2000 Ford Windstar door ajar light

I have a 2000 Ford Windstar LX and today I noticed that the interior lights will not shut off. I need some major help with this if anyone can. I dont want to drain my battery.

Thanks,

niceguy4u36

 

My door ajar light stays on when all doors are shut...anyone got any suggestions as to why this is happening?

Thanks,

niceguy4u36

 

I merged your threads into one so it will prevent confusion.

There is a door switch that is faulty, and I would guess it's the drivers side door since it's used alot more then the others.

Look in the door jam(s) for the door switch, I'm betting one of them is damaged and needs replacement. I don't know of a quick way of diagnosing it without removing the switches and checking continuity.

 

Like Mark said, check the switch, but also check to see that the door has in place a device for striking the switch. I have seen sometimes the plunger striker has fallen off and there is nothing to touch the switch to make it work. I've waited on this one....you know when a door isn't a door?........when a door is ajar? Dumb.

 

those are bad for the switches sticking. try some spray penetrant (wd-40, crc5-56)...the switches are located on the latch assembly. the part that hooks on when you close the door...spray each one liberally and then close and open the doors several times.

 

I agree with Carguy...
'
Most ford products suffer from this design.The courteousy light switch is part of the door latch. Liberally spray all door latches...INCLUDING the rear HATCH.....and spend a minute or two opening and closing each door to free up the plungers.
If they are bad enough, Ford sells replacements, but door latch removal is necessary.
To check individual switches...... Sit in the drivers seat, put the key in the ignition, But dont turn it. Turn the headlights on. HAve an assistant open and close the doors from the outside. Note the door chime......The one that DOESNT Chime when opened, is the faulty one.

 

Thank you all for your responses and being so quick about it. I am going to try to fix this problem tonight and will let you all know if I encounter any other issues.

Thanks again

 

so the bent piece of metal in the door, next to door skin, on latch level, about 1 inch wide, is the switch lever? as i have ford ranger with exactly the same problem, and am using it with cabin light bulb screwed out. yet, that chime is very annoying, if you just want to park and listen to music. i sprayed the hack out of those 2 metal things, to no avail. problem comes and goes. per my observation, those metal pieces do not even touch the door jam, and there is nothing else that looks like a switch/push button/plunger.

 

Ok so I just went out and WD-40'd the heck out of all the doors and the hatch and it did the trick...my door ajar light went out and my interior lights go on when the door is open and goes out when they are shut...Thank you sooo much. Now I know what to do in the future if this happens.

 

The switch is inside the door, Bolted to the latch.
If you remove the latch, flip it over, You will see a wire attatched to a " Bullet with wings on it" . The plunger sticks in the housing.

 

ah see. thank you.
just out of curiosity - then what are those metal bent plates sticking out of the door, on the latch level, next to door skin? about 1 inch wide, sticks out of the door maybe 1/4 inch, is bent at 90 degrees towards the door jam, can be moved back and forth, and apperently is not doing anything, as it is not touching the door jam. i have one of each in either door. 99 ranger.

 

You are likely referring to the "PICK -GUARDS"...They cover the space over and around the latch in an attempt to prevent "Unauthorized access " to the vehicle.

 

hmmm... i'd say, they are too far from the latch to do so and completely covered by door skin ridge, plus they move. plus, it's a bare bone truck, i don't think it'll have something that fancy.
let me do this - get back home and take a pic of it and post, so you can see it. i could not find any reference to those pieces in repair manual, and i am generally very particular about knowing my cars down to a bolt.

appreciate your time, bud. we'll get it figured out.

 

ok, here they are:

[img=http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/1830/img0272bs8.th.jpg]

[img=http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1156/img0273hu6.th.jpg]

so what is that black piece of metal i am pointing with my key at? it moves back and forth. otherwise, does not appear to do anything.

 

Those are the "CLIPS" that hold in the lock cylinder.

The "Switch" you are looking for is INSIDE the door....remove the "DoOr PANEL UPHOLSTERY, and remove the latch. You will find the switch on the bottom of the latch.

http://www.offroadrangers.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19469

This link is for Rangers, although , any ford product after 1997 is similar.

 

woo-hoo! thank you, great post!
easy does it. those pics are great, guy took extra effort to make it super clear for everyone to follow.
appreciate your help.