Interior Lighting

I have a 98 Taurus SE and the interior lights will not go off (dome light and map lights). I do have a sun roof in this car. Is it possible that there is a switch connecting this? Also I noticed that the courtesy lighting on the doors do not come on when a door is opened. I have no idea what is going on. Please point me in the right direction. I cannot have my daughter driving the car this way, and I really don't like her driving mine. 17 your olds do not drive new cars! My thoughts anyhow. Thanks for all your help.

Make sure that the dimmer switch for dimming the instrument panel lights is not rotated all the way to the "interior light" detent. This setting is usually just past the max brightness setting. If you rotate the dimmer knob to full dim and the interior lights are still on, then check the switch on the dome light housing. On my '98 Taurus SHO with the sunroof there is a switch for ON - DOOR - OFF. If that is set to ON, the dome light will stay on. If set to DOOR it will come on wiht an open door and go out some time after the last door is closed or the key is turned to run. If you select OFF, the interior lights should go out.

-Rod

Thanks Rod. I guess I should have said I looked at all of the switches. Well, once I got to the car I found that there is a switch manfunctioning on one of the doors. My daughter neglected to tell me that the door ajar light was on. Is the switch hard to replace? I am having a hell of a time trying to get everything out of the way. Can you just replace the switch or do you have to change the entire lock mechanism?

The switch is replacable by itself. You can spray lubricant on it and it will work properly again. Spray it and open and close door a few times and it will work properly. This however is a tempory fix.

I used Caig brand DeOxit on the switch internal to the door latch on my '98 from outside, closing and opening the door a few times to get the electrical cleaner to soak in, then followed that up with Caig PreservIt around 1 year ago and it has never acted up since. Prior to the application above, my door ajar light and interior lights stayed on.

-Rod

It happed to my 97 few years ago.

This is happening to my 96 right now. So where do I have to spray the lubricant? because I caan't see where the switch is!

The switch is located within the door latch assembly mounted inside the door. I sprayed a couple quick squirts of electrical contact cleaner with a straw down the sides of the latch, closed and opened the door a few times, repeated, then did the other three doors. I also followed that up with a application of oxidation inhibitor. That's been over a year ago and I haven't not had any further problems.

-Rod

Thanks so much! it did work. I sprayed some W-40 first and then went to the store and got CRC Lectra Motive at the beggining was a bit intermitent, so it worked and then didn't work, so I guess the cleanser needed some time to act. The good news is that it is working fine now, so I"ll do the other door. Have a great weekend.