'03 XLT Multiple electrical issues... Same problem?

[POHRacing]

New to the forum (first post!), and new to the Gen 3, but not new to Fords. I've actually been lurking for awhile now and after successfully using the "recirc/fresh air door DIY" to fix my weak a/c, I figured I had better join the forum.

So I have a few electrical issues that Im now thinking are all related. I've searched up and down, and found some plausible fixes for individual issues, but none of them have worked for me:
1. The courtesy lights (interior, dome, puddle) will stay on even after I close the doors and drive off. It's the typical gen 3 problem, where I can slide the dimmer switch off for 2 minutes and then back on and the interior lights stay off (battery saver mode?). The thing is that my door ajar light doesn't illuminate. In fact it NEVER illuminates. Same with with my parking brake light. That never illuminates either.
2. Passenger side front window won't roll up or down with either switch. When you hit the down or up switch, the lights dim slightly, but there's no noise from the window regulator.

I've checked the wiring loom in the driver door, the ground strap in the passenger kick panel, and I have sprayed WD-40 in all of the latch mechanisms and door handles. I got nothin. Any input would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance

 

[POHRacing]

Quick update: I tried to lock the doors today while driving, and they all lock, but the drivers side front door then unlocks itself automatically. Basically if the key is in the run position, the driver door can't be locked. It locks and stays locked if the key is out of the ignition.

 

[BigRondo]

Welcome aboard.

I'll post up some good info when I get home tonight.

 

[POHRacing]

Welcome aboard.

I'll post up some good info when I get home tonight.

Thank you x2! Looking forward to some fresh ideas.

I just bought this 2003 with 90,000 miles last week, and other than these issues it's a great ride. My best guess so far is that it's got some broken wires in the drivers door, but what gets me is that the warning lights aren't ever illuminating. I find it hard to believe that someone went through the trouble of yanking the cluster bulbs out for the parking brake and door ajar, but you never know.

 

[BigRondo]

I had similar electrical issues with my '02 XLT. The dome lights would stay on until the battery saver feature turned them off, the accessory delay wasn't working, 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, the radio would shut off as soon as I turned the key off, the alarm would beep twice when I armed it. Recently all 4 windows stopped working. Most recently the driver door lock actuator stopped working.

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 3 broken wires and repaired them. The thin black ground wire was broken and after repairing it all was back to normal. When the windows stopped working, I repaired the thick black ground wire and the windows now work like a champ. I had to repair the pink/black wire to fix the driver door lock actuator.

Here is the thread for removing the door panel: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums//showthread.php?t=303524

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

Unfortunately the pictures are no longer available in the above thread. IIRC, I believe I unwrapped the wires enough to gain access. When I have gone searching in there I had an idea of what wire I was looking for. I located the the wire I was looking for and gently tugged on that wire on the door side. The wire was pulled toward me and out of the harness. I then went inside the vehicle and gently tugged on the the wire I was looking for and was able to pull it inside the vehicle. I then spliced a length of wire to the 2 ends, completing the circuit. I then gently pulled the excess into the door.

Be sure to take your time when looking for broken/damaged wire(s). Check all the wires for breaks/damage. When you think you're done looking, look again, and again, and again. A bright flashlight can be very helpful.

Good luck getting it sorted.

Please keep us posted as feedback helps others reading this post looking for a fix to the same or similar issue!