On Thursday evening (30 June) the 1996 5.0 Ranger started making a small sound like Morse code beeping. Tracked it down to the door open buzzer not working anymore but making a weird clicking sound. If I turned the key off it quit, next morning drove it to work and only had wipers if the key was in acc and I slam the door. The sound continued with key out so I disconnected the battery cable.

A brief history of truck, 3rd owner-first two in same family 1996-2018. Engine got tired and I thought it a good candidate for 5.0 swap. Truck is plain Jane XLT, straight steering column/no tilt. No rust but now has a small deer collision to deal with.

The door ajar dash light stays on, ever since I purchased it and door chime worked before Thursday when key left in switch or head lights on. Key would come out at any position and actually locking the switch with key out was a serious effort but would work.

I replaced the key tumbler and lock up issue solved but Morse code sound still there until key removed and NO wipers with key on. Right now, no wipers at all, yet. Maybe I haven’t slammed door hard enough???

Is this a multi switch problem on the left side of steering column? I hate to throw parts at something but the key switch was bad anyway.

 

HI you might look over the door hing area and latch area for a button that gets pushed when the door closes it might have gotten bent or loose as to not register..

good luck take care be safe
tim

 

You've been busy on this puppy. Seeing as how its a 96, it should be OBD-2 diagnostics & seeing as how you don't like tossing parts at a problem either but like turning your own wrenches, use, borrow, or come by the inexpensive ELM scan tool & running FORScan diagnostic freeware on the viewing device of choice as discussed here Low Cost ELM Scantool - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums (ford-trucks.com), as this powerful combo can access All of the vehicle computer / controllers for trouble code clues, then post All code Numbers.

My ELM paid for itself back in 2013 on its first use, troubleshooting my suddenly appearing ABS warning. The ELM / FORScan also found Body codes in the GEM controller I didn't know I had because my Actron scan tool couldn't access the GEM, Body or ABS controllers. The Body codes helped me fix my intermittent passenger side power window woes, so has been a really good investment for my Electronic toolbox that we need to troubleshoot todays computer-controlled vehicle systems. Some beginning thoughts for consideration, let us know what you find.

 

Fixing to order the scan tool you suggested.

 

Posted a few days ago, wipers worked only in acc. Now, not working at all.
I found a thread where a guy took his multi-switch apart and cleaned it up and out real good and his wipers started working.
I did the same thing; took the cap off end of switch, cleaned all old hard grease off spring and other components and re-greased with dielectric grease and they WORKED! For a while, several days later nothing.
Wipers run if the relay spots are jumped out, both hi/low.
I figured that meant the switch was bad so replaced the multi-switch today and nothing. The GEM remains a question to me but:
1. It appears to be unavailable
2. Over $200. if I can find it. (based on a price for an Explorer.

I must have missed a step or misunderstood the threads I was reading, I understood that if jumpers worked it was NOT the GEM? if the wipers worked jumped out, it can't be the motor?
That only left the switch. What am I not understanding or trying yet?

Any ideas or suggestions greatly appreciated.

 

You get the ELM scan-tool & have FORScan diagnostic freeware perform a trouble code scan to see if it can find some GEM, Body, or other code clues to help focus your troubleshoot????
If so, post All code Numbers so all the forum minds can input their wisdom & experience.