Door Ajar/Interior Light/Urgent Help!!!!!!!!!

Before anyone says to search, trust me, I have done this already, many times.

I have a 1996 Windstar:

I started by drowning each latch with WD40. I even tried jumping the pins on the sliding door as suggested. After that didn't work, I replaced all of the pin switches that are built into the latches (driver, passenger, sliding and both rears). I even tried jumping the pins on the sliding door as suggested.

I still have my light on telling me that the door is ajar. My light stays on constantly, and eventually kills the battery.

Any other ideas on what this possibly could be?

On a side note, I had an alarm wired in the vehicle. About a month ago, there was smoke coming from under the dash, and it was the relay that was wired into the courtesy light wiring by the fuse panel at the driver's foot panel. I pulled the whole alarm system, along with the wiring, and changed everything back to factory conditions. We were having this problem before the alarm installation. I would notice that sometimes when you first started the van, it would take longer than normal for the light to go out, and the door ajar light would be on. I would also notice that when I went to the recycling center, and got out of the driver's seat and opened the rear hatch to empty our trash, and then close the rear hatch and get back in and close the driver's door, the light would again not go off and the door ajar light would be on. It would take a while to turn off (either sitting there waiting, or after I take off). I am assuming from this that the problem exists in the rear lift door or the driver's door. I also did the test of opening the doors and listening for the alarm sound that a door was opened. I tried this on all doors after I replaced all of the switches. I do not get an alarm with the driver's door or the rear lift door still. The alarm does sound for the passenger door and the sliding door. I also checked the wiring loom that runs from the driver's door into the van, and also the same on the passenger side, and found no evidence of tears or stripped wiring.

If the pin switches were replaced in all of the doors. why would I still not be getting the alarm sound when I open those 2 doors, and why would my light still be on and the door ajar light on?

I asked the dealership about this, and they said that the pin switches would be the only thing triggering the door ajar light and the dome light.

Please!!!!!!! Urgent help needed!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyone?

On a side note, I had an alarm wired in the vehicle. About a month ago, there was smoke coming from under the dash, and it was the relay that was wired into the courtesy light wiring by the fuse panel at the driver's foot panel. I pulled the whole alarm system, along with the wiring, and changed everything back to factory conditions. We were having this problem before the alarm installation.

Although you apparently had the trouble prior to the smoke and you changed everything back to factory conditions I still have to believe the fact that you had a serious issue with the alarm that was wired into the courtesy lamp and the smoke you saw usually indicates a higher than normal current flow and melting wire points to this being the root cause. You may have even blown the module that controls the interior lamps or even damaged the relay that shuts it off.

On my '99, the pin switches have almost nothing to do with the door ajar light .... as there are switches for this function at the rear of the door openings.

With all the electrical issues you now have, I would strongly suggest you buy a electrical troubleshooting manual for your particular model from Helminc.com.

I have a '96.....I do not know the solution to your problem.....but this is how the interior lights should work.
If the system thinks a door is open....the indicator on the dash (I have the analog dash) should be lit......and stay lit whenever the engine is on.

The interior lights will stay on.....but should turn OFF automatically after about 45 minutes of no door being opened or closed.....even with all the doors open.......
I have tested this function more than a few times......
The interior lights will come back on and the timer starts again with any door closure or opening.

When you start driving, the interior lights will go off when you reach a certain speed.....have not noticed what speed.....but it is below 20mph.
The lights will come on again, with a "ding" when you come to, or near, a stop.

Did you replace the little buttons on the back of the sliding doors, Like 12 ounce said? I have a 99 also but i think it would be the same.

I have a 1998 Windstar with the same problem. Other threads have instructed on how to narrow down which door is causing the problem by simply starting the vehicle and then opening each door- drivers door you will hear a continous ding, anyother door you should here one ding. The doors that do not ding have an open sensor. My problem was the sliding door - I tried to clean with alcohol, brass and chrome cleaner - finally I used a SOS pad with alcohol - The damn light turned off while I was cleaning the contacts. I then removed the steel wool and it came back on. It still wants to stay on but I determined that the 3rd contact down was my problem so I duct taped a piece of steel wool over the contact and problem solved. Who needs a dealership. Also I only run into this problem when I wash my van - In a week this problem is usually gone.

This might be an absolute longshot but its worth a look. I had the same problem on my 2000. Every time I hit a bump the door ajar light came on, courtesy lights came on, bells went off, and the door locks went crazy-scared the heck out of you when driving. I tried cleaning contacts and testing pins,until finally I checked the actual buttons on the doors that indicate an open door. It turns out that one of the sliding doors was out of align and not fully depressing the button, which is why the door appeared open when I hit a bump. I re-aligned the door and all is well, except that I think I fried the door lock actuators as they only work occasionally.

It sounds like your problem is more constant, but it does not take much for those door switches to detect an opening. Again, this might be a longshot, but worth a look. To test each door switch, I taped a shim (dime) at the contact point on the door and drove over a very bumpy road until the light did not come on.

OK. Here is an update.

I have replaced all of the pin switches in all of the doors.

I tried the test of starting the vehicle, and then opening the doors while listening for the sound. I do not get a sound when I open the driver's door or the rear hatch, yet all of the switches have been replaced.

Last week, I replaced the General Electronic Module, thinking maybe something in there had fried, and was continuing to tell the vehicle that a door was open.

I have also replaced the time delay relay. Actually was swapping out the relays with one another testing them in other locations, and all seem to be working fine. All fuses are fine.

I have also cleaned the 4 metal contacts on the sliding door.

Any other ideas????????

...

Did you ever get around to the button switches at the REAR of the door openings (on the sliding doors)?

I do not have any button switches at the rear of the sliding door. I replaced the pin switch that is at the rear of the door that is located within the latch. The only other switches on the sliding door is the 4 pin push-button switch at the front of the door.

I taped a dime across the third button down on drivers side slliding door jam switch...never another ajar alarm !!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMAZING easy fix, thanks to all

You may have a missing switch. I have heard of them being pushing into the sheet metal ... falling into the rear quarter panel area. On my '99, this switch is in the opening ... not the door. Do you have a hole in the door jamb where a switch might be?