Electrical issues

[vsheeh]

I have an '02 Explorer Limited. The switch panel on the driver's door does not work when the key is removed. When the key is removed the dome light comes on and stays on for about ten minutes or more. The delayed accessories also don't come on, which leads me to believe that the door is being sensed as ajar. The passenger door switches do still work though. Could this be the ground problem that I am reading about in other forums?

 

[coled43]

Could be a ground somewhere. But, more information would help. You say switch panel on the door, which switches specifically, all of them? And do you mean when the key is in the ignition or door? When running? etc. By seeing what the things that malfunction have in common on a wiring diagram you can begin to narrow it down. The limited could be wired different than the base model as well.

 

[vsheeh]

The whole switch panel is inop when I turn the engine off and remove the key. The delayed accessory power does not work either. I need to reach over to the passenger side to raise the windows or unlock the doors.

 

[coled43]

Your problem could be a bad ground or wire, but I don't think it is the same ground wire as the door ajar ground problem that seems to be so common. If your door was ajar the dome light would come on all the time and an idiot light would come on (after starting I think?). When you turn off the car and remove the key does the radio turn off before or after opening a door? I think the dome light should come on, but turn off on a timer or when you open the door. The windows still work from the passenger door but not on the driver's, so the problem there could be a wire to that door. Others are saying that they find a broken wire in the hose that the wires run through from the door to the pillar. So, removing your door panel and pulling the grommet for that hose/conduit to inspect all the wires going into the door might reveal the problem.
I don't know how the delayed acc feature works, but looking at a wiring diagram might show you where to look. The GEM must actually control it and hooking up to a diagnostic tool can show the state of everything connected to it.

 

[vsheeh]

The radio shuts off when I remove the key before I open the door.

 

[Greg_guy]

My fix

I had a problem that when the key was removed the radio would shut off and the dome light would stay on, all so the drivers puddle light would not work. The fix was simple, pull the rubber boot at the drivers door forward and look for a thick black wire inside the drivers door. There will be a brake in the wire, my wire broke off a connector to a thick red wire. I soldered a 6 in peace of wire to the red and black wires so the joint would not be flexing when I open the door.

Hope this fixes your problem.

 

[Greg_guy]

My fix

I had a problem that when the key was removed the radio would shut off and the dome light would stay on, all so the drivers puddle light would not work. The fix was simple, pull the rubber boot at the drivers door forward and look for a thick black wire inside the drivers door. There will be a brake in the wire, my wire broke off a connector to a thick red wire. I soldered a 6 in peace of wire to the red and black wires so the joint would not be flexing when I open the door.

Hope this fixes your problem.

 

[vsheeh]

Thanks alot.

The black wire was broken. Not alot of room in that boot to look around.

Thanks again.

Now on to the airbag light.