2002 - Horn chirps twice but no doors are open

[rmcbri01]

Problem just started about two weeks ago - most of the time, but not every time, when I push the remote lock the second time I'm getting two chirps from the horn, usually indicating that a door is not shut, etc. That's not the case however. Like I said, it doesn't do this all the time (usually about 80-90% of the time.) Every door, hatch, rear gate, hood, etc are closed (I don't suffer from the "door ajar" issue that I've read about here - everything is fine when I'm in the vehicle..no warning sounds, lights, etc.)

I've also noticed that the following has started happening - the radio is supposed to stay on for up to 10 minutes after shutting off the car, or until I open the drivers door. Now it shuts off immediately after turning off the engine. Also, the door lock button, only on the drivers door, is not working once the car is shut off. I can get the door lock button to work sometimes, after I have pushed the one on the passenger door (which works just fine.)

I haven't been able to find any other electrical issues in terms of things not working correctly. I tried checking a few fuses but the owners manual doesn't indicate any that control the power door locks.

Any suggestions??

Thanks.

 

[rrgone]

Hey, a new electrical gremlin chewin' on an '02! Can you power the windows up/down for about 10 minutes after the key is turned off? The windows are suppose to work for a while as well as the radio. What about the curtesy lamps and puddle lamps - do they stay on for 20-30 seconds after you open and close the door? Welcome aboard, I'm sure you'll get some help here.

 

[rmcbri01]

Hey, a new electrical gremlin chewin' on an '02! Can you power the windows up/down for about 10 minutes after the key is turned off? The windows are suppose to work for a while as well as the radio. What about the curtesy lamps and puddle lamps - do they stay on for 20-30 seconds after you open and close the door? Welcome aboard, I'm sure you'll get some help here.

Once the key is off, the windows won't work, just like the radio. The lamps stay on for 15-20 seconds after opening and closing the door. I did notice that the dome light and the lights under the rearview mirrors were staying on for an extremely long time (longer than 2-3 minutes) after closing the door.

This would lead me to believe that there is something telling the system that a door is open, but it only happens when the key is removed from the ignition, not while the car is running.

I'm at a loss...

 

[mikeh44]

spray wd 40 in all the door latches

 

[rmcbri01]

spray wd 40 in all the door latches

Thanks Mike, I've done that to all the latches, including the hatch and liftgate. Then I've stood there and opened and closed them all for several minutes straight. Still ending up with no change at this time.

Thanks for the input...

 

[rrgone]

What happens if you deliberately leave a door ajar and put the key in the ignition? Do you get the ding ding ding alarm? If you start it up with the door deliberately ajar does the door ajar lamp come on?

 

[rmcbri01]

What happens if you deliberately leave a door ajar and put the key in the ignition? Do you get the ding ding ding alarm? If you start it up with the door deliberately ajar does the door ajar lamp come on?

Yes and yes to the second and third questions. With the car running, when I close the open door, the lamp goes out and everything appears to be fine.

 

[rrgone]

Well it does seem like the door ajar sensors are working correctly and that something else is telling the system that a door is ajar. I think it's probably the GEM (or the Instrument Cluster if your's is a late build '02).

 

[rmcbri01]

Well it does seem like the door ajar sensors are working correctly and that something else is telling the system that a door is ajar. I think it's probably the GEM (or the Instrument Cluster if your's is a late build '02).

Thanks rrgone. The car was built in August 2002, right before the '03s came out. In fact, mine has 17" wheels which apparently weren't available on the '02s, but came out on the 03's.

I'll try to do some research on the Instrument Cluster and see if it leads me anywhere. Any info you or someone else has would be much appreciated.

Thanks again.

 

[JasonF]

You are right, the radio and windows are supposed to work after you shut the car off until you open either front door. So it would have to be an issue with one of the front two doors. If I open the door and then turn the car off, obviously the radio and windows stop working as soon as the ignition goes off, just like your problem. So that rules out 3 of 5 possible doors.

Is it possible that the door ajar light uses a separate switch than the one that causes the horn to chirp twice and radio and windows to power off? I seem to recall seeing cars with two of those switches in the doorframe that sense whether it's open, but I don't remember if the explorer is one of them...If it does, then hopefully one has gone bad.


Jason