Help in Hawaii!

[Jkrew]

Hi everyone, survived yesterday's flooding here on the islands, may others lost their cars and homes, so I feel very lucky. I attempted to drive out yesterday but had to turn around due to the high waters. Once I got home and restarted my engine, my 94 explorer started acting up, possible water in the electrical system?

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At any given time while driving, but mainly at night, when I turn my headlights on, the car starts to "ding" or "chime" non stop. Almost as if I left my lights on, when the engine is turned off, key out of the ignition type of thing. No warning lights, or abnormal gague readings. Also there is a strange, almost alarm type sound that starts very faintly, then gets louder from the steering column area when the car is off and the key is out of the ignition. Did I fry something in the high waters? Other than that, she's running great. I wanted to take her to my mechanic, but his shop, and all the cars parked there went underwater above the hoods, so i'm on my own. Any help or ideas/suggestions anyone may have would greatly help! Thanks so much everyone!

 

[Blacksheep Josh]

Sounds like maybe the door sensor that dings when you open it got wet.

 

[Jkrew]

It's that exact noise, but i tried fiddling with the sensor. No luck.

 

[SteveH - Colo]

The key-in-the-ignition sensor could be making partial contact even when the key it out. Mine did this, and chimed when the door was open with no key in the ignition. I removed the lower clamshell cover on the steering column and unplugged the single wire that leads to the ign cylinder (it's very obvious). I no longer have the key-in-ign chime, but that's ok with me. The faint noise you hear from the column could be this switch making partial contact some of the time. This may be unrelated to the flood water situation.