Interior light, front will not come on when door opens. Press the light and it will come on. Tried all positions on the switch in the middle of the light. What to try next?

 

1. What trim level (e.g., LX, EX, etc.) is your Accord? Because only EX or EX-V6 has a switch option to have them come on when the doors open. For other trim levels like LX, the spotlights/map lights only comes on if you press them.

2. If it is an EX or EX-V6, then it can be the micro-switch at the map light base unit, unless the base unit has corrosion, etc..

The map lights have dual functionality; (1) turns on if pressed, and (2) works if door opened. Because the map lights have "dual functionality" there are two separate ground sources involved in the circuit. (1) When the map light is pressed on, the light switches gets their ground source from the base of the unit. (2) If a door is opened, the light switches gets their ground source through wiring coming from the Multiplex Integrated Control Unit (MICU). – All the individual doors switches (at each door) are wired into the MICU (located in the under-dash fuse box).

The micro-switch has three small receptacles which interface with three metal terminal blades. One of the three metal terminal blades is not making sufficient contact inside the switch for the maplight bulb (probably the blade for the ground source coming from the MICU).

If only one side works with the door open, you can always try swapping the right map micro-switch to the left map side to see if that is the cause before you buy the micro-switch. Also, examine the base unit.

Mouser Electronics sells the ALPS switch (ALPS part number SPED210200) for $.86 each, plus shipping.

The issue is relatively common for some Hondas, see this link regarding replacement from a Honda Pilot forum.

Honda Pilot - Honda Pilot Forums - View Single Post - Dome light problem

 

Thanks for the reply. The problem started when I installed LED lights. Could be not enough resistance. I will be going back to a standard bulb and try first.