'01 Sport rear tailgate light switch

I need to know where the location of the rear tailgate light switch is. I want to disable this switch so that when the van is parked with the tailgate open for extended periods of time the interior lights do not come on. I still want the the lights to come on when any other door is opened, just not the tailgate.

Are you talking about a windstar? Look around the lift-gate frame, do you see any switches. Operate the switch by hand, see if the lite goes out, just for testing.

Tape the switch shut, or take wiring connector loose, use your own initiative to see if inside lite will stay off?

On my 98 there is a switch on each side of the liftgate that turns on and off the door ajar lite and it should also turn on and off the interior light. See if that helps you.

I have looked all round the tailgate frame and opening but cannot see a switch. I am thinking it is inside the door and somehow linked to the latch mechanism.

At the sides of the door there are two little black "boxes" that slide when you open or close the door. I think that's what you're looking for.

Oscar.

When I shut the tailgate the interior lights stay on for approx 30 seconds. With the tailgate open my son and I held the 2 spring things closed for over a minute and all the lights stayed on. I am thinking that the switch ( or switches ) must be inside the tailgate hooked up to the latches. When I get a chance latter this week I will remove the inside panel and take a look. I will post my findings to let you all know what I found. Thanks.