No, vehicle lights are controlled by the Twilight Sentinel or the headlight switch, but not by anything in the door. The door lock lighting is part of the entry system, as is the door handle switch that turns on the interior lights for about 20 seconds.

I think we're lumping two different features together here (even though they may be controlled by the same module anyway). There is a Retained Accessory Power feature that lets you keep operating all major accessories (including power windows and sunroof) after shutdown for up to 10 minutes _or_ until somebody opens a door. There is also a battery rundown protection that turns off the interior lights if a door is left open for over 10 minutes. The latter will reset once the last door is closed and opened again.

My theory is that a bad door switch or chafed wire could be keeping the interior light circuit grounded even when all the doors are closed, and thus the rundown protection is blocking power to the interior lights since it thinks a door is still open.

The reason I suggested disconnecting the battery for a moment was to force a reset of the rundown protection circuit and see if the interior lights come back on after that (at least for 10 minutes). If so, and all four doors are closed at the time, then you'll have a wiring problem to check out.

That is the light sensor for the external lighting.

Um, are you sure you don't have a Twilight Sentinel? Is this a Canadian model, or one with Daytime Running Lamps? (In any event, I don't think that light sensor has anything to do with your interior lights problem.)

That'* a good theory.

Make sure when you run my test...

...that you can get the test light to turn off by closing all of the doors.

P.*. Where are you tapping into the various wires for this test? Did you mean that he should find and unplug the RAP module, then test with the various jumper leads across the wires of its connector? I do follow the steps you're listing, but I'm not sure _where_ in the car this test is supposed to be conducted.

Yes, you have to remove the RAC module and perform the tests at the wiring harness. I'll let you know where the RAC module is.

OK, the RAC (Remote Accessory Control) module is behind the right side of the I/P, just to the right of the PCM (engine computer). Look for a wiring harness with 10 wires. There should be three wiring harnesses. You want the white one.

I've added a few things to make this clearer.

Here is how the wiring harness appears (looking at the harness). Use the letters to find the correct wire.

A K
B J
C H
D G
E F

I added the letters to the above post regarding the testing. I did this because there are two pink/black wires, and two black wires. You need to get the right one. I know this has become complicated, but it is the only way of assuring that the RAC module (expensive) has gone bad.

By the way, the RAC module also controls the trunk release, and the retained accessory power relay controls (the thing that shuts off the radio after 10 minutes). How are the operation of those things?

You guys have been busy.....
Are all these modules located on the fire wall in the engine compartment?
Also, the trunk release (pushing the button on the driver'* door) works fine.

This car doesn't have daytime running lamps or the Twilight Sentinel. Evidently, they moved the sensor to the center of the dash, as that'* where it is on our '99. The '92, has something on the dash in front of the driver. I think what I see and feel is just a plug for the hole. The plug wiggles.

This will take a little time..........

I am pretty sure it is under the dash by the passenger side.

Does your 99 have electronic climate control? I bet the one in the center is the solar sensor for the electronic climate control...

If the electric trunk lock works then at least part of the RAC module works.

There've been similar problems on my '92 SSE supercharged since I bought it a few years ago.

Mine doesn't light the ring around the keyhole or turn on the interior lights when either front door handle is pulled.

And the twilight sentinel feature turns off the headlights automatically with the delay setting when I leave the car at night, but it doesn't turn the headlights on automatically - I have to pull the headlight **** and push it back in again to trigger them to turn on when the twilight sentinel switch is on.

All other light functions seem to work ok though, and so does the retained accessory power feature.

I performed the lamp control module diagnostics in the shop manual shortly after I bought this car, and all tests passed...

The solar sensor (or Sunlight Intensity Sensor) sits under a little tinted dome in the center of the dash. The light sensor for the lighting system(*) is the little recessed button-like lens on the left near the VIN.

My '93 SSEi Twilight Sentinel has basically decided to stop working altogether now. Have to check and see whether the light sensor'* gone bad or if the relay simply doesn't want to... um... relay any more...

If all of the tests passed, and you did them carefully, checking to see that the test light would turn off and on with the door opening and closing test, it means your RAC module needs to be replaced!

You're lucky - switch the ones in your 92 and 93. The other guy has to buy a new Bonneville.