A small lighting fixture inside the passenger compartment designed to help occupants see when entering or exiting the vehicle. It is wired to door jamb switches or the body control module, turning on when a door opens and fading out shortly after closing. These are often located in the headliner, under the dashboard, or at the bottom of door panels.
Heard on the job
The battery drained overnight because the passenger door switch failed and left the courtesy light on.
Also heard as
- dome light
- puddle light
Related terms
Body control module
A central computer that manages a vehicle's electronic chassis and interior accessories.
Wiring loom
A bound collection of electrical wires routed together to distribute power and signals across a vehicle.
Headliner
The fabric-covered foam backing attached to the interior ceiling of a vehicle.