Key off and out, AND truck still running???WTF!

[d2camaro]

OK I drove my 02 eddie v8 explorer all around this weekend and had no problems except the odometer flickering on and off. I went to work at 0515 and turned my lights off and kept the truck running while I was drinking my soda. My parking lights turned on and off like I locked and unlocked my doors wtf, so I looked around the parking lot and no one was around so went back to listening to the radio and it did it 4 more times. So about now I am like what the F$@#. So I go to turn the truck off to go into work, I turn the truck off and pull out the key and every thing is still running including the truck. SO I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHATS GOING ON I NEED SOME HELP.

 

[jrford]

is it just the odometer? Or all of the dash gages? that was a low/dead battery for me.
almost sounds like a door sensor is sticking, lots of WD40 on all of them. .
still running, had that as a feature on an old clunker of mine but the lock cyl. was broke,
jiggle the key, you can try and disconnect the battery but it still might run, pull the fuel pump fuse?, or pull the air cleaner and try and choke it of air. . .

After you get it off, try and find which door? or if it does it again, might want to take it to the dealer if you can repeat it, they should be able to 'see' with NGS what the key is actually doing.

 

[d2camaro]

i drove the truck home and shuthe truck off and i turned off but just seems like some thing electrical.dont think its the batt it check out fine and its the odometer thats flikers every now and then, ond oh yea when i turn the rear defrost on it says door ajar. weird

 

[jrford]

sounds like you got some broken, frayed wires somewhere or Gremlins. . lol, hard suckers to catch. . .
for the dash there was an old post where some guy re-soldered some joints i thought. . .

 

[sjj62]

rear defrost/door ajar problem

I had the same problem with the rear defroster and the door ajar warning on my 02 EB. It was a broken wire in the driver door. There is a recent post (posted 2/13/2010) here by "synster" that includes pictures on how to fix this problem. Just do a search for "How To: Fix the door ajar problem". Don't know how to link that post here, sorry.

 

[Opera House]

I would spray some WD-40 into the keyswitch. Sounds like the mechanism is sticking and the switch is not turning off. I have an 02 and sometimes I can't lock the doors. A spray of lube into the keyswitch fixes that. Haven't followed it closely, but Ford has had some problems with keyswitches cauing fires so these switches aren't that robust!

 

[A Wise Guy]

With the flash of the parking lights I would have to ask if you have a remote start in the truck? they usually signal you with the parking lights and did you try pressing the brake pedal to shut off the possible remote start?

 

[gsmaclean]

I would spray some WD-40 into the keyswitch. Sounds like the mechanism is sticking and the switch is not turning off. I have an 02 and sometimes I can't lock the doors. A spray of lube into the keyswitch fixes that. Haven't followed it closely, but Ford has had some problems with keyswitches cauing fires so these switches aren't that robust!

Never, ever spray WD-40 into a key lock. WD-40 leaves an oily residue after the carrier solvent evaporates (it's designed to, to prevent corrosion and prevent moisture, hence the Water Dispersal - WD in the name). This oily residue will collect dust and grit and eventually cause your locks (and ignition) to stop working.

Use a solvent lock cleaner that evaporates fully, followed by graphite lubricant.

 

[Opera House]

"Never, ever spray WD-40 into a key lock." Sure in a perfect world. Truth is it doesn't really matter. When you are faced with tearing apart a steering column or using a spray, the argument is moot. The idea is to get some fluid past the lock to the switch mechanism. Not a big fan of WD-40. It isn't a lubricant but, it will loosen up dried lubricant and get it to move. I've sprayed dozens of lubricants into locks over 30 years without problem. If it gets sticky, big deal. Just spray again in a couple years. It's a difference of opinion of those who just read and those that do.