Weird electrical problem, 03 Explorer XLT
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Weird electrical problem, 03 Explorer XLT
Hey Guys, I've had a problem for a while now and am hoping someone here has seen it before.
First off, if I open any door the interier light's come on but don't turn off when the doors are closed and the door ajar light stays on. I can get them to shutoff by manually rolling the little dimmer switch to the off position, but then I have no dash lights unless I turn the switch back on. I've tried cleaning the door latch/switch's with brake clean and then lubed with silecone spray (didn't help). I think that all the door switches are working b/c if I have the dimmer switch off I can open any of the doors (including the rear hatch and window) and the door ajar light along with the chime will go off and on with each door opening and closing.
Another thing that seems to affect it is the rear window defrost. If I turn it on the door ajar light comes on also??
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
First off, if I open any door the interier light's come on but don't turn off when the doors are closed and the door ajar light stays on. I can get them to shutoff by manually rolling the little dimmer switch to the off position, but then I have no dash lights unless I turn the switch back on. I've tried cleaning the door latch/switch's with brake clean and then lubed with silecone spray (didn't help). I think that all the door switches are working b/c if I have the dimmer switch off I can open any of the doors (including the rear hatch and window) and the door ajar light along with the chime will go off and on with each door opening and closing.
Another thing that seems to affect it is the rear window defrost. If I turn it on the door ajar light comes on also??
Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,812
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From: Cedar Rapids, IA
You might need to find a professional scan tool that can access the GEM module to identify with door, if any, is being detected as ajar. Based on the ajar light coming on with the rear defroster, I'd suspect either a ground issue somewhere or a broken wire in the bundle for the rear liftgate.
-Rod
-Rod
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Joined: Apr 2010
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Have you had any luck solving your lighting issue yet? I sold my '03 XLT (4.0L, 4WD) to my sister a few years ago when I bought my '07 Eddie Bauer. The '03 started having this same exact issue about 18 months ago and I'd love to find a fix for it! She has to use the instrument panel dimmer roll switch to get the interior lights to go off and the Door Ajar light is always on! The Door Ajar warning has been acting up intermittently as far back as 2006, when I still owned it.
I figured out that the trigger for the Door Ajar light was raising the rear glass! It didn't always cause it to light up, but every time it did come on was within seconds of opening or closing the rear glass! And there were times that it would stay on for hours, while opening and firmly closing the rear window a few times usually got rid of it.
I'd love to finally figure it out because it drove me crazy when I owned it...and I know my sis would love to have it fixed even though she swears she doesn't even notice it any more!
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,812
Likes: 83
From: Cedar Rapids, IA
The door ajar switch for the rear glass is part of the latch mechanism. If you were to spray electrical contact cleaner in to the latch, or, better yet, remove the trim so you can access the switch directly, you probably will find the issue goes away. If that doesn't have any effect, then you will want to check the wiring.
-Rod
-Rod
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