No puddle lights, dome lights, theft light flashes

Anyone know the solution to this?

I went through the car wash this morning (first time since I bought it last month) and tonight I noticed I have no puddle lights when I use the remote to unlock; no dome lights either. And the theft light on the instrument panel keeps flashing until I start the truck.

'02 XLT.

I'm doing a search right now but if anyone knows of the fix, please post it up.

Thanks!


I posted on this thread, also: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=295245

since the problem was the same but no solution was posted. Is this a broken wire in the boot between the door and post or is it the door ajar problem. I don't have a blinking door ajar light, that I've notice.

Sounds like the broken wire concern, probably is the heavy gauge black ground wire.

Thanks. Still doing searching. I've found posts about the same problem but no posts about the solution. I figured it was somehow connected to the carwashing. Got water somewhere it wasn't supposed to be.

Back to searching.

Thanks!

I had similar electrical issues with my 02 xlt. The dome lights would stay on until the battery saver feature turned them off, the driver side puddle light didn't work, the keypad on the door would set off the alarm when I pressed it, the door ajar light would flash and beep at highway speeds, etc.

A lot of electrical issues can be traced back to broken/damaged wire(s) in the boot between the body and the driver's door. I found a broken wire and repaired it and all is back to normal!

Here is a great thread for removing the door panel, thanks to borland for the awesome write-up: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=249253

When checking for broken/damaged wires, check very carefully. They can be hard to find. When you are done checking, check again 2 more times!

Here is a great thread for checking for broken/damaged wires, thanks to synyster for this awesome write-up: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=270081

Hope this helps out. :biggthump

After reading some posts, I went out to check a couple things.

1. No dome or puddle lights no matter which door I open.
2. After starting the truck, I get the "door ajar" message light up when I open any door, then goes out when that door is closed, as expected. Also get a 2 second tone. I get no flashing of "door ajar" light when driving.
3. Dome lights work by turning them on with the push button switch on the upper console in the truck.
4. Radio still shuts off when opening the door after truck is shut off. Windows will still roll down before door is opened. Once the door is opened, the radio shuts off and windows are inoperable, just as expected.
5. Door key pad is still operational, lights up when keying in the code and will unlock the door. But no change in puddle lights, dome light or flashing "theft" light.

So the only operation that seems different/wrong is the missing puddle lights and missing dome light. And the fact that the "theft" light flashes before opening the door and after opening the door with the remote key fob. Flashes until the truck is started.

Haven't checked fuses yet. Maybe something got wet and shorted?

Does this sound like the broken wire syndrome?

It's too darn cold to play around outside with it. I parked it in the garage to let it thaw out overnight and see if that makes a difference.

Any insight is greatly appreciated.

It is possible that something got wet from the carwash. Check if you have water in the puddle lights:

Insert utility knife blade at point shown. Be very careful so you don't cut yourself. Some have used a small, thin screwdriver. Push blade up and away from vehicle and lens will pop out. Then twist lens off socket. You don't have to remove the mirror to do this. I had the mirror off to add turn signal mirrors.



I would definitely check the fuses. According to my owner's manual, #17 is a 15A Fuse for Delayed Acc. Coil, Battery Saver, Interior Lamps. If you don't have an owner's manual, Dead Link Removed.

Dead Link Removed Dead Link Removed

Hope this helps. Keep us posted.

UPDATE:

Put the turkey in the oven and went to the garage to check this problem furthur.

1. Checked the operation of the dome and puddle lights by using the roll-up switch by the headlights to see if the dome and puddle lights would come on. They did. But still wouldn't light by opening the door, as they should.

2. Pulled the fuse to check it, even though it seemed that if the fuse was blown, I wouldn't have any dome or puddle lights. After pulling the fuse, I had no dome or puddle lights. Expected.

3. The fuse was good.

4. Reinserted the fuse. I could hear a relay clicking as I put it in.

5. Viola! They now work as they should. They come on when using the key fob to open the doors and go off when using the key fob to lock them. Close the door and they go off after the built in delay tells them to.


So not sure what got reset when I pulled and reinserted the fuse but they're back to normal. Hope this helps anyone else who has this problem.

Thanks to all who chimed in.

And Happy Thanksgiving Day! (Just one more thing to add to my LOOOOOONG list of things to be thankful for!)

EDIT: And thanks Rondo for posting the photo. Made it much easier to find. I do have a manual but since the dome lights/puddle light still lit up, didn't think the fuse would be an issue. Turns out reinserting seemed to reset or "bump" the relay that controls the delay I'm guessing.

But they didn't put that fuse panel in an easy-to-access location. Just like my Porsche.


EDIT #2: Didn't see any water in the puddle lights. Pulling the lense is easy. Already replaced a lamp in the driver's side puddle light.

What are you refering to about turn signals in the mirrors? Did you swap out the stocks for factory ones with the blinking arrow? I'm interesed in doing something like that. Don't want the ones that mount on the surface of the mirror.

D Hook, glad you got it fixed. You're right about it being tough to get to the fuses. Hope it continues to work correctly. Happy Thanksgiving!

So safe to assume it was the relay, correct? Just in case it does it again. May have to look into replacing the relay.

Find out after the next car wash I suppose.

Thanks again.

D Hook said:

So safe to assume it was the relay, correct? Just in case it does it again. May have to look into replacing the relay.

Find out after the next car wash I suppose.

Thanks again.

Click to expand...

That's what I was thinking. Maybe the relay is on the way out?

#7 is the relay for the interior lights. It's a huge PITA to get to. Just think how tough it is to get to just the fuses! The manual says to remove the fuse panel to gain access. There are some posts on people getting to the flasher relay without having to remove the fuse panel. Hopefully you won't have to replace the relay.

Dead Link Removed Dead Link Removed

Had the same problem crop up again Friday. This time the puddle lights, etc came back on after I rotated the dash light/dome light switch. I could hear the relay click as soon as the dome light came on. So I'm guessing the relay is getting dodgy.

Everything is back to working as it should.

D Hook said:

Had the same problem crop up again Friday. This time the puddle lights, etc came back on after I rotated the dash light/dome light switch. I could hear the relay click as soon as the dome light came on. So I'm guessing the relay is getting dodgy.

Everything is back to working as it should.

Click to expand...

Good news!