Door ajar light.

[explorerdon]

2001 Ford Explorer has illuminated the "door ajar" message. All 4 doors, the rear lift gate, and the rear window have been opened and shut, with no change to the warning light. Any suggestions on a possible cause?

 

[lounge lizard]

spray the switches on the doors. they get gummed up and eve though the door is closed the switch does not make contact

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! I've renamed your thread, and moved it into the stock 95-01 section.

 

[Glen4X4]

Welcome To Explorer Forum! You should try what lounge lizard mentioned.

 

[Blueraven]

It's one of the door switches. They are little "plunger" switches that get gummed up. I had the same problem.
If I recall, even with the door light on, if you open a door you should hear a chime, if you don't hear the chime, that's the door/switch that's stuck.

Take out the switch, spray it with WD 40, if it won't free up, go to the junk yard and pick another one up.

 

[bobflood]

Might be a sensor for the hood also.

 

[96eb96]

It's one of the door switches. They are little "plunger" switches that get gummed up. I had the same problem.
If I recall, even with the door light on, if you open a door you should hear a chime, if you don't hear the chime, that's the door/switch that's stuck.

Take out the switch, spray it with WD 40, if it won't free up, go to the junk yard and pick another one up.

You can fix your old ones too to save a trip. Once they are out, put a bit of your favorite penetrant and try to free it up. If that don't work, the next step is a bit of heat with a match at the tip if its stubborn, and a bit more penetrant. Tap the point until it until it springs back and forth freely with spring resistance. Put some brake or chassis grease on the metal tip and replace. Do that even if you buy new ones.

 

[explorerdon]

Thanks for the advice. Unfortunately, the problem does not seem to be in the switches. For short periods of time, the warning light is off, but then it will illuminate while driving along, and the chime will ring. The power locks will engage several times while driving. The interior lights will come on while driving, and don't shut off after turning the car off.

This seems more like a short in the electrical system. Any other ideas?

 

[Shularfaye93]

You can fix your old ones too to save a trip. Once they are out, put a bit of your favorite penetrant and try to free it up. If that don't work, the next step is a bit of heat with a match at the tip if its stubborn, and a bit more penetrant. Tap the point until it until it springs back and forth freely with spring resistance. Put some brake or chassis grease on the metal tip and replace. Do that even if you buy new ones.

Sorry, Im having this issue, but cannot find the plunger switches in my doors, mine is a 2000, and i cant find any info or video until the 2002 model. Is it possible I don't have plunger switches by chance?

 

[96eb96]

Sorry, Im having this issue, but cannot find the plunger switches in my doors, mine is a 2000, and i cant find any info or video until the 2002 model. Is it possible I don't have plunger switches by chance?

They are usually on the latch assembly. Did you feel around for it? Unless you have a very low trim model, they should be there.

https://www.oreillyauto.com/shop/b/engine-sensors---emissions/body-switches/door-jamb-switch/ad1b2819acdd/v/a/5258/automotive-suv-1996-ford-explorer

 

[CDW6212R]

Be sure that all of the striker bushings are intact and very good. When those crack and break the latch will be loose on the door or hatch, and that wears out the latch much faster.

You can use a screw driver to manually trip each of the latches with the doors/hatch open, to confirm that the latches do work. Get them all shut first, and then begin manually forcing the latches farther closed, one at a time. You should of course lubricate all of them, but this will let you find the offending POS, and fix it, or find that it has to be replaced.