2000 Ranger, 4x2, auto, 55,000 miles.

I don't know if this is an electrical short, a relay, a ground problem or what.

When I am driving and go over a bump, I hear a *ding* and a click, then silence. Go over another bump, and the same. The speed I am going over the bumps doesn't matter. Local or highway speeds, it is the same. Does happen more on local road speeds.

Take a left turn at 20 mph+ and *ding* and click.

Sometimes the dome light comes on then goes out, but not often. The light will go out after I have driven a few feet.

I have tried the electrical cleaner/wd40 multiple times. I do not feel this is the 'door ajar' problem so many others have.

Any suggestions would be helpful: where to look, what am I looking for, etc.

Thanks millions, folks. This constant dinging is driving me nuts.

Best,

Bob

 

Anyone at all?

 

Well my first thought was the "door ajar", "dome light" problem thats associated with a sticking switch in the door lock mechanism, but you say you've tried that without success.

Did you spray BOTH doors, if not I'd begin with that.
If no success, then begin pulling fuses to isolate the circuit with problems & make sure you know which one is acting out, then begin inspecting the items & wiring on that crcuit.

It could be that a door switch is just bad internally, maybe the return spring is rusted up inside & hanging up, is weak, or is broken, or the electrical contacts are broken & the WD-40 isn't going to fix it.

I suppose you could try banging on the suspect door around the latch area & see if you can get it to respond, then pull the door panel & have a look at things, maybe pull & test the door switch, or just try replacing it.

If that doesn't get it, trace the wiring back to the GEM, located on the firewall in the cabin behind the radio.

Good spots for damaged wiring is where it bends when the door is opened & the wire bundle passes trough that area, or where it passes through a bulkhead, so flex these areas & see if maybe some wiring insulation may be chaffed & shorting out.

Have you done any work around the GEM, or any of these areas, just before this problem began????

If so, look for loose electrical connectors or damaged wiring, or maybe even corrosion, bent or pushed back pins or sockets in electical connectors going to the GEM, or wiring harnesses that were disconnected. Or maybe the GEM has a circuit board solder connection problem, so try thumping it & see if you get a favorable respnse.

I suspect the problem is in one of the door swtches though, as most of these kinds of problems are with them, so I'd concentrate my attention there & make them prove themselves, before moving on to other less likely things.

Just a whole bunch of thoughts for pondering & maybe get you started on your troubleshoot.

Let us know how it goes.

 

Thanks for your response.

No, I have not done any kind of work on the truck except regular oil changes, etc. Nothing near the GEM.

Looks like I have a weekend project now. Yay!

Thanks for your time.

 

Sounds like a continuation of the problem/s you were having back in Nov & Dec 07.

You said then that if you slammed the drivers side door hard, or pressed around the latch area, you could get the overhead light to go out & the dinger to hush, then in Dec you had a problem with the door not wanting to latch in sub freezing weather, which you said responded to warming the heck out of the door with a heater.

Seeing as how your in cold country suggests to me that you maybe have a weather strip problem thats letting more water than normal into that area & has maybe messed with the switch, or rusted things up in there that mechanically control it, or electrically connect to it.

So maybe cut right to the chase & pull the door panel & have a look-see as to just what's going on mechanically & electrically in that area.