Chrysler Repair: Interior lights flash on and off while in motion, 2000 chrysler lhs, pushbutton switch

Question
I have a 2000 Chrysler LHS.  The interior lights flash on and off while driving.  Sometimes the lights will go on when the car is parked in the garage and the ignition is turned off.  Thank goodness they will go out shortly and have not drained my battery (not yet anyway).  Also, the interior light doesn't automatically turn on when the door is opened and that is when I would like the lights to actually turn on.  

Answer
Hi Beatrice,
Usually this symptom is caused by one of the doors not being latched firmly enough in the door frame. The door that is causing it can be determined by simply pushing outward on the doors while in the closed condition from the inside of the car. That will put the door in its most outward latched position and thus the push button in the door frame may in fact close the switch which turns on the lights. You correct this by moving the striker plate in the door frame inboard enough to reduce this free play in the striker plate/latch adjustment. There are several screws in the plate that you loosen and then move the plate inboard and retighten the screws and retest. If that doesn't work, then you can put a shim on the inner surface of the door where it comes into contact with the pushbutton to more firmly push it in.
Why the lights don't come on is possibly a different issue. You would do well to open the door on the other side of the car to see if the lights still don't come on. My theory is that it is probably the pushbutton switch of the door with the striker plate that needs adjustment is a bit oxidized from going on and off so often. You could try pushing the button in and out to see if it is working reliably and if not then try rotating the button and/or spraying some electrical contact cleaner in a spray can with a straw applicator in the space between the button and its housing in an attempt to clean the internal contacts.
Let me know if you have any other questions or something else appears to be involved. Use the "rate the expert" tab to reach me more easily.
Roland