Possible fix for door ajar light
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Central KY
Possible fix for door ajar light
Guys...
I'm having the door ajar switch problems like everybody else on here. It seems that replacing the switch is useless...it goes bad again in no time.
So I was thinking...there has to be a way to over-ride the switch, right? So anyway, there are two wires leading to the switch in the door latch. If I crimp the two wires together and disconnect the switch, that would "complete the circuit" and fool the computer into thinking the door is always shut, thereby keeping the light on the dash off, and would keep the dome light from staying on. Right?
Or is the circuit the reverse of that? Should I just disconnect the switch in the door latch and leave it at that? What would that do? One of the two has to be a way to fool the computer, and that would make the switch uneccessary anymore.
All you guys that are good at automotive electronics...HELP!
I'm having the door ajar switch problems like everybody else on here. It seems that replacing the switch is useless...it goes bad again in no time.
So I was thinking...there has to be a way to over-ride the switch, right? So anyway, there are two wires leading to the switch in the door latch. If I crimp the two wires together and disconnect the switch, that would "complete the circuit" and fool the computer into thinking the door is always shut, thereby keeping the light on the dash off, and would keep the dome light from staying on. Right?
Or is the circuit the reverse of that? Should I just disconnect the switch in the door latch and leave it at that? What would that do? One of the two has to be a way to fool the computer, and that would make the switch uneccessary anymore.
All you guys that are good at automotive electronics...HELP!
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
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From: NJ USA
Possible fix for door ajar light
Yes, it would probably work -- at the expense of a working dome light, at least when the door is opened. It seems you’re already committed to this sacrifice, though.
In this context, two kinds of switches: Normally open and normally closed (shorted). Yours is most likely N/O. When you get everything apart again, put off the connections (two, I assume) and play. Touch the two ends together -- what does the light do? If it goes off, you have a N/O switch.
Cut off the connector ends, leaving (if possible) about an inch or two of wire behind the connector, just in case you want to reattach them someday, like when someone designs a good switch. Remove about a 1/4 inch of insulation from each of the feed wires and place both into a mechanical crimp-type connector. Crimp it well, wrap it well with electrical tape and secure the wire to something so it doesn’t flop around (tie-wraps work well here). This is how I would do it, but there are other methods.
You don’t have to disconnect the battery if you’re careful; in fact, the worst damage you’ll likely incur is a blown fuse. Your call on that one. Good luck.
In this context, two kinds of switches: Normally open and normally closed (shorted). Yours is most likely N/O. When you get everything apart again, put off the connections (two, I assume) and play. Touch the two ends together -- what does the light do? If it goes off, you have a N/O switch.
Cut off the connector ends, leaving (if possible) about an inch or two of wire behind the connector, just in case you want to reattach them someday, like when someone designs a good switch. Remove about a 1/4 inch of insulation from each of the feed wires and place both into a mechanical crimp-type connector. Crimp it well, wrap it well with electrical tape and secure the wire to something so it doesn’t flop around (tie-wraps work well here). This is how I would do it, but there are other methods.
You don’t have to disconnect the battery if you’re careful; in fact, the worst damage you’ll likely incur is a blown fuse. Your call on that one. Good luck.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2003
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From: Connecticut
Possible fix for door ajar light
I like the theory and it does seem like a good practical fix, but I was wondering whether having a constant off/open condition or a constant on/closed condition (or however it goes), wouldn't this cause the computer to set an error code?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: Central KY
Possible fix for door ajar light
MickeyP...thanks for the advice.
Rockledge...good question.. anyone have any idea?
My theory is that doing this modification would simply act like a "false" switch and tell the computer that the door is shut....always. That would keep the dome light off even when I open the door, you guys are right. However, I would rather not have the dome light on when I open the door than have it on all the time, and the light on the dash on too. You know?
And I THINK (and I hope I'm right here) that it would not affect the switch on the dash, so that I could still use the domelight manually if I wanted to.
Rockledge...good question.. anyone have any idea?
My theory is that doing this modification would simply act like a "false" switch and tell the computer that the door is shut....always. That would keep the dome light off even when I open the door, you guys are right. However, I would rather not have the dome light on when I open the door than have it on all the time, and the light on the dash on too. You know?
And I THINK (and I hope I'm right here) that it would not affect the switch on the dash, so that I could still use the domelight manually if I wanted to.
Senior User
Joined: Jul 2002
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Possible fix for door ajar light
If you don't mind cutting the wires, then it should work okay. I wouldn't cut both wires right away though. If you know that it's the driver's door, cut the ground wire to the switch in that door. If the light goes out, problem solved (normally open circuit). Tape off the wires so that it cannot get a ground and come back on. If the light stays on, cut the positive wire and touch it to the ground wire. If that turns the light off, get a butt connector and crimp the wires together (normally closed circuit).
I could understand how you would rather have the light always off than always on. Having the light on all the time annoyed the hell outta me. Not to mention, when you set the alarm, it thinks that the door is open so the alarm is basicly useless (the alarm system wouldn't even know if the door WAS open). This is the other thing that you should consider about cutting the wires (assuming you have an alarm). Lucky for me, a quick spray of WD-40 in the door latch has kept the switch working for the last 10k miles, atleast. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Brian J Wilson
I could understand how you would rather have the light always off than always on. Having the light on all the time annoyed the hell outta me. Not to mention, when you set the alarm, it thinks that the door is open so the alarm is basicly useless (the alarm system wouldn't even know if the door WAS open). This is the other thing that you should consider about cutting the wires (assuming you have an alarm). Lucky for me, a quick spray of WD-40 in the door latch has kept the switch working for the last 10k miles, atleast. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.
Brian J Wilson
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Joined: Jul 2002
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Possible fix for door ajar light
Almost forgot...
Assuming you don't blow any fuses, you could still manually turn the dome lights on. (remember, the computer thinks that the door is closed like normal)
Assuming you don't blow any fuses, you could still manually turn the dome lights on. (remember, the computer thinks that the door is closed like normal)
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Thread Starter
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 4,411
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From: Central KY
Possible fix for door ajar light
Thank you very much for the advice. I was just wanting to get some other opinions to make sure there wasn't anything I overlooked or didn't think about before I go cutting wires. Thanks again.
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