I drilled holes through my roof for a rack and now I have a problem-Help!

[paulcomi]

I had a DIY roof rack for carrying lumber on my explorer and its been functional for years but its wood so I decided to bolt together some superstrut and make one more durable. Everything was fine until I went to lock my car and the power door locks didn't work. Uh oh... Seems I drilled too close to the side of the roof and drilled through a wiring harness roughly over the 2nd row seat behind the drivers seat. This explorer is a work truck and its basically an enclosed pick up truck so I didn't mind removing the headliner in the back to track down th problem and stripped and reconnected the 8 wires back together but what's worrying me is that the brake lights don't work, the dome light doesnt work, neither does the power drivers seat. I checked the other holes I drilled and there's no wiring harness I came in contact with so I don't know what to do to fix it.

Other symptoms are when I press the door lock I hear the click but it won't unlock the doors. Periodically I can get it to lock by pushing the door lock but it isn't consistent. What's more when I press the door lock button I see the light in the cigarette lighter flicker and I discovered the headlights also flicker. Also the hazard lights don't work.

I never had any issues with the seat movement controls or the power door locks before this and I've tried the other door locks and they are the same.

 

[paulcomi]

I went out this evening and was able to see that when I press the door lock button to lock the car it seems to work; but when I attempt to unlock the car pressing the button activates the dashboard light, the headlights and the tail lights. Does this sound like a short in the ceiling or something in another part of the vehicle?

 

[IAmTodd]

Considering the lock wiring is no where near the roof I'd say you have a separate issue. Remove the drivers side kick panel and start looking for shorts. Sounds like you have a good one...

I'd also check for an aftermarket keyless entry system that has bit the dust and is shorting out.

 

[paulcomi]

That's helpful and is why I posted. Can you tell me what the six wires are for that are in a channel going between the 2nd row seat drivers side and the back corner of the ceiling? That's what I cut and fixed.

 

[IAmTodd]

You know what, it could possibly be it. That would be the wiring going to the hatch I would assume. It would include wiring for the lock actuator.