2008 Share Posted March 26, 2008 My door ajar warning light comes up on the screen. How do you remove the switch located on the body? Or would it be something else? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-a-n-i-e-l Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 the switch grounds out when the door opens. This means you most likely have a wire grounded and pulling out the switch will most likely not fix your issue Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 Daniel you are right. I went over by my buddies place and we ran some checks. It turns out it is my power door lock selinoid. How hard are they to replace? What is the procedure? Are the ones on the Riv's the same? If so what years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-a-n-i-e-l Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 I have not done the door lock solinoid, but it should not be too bad. Be careful taking the door pannel off. The plastic pegs that succure the panel are often brittle and hard to find replacements for. How is the solinoid resposible for setting the door warning, guess I will have to look at the wiring diagram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 What I think happens is that when you close the door, the power locks actuate. If the selonoid doesn't trip the door to the fully locked position it trips the warning. I noticed when I got my car back from the body shop that my "light Show" didn't work. It works when I have the door in the fully unlocked position, not when I have the door in a partially unlocked position. In otherwords the actuater doesn't have the "muscle" to trip the door fully locked or unlocked, you have to keep pressing the button. Our test was, we had the door open, started the car, put it in gear, waited for the alarm to show on the screen, then tripped the selonoid/lock latch on the door, and the light went out instantly. Do you think the ones off a Riv are the same? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D-a-n-i-e-l Posted March 27, 2008 Share Posted March 27, 2008 I would believe that they would be, but I would just buy it new. I a certain, being a GM vehicle, that it is most likely a common solenoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 Once again you are right. I was in a mindset that the car is 20 years old therefore the only parts I can get are used. I will call tomorrow to get a price. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Machiner 55 Posted March 28, 2008 Share Posted March 28, 2008 This recent post may help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TommyH Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 The door lock actuators are simple to replace, though I remember drilling out some rivits, though I also had to replace the door handle, and I cannot remember if it was entirely necessary to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TommyH Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 The door lock actuators are simple to replace, though I remember drilling out some rivits, though I also had to replace the door handle, and I cannot remember if it was entirely necessary to do that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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