Have 96 Z28 LT1, today I noticed the lights in my interior, rear view mirror & hatch, turned themselves on a few minutes after I got to work/parked my car. checked all doors/hatch for closure, made sure all lights were turned off & they went out. They take about 30 seconds to go out after you turn off car. This happened several times as I kept checking car. I then started car & again made sure all lights were switched off & lights went out, only to come back on in a couple of minutes. Unplugged light at rear view mirror & took bulb out of rear hatch area for now as I gotta work & can't be messing with this. The lights are a helpful feature. Any help/ideas are appreciated, Thanks.

 

Is this your first newer car? This is normal for this car, it is a safety/convenience feature. Now if the lights stay on for 20 minutes or more then you prolly have a bad door switch. 30 seconds is normal.

Oh and the BCM will shut off the power to the headlights or anything else after 20 minutes to keep your battery from getting drained.

Massey

 

This may sound like a novel idea (slight pun intended), but how about looking in the owners manual.
The exit lighting feature is adjustable (4 modes), read page 2-18: 1996 Owners Manual

 

Thanks for the suggestions, as well as the link, will look into, to be clear, lights goes off as normal when I turn car off after driving, then turn on mysteriously a couple of minutes later, hope that is clear. Any ways, I'll figure it out one way or the other. & yes, this is first newer car I've driven in a long time. I've had to drive the wife's 05 CTS & it is too new for me. The oil filter is under the hood, LOL

 

my 93 doesnt have the courtesy light extended on feature like my 97 chevy van. and the van light most certainly does not come on by itself after going off. the interior lights stay on after the door is closed for a short time. not sure what controls the lights, i would assume it is the bcm. if yours is coming on afterwards it may be a bad door switch or a short in the wires to one of the switches.

 

Per the owners manual...
Mode 2: Delayed illumination only. Interior lamps will stay on for 25 seconds after the doors are closed.
Mode 3: Exit lighting only. Interior lamps will come on whenever you remove the key from the ignition.
So then in mode 2, do the lights go on when you pull the key with the door closed, as it does in mode 3?

 

yes they behave as described, anyways, re-plugged my rear view mirror & changed bulb in rear hatch & everything works as it should. There must be a short somewhere or??? I'll keep an eye on it. Ordered my own owner's manful, got a Haynes repair manual, & picked up 1 2 volume GM shop manual to help me along, Thanks for all your help/time etc..

 

i would look at the bulb sockets and wires around them first.