Door ajar.... but its not!

[jrseykid686]

My 02 Eddie Bauer thinks the drivers door is open, only when the car is off. The ignition will ding when the car is off with the key in the ignition, interior lights, and exterior flood lights turn on and stay on for 20 minutes after the car is off... car honks 2 times when locked like the door is open. When you turn the key... it knows the door is shut and everything goes away... whats going on? i want this fixed so it doesn't stress my battery running all the lights that long.

 

[Tbars4]

...you might read this thread...
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=190221

 

[jrseykid686]

Read it, tried it... no go. The car registers the door is shut only when the key is turned on... when its off is the problem, im thinking electrical of some sort? I've never heard of this problem before

 

[JDraper]

Have you done anything like install an aftermarket HU/speakers or an alarm system? If so, you may have a wire crossed somewhere. Especially since it goes away with the key in. Sounds like once the key is in an alarm system recognizes that and shuts down.

 

[gasparny]

Had crazy problems like that on my '04. Not exactly the same but Door Ajar light was involved. Turned out to be a broken wire in the driver's door. Cost $100 bucks to have it fixed at local shop (not dealer).

 

[jrseykid686]

i'm gonna take it in... its burning out my lights and battery... thanks for the input

 

[Bastek]

I've had the same problem in mine '04. Most probably it's broken Ground wire inside the boot, between driver door and door jam. If you want to fix it yourself, you have to take off door panel (3 screws) and speaker, take off the boot (some electrical tape holds it to the harness ), splice in extra 2" of wire between the broken one. Just make sure that when you remove panel with window switches, pick it up from the top (front) thats where a clip is located. You will have to take it off to get to one of the screws.
Good luck

 

[jrseykid686]

Thanks, the X is in the shop already, i gave up trying to fix it... more problems were starting to show up

 

[Tito_146]

I had a problem like that on my 02 Eddie Bauer. It will display "ajar door" with all the doors closed. This is what I did to solve the problem:

1. I activated the alarm and waited about 30 seconds then open one door only (this includes the liftgate and the rearglass window). If the alarm went off that meant that door was ok. Turn off the alarm and rearmed again to repeat the step. If no door/liftgate/rearglass sounded the alarm, you probably have a problem not related to the switches on the doors.

2. Once I found the door that did not sounded the alarm, I checked the wires in the grommet between the door and frame. You want to look for pinched or cut wires. If any damage is found it should be repaired.

3. If not damaged wires were found, I then moved to removed the door panel and looked for damaged wires inside the door. The ajar switch is part of the door lock actuator and latch. Is alltogether in an assembly. The assembly is hold by 3 screws and two rods. The screws you could access from the outside of the latch. The rods are hold in place by plastic clips (very fragile plastic clips).

4. This assembly has two electric plugs one for the lock actuator (the biggest of the two) and another for the ajar switch. If you disconnect the smaller plug and jump a wire between the two connectors inside the plug (make sure the jumper wire is making good contact) your "ajar door" display should turn off. If it does you need another switch (about $25 at a Ford dealer).

5. If your "ajar door" display does stay on you have a problem with the wiring/module somewhere else and just to be sure go over from step 1 again.

There was another post around here in which someone said to spray wd40 through the outside door handle. The ajar switch is to far down below the door for the spray to do anything. The best way to try and clean the switch is by removing the door panel spray directly on the switch. Imo it will be better just to get another one and replace it. The switch by itself is sealed, I dont see how it could be cleaned.

Feel free guys to add more info to this post. I spent a few hours trying to fix this thing and figuring everything out.

Orlando

 

[jrseykid686]

It was a broken ground wire in the door harness... i cant figure out how that would effect the rear defroster, but it did... everything is working great!