98 Windstar Taillights wont' go out

[tfruck]

I have a 1998 Windstar and for some reason the tail lights and dashboard lights will not shut off when the car is off. I have taken off and checked the Switch for the lights and disconnected it and they are still on, only way to shut them off is to pull out the fuse. Tail lights drain the battery very quickly. Any ideas on what is causing this ?

[Ab-normal]

Hmmm,

I have a 1998 Windstar GL. The headlight is a rotary switch, left of the steering wheel very close to the edge of the dash. My lights do not have any sort of automatic computer-controlled shut off or delay. The swich is on, then the lights are on. The switch is off, then the lights are off.

If that is the case with you, I would suspect the switch. If you have a delay of somekind or some computer-controlled turning off of the lights, I would suspect the GEM module or General Electronic Module.

NOT a GEM by any means, it has caused me all sorts of problems, but they are usually not engine specific and just nuscenses. Mine says I have a door open when I do not and makes that bell ding when I go under 15 MPH. It also controls the rear-suspension air-bags that raise and lower the rear suspension according to load, the wiper functions and interior lights. Mine does not affect the exterior parking lights or headlights, but mine is the GL. The upper-level vehicles may have that feature of turning off the lights automatically after the car is off and idle after a few seconds and I am sure the GEM would do that.


Hope that helps.

[kurtr]

Originally Posted by Ab-normal

Mine says I have a door open when I do not and makes that bell ding when I go under 15 MPH.

Abby Normal:

I'm sure there have been posts about this problem in the past. The problem has to do with the door sensors (something about spraying them with WD40 or NOT spraying them with WD40... I cannot remember). You may want to search the forum.

My wife's van had this dinging problem under 15 MPH for one trip... it is incredibly annoying!

Good luck!
Kurt

[wiswind]

First time I had the "door adjar" indication on the dash....and interior light staying on..... I had the van FULL of kids for a church outing..... They got a kick out of me running around the van trying to figure out which door was not closed properly. Having ALL the doors closed properly is kind off importand when you have the van full of other peoples kids.
The most likely cause is a door sensor not making a good connection.
I was lucky with the WD-40.