I'm having a problem with the liftgate on my wifes 97 explorer that im hoping someone can possibly help me with. There is a switch bad or something causing it to leave the door ajar light on, and leaving the lights on for a long period of time. I have searched though the Ford Service Manual with not much luck. Now if it is a switch where is it? Is it located in with the Hinges? Or could there possibly be another problem causing this? I am pretty sure the liftgate is the suspect in this one. Thanks gang.

 

Theres a left and right lift gate ajar switch and a wiper disable switch. These are all spliced together. When you open the glass or the gate the switches close & ground the GEM.

Sounds like one of these switches is stuck closed.

The wiper switch is just below the wiper motor. The door ajar switches are on the sides about midway between glass and bumper.

Maybe a shot of WD-40 on the switches will fix this.

 

I've got a 97. My switch is at the top left side of the frame, right by the hinge. Try depressing that with the gate open, and remember the delay light turn off, so depress it with the key in the on position. Hope this helps some.

 

Thanks guys. I got the panel off the gate right now and am messing around a little. I am now thinking it might be the wiper disable switch. I don't think the rear window was opened that much by the previous owner so I of course opened it. This might have caused the switch to stick or whatever. I can tell they didn't use the lock much either because I cant get the key to work in it. I'll let you know what I get figured out.

 

Are the switches acually a part of the latch itself though? I can't find anything else besides the wires that run up to the latches. I wound up spraying all 3 with some lithium grease and opening and closing both the window, and the liftgate several times. Problem seems to be solved. Thanks again.

 

The switch locations I mentioned are according to what is shown in the Ford "electrical & vacuum troubleshooting manual" for a 97 Explorer.

A friend of mine traded his 97 & gave me the manual, & i've never seen the switches.

I guess you're not finding the switches on the sides of the liftgate??

 

Not sure if Ford changed the general assembly in 97 compared to my 93. It has only one switch and it's integral to the left side latch assembly in the door itself. So If I want to open the hatch and turn off the light to save the battery, I just close that latch by hand and then hit the door open lever again before I go to close the hatch.