2001 Tacoma PreRunner Intermittent Electrical Problem

[nwkim]

Hello, I have a 2001 Tacoma, X-tra Cab, PreRunner SR5 V6. This truck has been great except for the fact that the darn thing has had a "phantom" electrical problem since I bought it new. I've taken it to several dealers and they can never re-create the problem and so they haven't been able to fix it.
Here is the problem: The truck has power locks and most of the time they work. Every so often, when I go out to the truck, the door chime is dinging and the power locks will not work (keep in mind, that I don't have the keys in the ignition, so the chime should not be going off). As soon as I start the engine, the chime goes off but the power locks still don't work. Later on when I come back to the truck, everything will be working normally again. Sometimes, the chime will be going for days and then suddenly stop and everything functions normally again. This doesn't seem to drain the battery, so I've been living with it. The last time I took it to the dealer, they decided it was the "Body ECU" which they replaced under warranty. The truck was fine for a few months and then the problem started up again. Obviously it could not have been the Body ECU. The truck will go months and months without this problem and then for a few weeks it will come and go. It just seems that it's happening more often these days. Also, it never happens when I'm driving the truck; The phantom pops up when I park the truck and goes away when the truck is parked. The dealerships have gone over the wiring and can't find anything wrong.....does anyone have any ideas?? Sorry this is so wordy but it's difficult to explain what's happening here.....Thanks in advance.

[bearcat329]

this is just a shot in the dark here, but my 97 ford expedition had a simaler problem, the interior lights would stay on as well as the running board courtesy lights, someone said to spray some wd-40 into the door loch mechinisms to free up the electrical switchs inside the door, and it worked! i did this on all 4 doors, plus the rear window and hatch.
worth a shot maybe?
hth
Rick, Ore

[nwkim]

Hi Rick, My interior lights will also stay on if the inside switch is set to the "door" position. To prevent my battery from draining, and since this "phantom" can present itself all on its own while the vehicle is unattended, I turned the interior light switch to the "off" position and leave it there.

I'm going to try the WD40 thing right now. It's definitely worth a shot. Seems too easy though doesn't it??

Thanks.....................