Door Ajar and Washer Fluid Lights Blink on/off

[lonerider909]

My wife's 96 Windstar had turned into Christien. The Door Ajar and Washer Fluid Ligths will blink on and off. When this happens, you can hear a relay click. Also, about 50% of the time when the lights flash on the door locks lock again. Some days the lights blink every minute. Other days, the lights will not blink.

Another thread mentioned a bad ignition sw. I am wondering if the GEM is bad. Thanks!!

[busboy4]

Hi
I have had my 96 for almost 10 years and had never seen what you talk about.........until recently. I am having IMRC issues ( stuck open) which causes poor idle when the engine is cold. It is only then that I am seeing the lights flicker - when the idle is pulled down very low ( <500 rpm) as I select reverse etc. I too hear the relay clicking. In my over active imagination, I see the "bus" voltage drop due to the low rpm such that it is insufficient to keep said relay closed and thus the flicker. Again I only see it during low idle conditions. In my case it is the: low oil pressure, low washer fluid, red brake light, door ajar light, and the rear air suspension light on momentarily. If I learn anything more I'll let you know.

Good luck

[lonerider909]

Busboy4, sounds like a vacuum leak is part of your low idle condition. I replaced one of the MIRCs early this year, which is pretty easy. The diaphragm in the MIRC goes bad and introduces a vacuum leak. I plugged the vacuum line going to the bad MIRC and wired is closed. The engine off condition for the MIRCs is open and it should be closed under 3,000 rpms. The purpose of the MIRC is to reduce turbulence in the intake air flow as the engine demands more air/fuel.

I purchased my MRIC from http://www.y2kford.com for $150. They provided me with great service, and I will do business with them again. Much cheaper than the local Ford dealer.

[busboy4]

Originally Posted by lonerider909

Busboy4, sounds like a vacuum leak is part of your low idle condition. I replaced one of the MIRCs early this year, which is pretty easy. The diaphragm in the MIRC goes bad and introduces a vacuum leak. I plugged the vacuum line going to the bad MIRC and wired is closed. The engine off condition for the MIRCs is open and it should be closed under 3,000 rpms. The purpose of the MIRC is to reduce turbulence in the intake air flow as the engine demands more air/fuel.

I purchased my MRIC from http://www.y2kford.com for $150. They provided me with great service, and I will do business with them again. Much cheaper than the local Ford dealer.

Yeah thanks

I will have time starting tomorrow to systematically troubleshoot the problem. In my case, neither of my IMRC's are closing at idle. Checking them individually with my vacuum pump, the rear holds vacuum and the front (recently) does not - see my post on "IMRC's, be careful". I am mostly suspecting the IMRC solenoid on the rear of the manifold. My hunch is that it is not opening to allow vacuum to the IMRC's. Now, it perhaps could be a vacuum leak prior to the solenoid. My cursory checks thus far say no, but I have not been able to do a slow, systematic check as yet. I'll let ya know.

As for y2kford, I have purchased from them too. They were good. I have also had good luck with fordpartsonline.com, which is also part of trademotion as is y2k. 'Cept fordpartsonline is a texas dealer.

[lonerider909]

Circling back with solution. Replaced ignition switch. Problem solved. The ACC position also started working, so the ignition switch was bad when we purchased it in 1998.