Interior Lights

[justn]

My interior lights would not turn off because of the side sliding door contacts, I removed the fuse to turn the lights off for now. My question is when I looked at the book about that fuse for interior lights, it says something about Battery saver relay(coil), and delayed Accessory relay coil. Are these things okay to run the vechicle without having the fuse in, I removed fuse so wouldnt drain battery by having interior lights on all night, or would it still drain the battery even though I removed the fuse and lights are out now, also now when running vechicle the symbol for door open stays on , assuming because I removed the fuse, is that okay to stay on.

Thanks

[DRW1000]

What year is your Windstar?

[wintonboy]

Hi Justn

Had the same light problem with my 98 'star. Elsewhere in this forum it discusses hosing the inside of the door panel with WD-40. Works like a charm to cure the light staying on gremlin. Takes about 2 mnutes and half a can of WD-40.

[justn]

Sorry its a 95 Windstar

[baumbr]

If you can try to avoid WD-40 on the electrical contacts, eventually it collects more dirt and gunk and the light problem comes back, sometimes to stay. WD-40 is at best a temporary fix, both as a lubricant and as a cleaner.

Try an electronics cleaner such as Caig De Ox It, a couple of small squirts into the latch area and work them open/close a few times and you'll be good as new. Many electronics cleaners that are designed for switches also have lubricating properties. For lubricating the latch pivots try a spot lubricator that is longer lasting and has less chance of fouling the contacts.

[DRW1000]

I 2nd Baumbr's advice about not using WD-40 to clean contacts. WD-40 is good to mechanically loosen up the spring loaded pins. I recommend a pencil erasure to clean the contacts. This will remove the oxidation and provide better electrical conductivity.

[justn]

Well the electronic spray not working , and tried wd that didn't work either.
Is there a way that I can bypass the sliding door contacts so it doesnt have door adjar and lights on. For some reason when remove fuse it won't let me use the power windows now and that fuse is for interior lights not windows.

[baumbr]

Justn,
That fuse is indeed for the power windows as well, at least my owner's manual tells me so. The interior light contacts are inside the actual door latches, not the 4 pins that stick out from the door's edge. Open any door then look for the C shaped catch that latches the door closed. Spray this area, heavily if it looks really dirty. The driver's and passenger's doors have the latch at the back edge; the lift gate has one on either side; and the sliding doors have one at the front and back edges - they're a bit difficult too see on the back edge. Clean all of them.

If that doesn't work then one has gone bad and needs replaced. Before I found this forum I regularly spent $75 per switch to have the Ford dealer "fix" or replace them.

Good luck and let us know how it turns out.

[DRW1000]

I think you will find that for 99s and newer there is a button on the rear door jambs for the door ajar lights but for 98s and older the contacts are used.

How do you know it is your sliding door and not the rear hatch. The rear hatch causes this problem often and as mentioned there is one on each side.

Do a search as this problem and solution has been mentioned before.

[davebower1]

I had the same problem with my 96 windstar. Take a emery board or sand paper and go over the contacts on the side door.

davebower1

[DRW1000]

Originally Posted by davebower1

I had the same problem with my 96 windstar. Take a emery board or sand paper and go over the contacts on the side door.

davebower1

I would not recommend anything as abrasive as emery cloth or emery board. Use an erasure. It is slightly abrasive and will remove the oxidation but not the thin copper.

[Delkal]

On my 98 Windstar when the motor is running and a door is opened there is a brief ring tone. When I opened the problem door there was no tone. THIS IS THE PROBLEM DOOR AND THE ONE TO CONCENTATE ON!!!

I used carb cleaner on the latches instead or WD-40. It worked great!