Factory courtesy light question

[schardein]

My factory B pillar lights never worked.  I installed replacements from a Chevy S10 Blazer.  When I manually turn one of the B pillar lights on (using the built in rocker switch), it also turns on the other B pillar light, and the under dash courtesy lights.  In other words, it turns on all the interior courtesy lights.

 

Do the factory B pillar lights work this way?

[eaglescout526]

Usually the only way to get all the interior lights to come on was to turn the headlight knob all the way to the left until it *clicked*. Might have something wired funky somewhere. 

[schardein]

My understanding of the B pillar lights is one hot wire, hot all the time.  One ground wire controlled by the switch at the b pillar light itself, and another ground wire controlled by the door switch (and by turning the headlight knob).  I'm trying to picture a different way to attach the existing wires but coming up blank.

[coheed]

The stock don't function that way. However, I also have the Blazer lights and mine do this is well. Not sure what about these lights makes the whole circuit come on though.

[schardein]

Thanks for the replies.  I'm going to try and figure this out.

My research into the original lights shows they have an option to turn the light off completely.  I interpret this means even when you open the door, the light remains off?  

The original light has 3 "positions".  The Blazer light has a 2 position rocker switch.  I think that is where the "completely off" function is lost.

 

Thinking about it, I'm not sure having all the lights come on is a bad thing, besides the fact it's not how the originals worked.

[rokinn]

Have to admit I was disappointed with the loss of the completely off function in the S10 lights.  When doing things to the interior with the doors open I would like to be able to turn them off.  If you come up with something I would like to know also.  As it is I can pop the cover and pop loose one end of the bulb but that's a pain.

[schardein]

5 hours ago, rokinn said:

Have to admit I was disappointed with the loss of the completely off function in the S10 lights.  When doing things to the interior with the doors open I would like to be able to turn them off.  If you come up with something I would like to know also.  As it is I can pop the cover and pop loose one end of the bulb but that's a pain.

I know exactly what you mean.  In my CJ, I wired in a toggle switch in the engine compartment to be able to turn off the under hood light when I have the hood up on long projects.

 

You have to have a tool (like a small flat tip) to get that lens off also.