I have a 2000 Ford Expedition, Eddie Bauer. Today, the running boards and interior light will not go out. At first, I had a door ajar light. I sprayed the door switches with PB blaster. At first, when I start to drive away, the Door Ajar light comes on and then briefly goes out.

I pulled the fuse for the interior light and also the fuse from the distribution box for the running boards but the lights on the front doors still will not go out!!!


Anybody have a suggestion?

 

Pull out the interior light relay from the inside fuse box.

 

Thanks. Should I replace the relay or just pull it?

 

Pull it to get the lights turned off for right now. I wouldn't replace it unless you determine it's the cause of the lights staying on.

 

I pulled the relay and the lights are still on. whatis should i check?

 

By any chance is your dimmer switched rolled all the way to turn the lights on?

 

Definitely checked that first.
The dinner switch does adjust the instrument cluster light, so I know that works.
I'm at a lost here.

 

Time to start tracing a short in the wiring.

 

Well, my mechanic says it is the body control module? Somewhere in the kick plate?
Pulled the battery saver relay and everything goes out, including my power windows. Anyways, he thinks it is caused from water leaking from the windshield. He thinks it's about 500 dollar fix.


Any thoughts?

 

I'd probably get another mechanic since he doesn't know it's called a GEM and it's mounted to the backside of the fuse box.

Did you have a lot of rain right before this problem started?

 

Yes. It's been wet here for a whole but I don't see any water anywhere. Hasn't rained in a couple of days. So there isn't a module in the kick late area?

 

You can try resetting the GEM by pulling fuse #15 (under the dash fuse box) wait a minute, then plug it back in. That will power down the GEM and then power it back up fresh.

Here are videos covering the GEM removal.
Part 1: Part 2:

 

I also suggest a new mechanic. You probably have a bad door switch. If you don't see a plunger in the door jamb or door, it's in the door latch mechanism. I've read that wd40 will band aid, but that's not a solution. You'll wash out the grease in the latch and end up replacing the switch later anyway.
It's probably the driver door. My sable was doing this driving down the road causing a disco party inside. Pulled the door panel and partially removed latch to get to switch. Only took a few minutes. Your lights are staying on because ours have that interior light delay. So every time the switch opens/closes it resets the delay. I'd walk out and look at my 00 but I'm cooking. Can do later if you need more help.

 

I did pull the #15 fuse to reset the GEM. It seems to have worked - short term.

I don't get a door ajar signal on the the cluster.My mechanic thinks it may be a leak from the windshield. If i pull the battery saver relay, that takes the power away but I don't have power to my windows. Yesterday, after i pulled the fuse and replaced it, everything was fine until on of the passengers turned on one of the rear reading lights and the problem reared its head again. I pulled the fuse again and im back to normal - so far.
Im thinking the problem may be in that reading light~maybe?

 

I think a lot of people blame the GEM for things because it's easy. I did once, and it wasn't my problem.
Is your windshield for sure leaking? I don't think that's a common problem.
Your first message said you got a door ajar light. That's where I'd start.
What did you spray pb on? The switch is in the top of the latch mechanism, pointing down. At least in the sable it is. It would be tough to spray anything directly into it. The switch is like twenty bucks.