Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts!

Go Back   Ford Ranger Forum - Forums for Ford Ranger enthusiasts! > >
Forgot Password? Join Us!

Welcome to Ford Ranger Forum

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread

  #1  
Old 12-08-2009, 02:55 PM
RangerTruck RangerTruck is offline
Ford Motor Co
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 156
Default Door Chime / Dome Light / Door Ajar Problem

Hello Everyone, I am in need of your Ranger expertise.

For the last year or so, my door chime stays on all the time. You can lock the doors and everything, walk away, come back in 15 minute and still hear the chime from outside of the car. This has never killed my battery or anything, so I've been letting the problem go.

For the last week or so, the problem has gotten much worse. Now, my door chime is constantly on (hours at a time). My door ajar light is on by my gauges when the key is in the ignition, no matter how many times I close the door. My dome light inside is always on too, even if you try to turn it off manually. Today, I went into work, my chime, dome light, and door ajar lights were all on. I come out of work 4 hours later, and my battery is dead. As soon as I jumped it, all of the lights came on again, and are stuck on.

For a quick fix, I took the light bulb out of the dome light so it won't pull as much power. My chime is still going off, and my door ajar light is on anytime the key is in the ignition.

This electrical gremlin is driving me crazy. Anyone know how to fix this? or is this best left to a garage? If in the garage, any estimates on price

You guys are the best, thanks.
__________________
1999 Single Cab Ranger. 2.5L. She's a beauty.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 12-08-2009, 03:11 PM
Tom Tom is offline
Ranger Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,831
Default

Try messing around the door latch. The other day at work I found that one of the Rangers constantly had the "door ajar" indication on and dome light on even with the door seemingly closed.

Ended up taking a screw driver to the door latches and just pushing the latch back (simulating the motion it would make when it hits the metal pole it's supposed to latch onto). The force of the screwdriver was enough to cause the "door ajar" indication to go off so then I was able to confirm that the problem was with the door latch and I knew which door was causing the problem. After that I just SOAKED the latch in WD-40 and the problem was solved.

Quick and easy solution: Soak both door latches in WD-40. If that fixes it you know what the problem was.
__________________
2006 Ford Ranger Sport 4.0 2WD on 32x11.50R15s
-3" Doetsch Spindle Lift


Using the forum:
How to Post on the Forum
Creating a signature (do this before asking any questions)
Upload an Avatar (image of your Ranger)
How to Post Pictures on the Forum
Switch the site layout: Light Theme or Dark Theme

Things to do:
Participate in Truck of the Month
Participate in the Ranger Photo Contest
Participate in the Non-Automotive Photo Contest
Become a Site Contributor
Shop at the FordRangerForum.com Store
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 12-08-2009, 03:36 PM
RangerTruck RangerTruck is offline
Ford Motor Co
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Posts: 156
Default

Good to hear. I'll try it out probably this weekend ( I have finals this week) and I'll let you know how it worked out. Thanks alot.
__________________
1999 Single Cab Ranger. 2.5L. She's a beauty.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-08-2010, 12:51 AM
Tom Tom is offline
Ranger Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,831
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by RangerTruck View Post
Good to hear. I'll try it out probably this weekend ( I have finals this week) and I'll let you know how it worked out. Thanks alot.
So how did it work out?
__________________
2006 Ford Ranger Sport 4.0 2WD on 32x11.50R15s
-3" Doetsch Spindle Lift


Using the forum:
How to Post on the Forum
Creating a signature (do this before asking any questions)
Upload an Avatar (image of your Ranger)
How to Post Pictures on the Forum
Switch the site layout: Light Theme or Dark Theme

Things to do:
Participate in Truck of the Month
Participate in the Ranger Photo Contest
Participate in the Non-Automotive Photo Contest
Become a Site Contributor
Shop at the FordRangerForum.com Store
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-13-2010, 05:25 PM
03RangerInROC 03RangerInROC is offline
Ford Truck Driver
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 76
Send a message via AIM to 03RangerInROC Send a message via MSN to 03RangerInROC Send a message via Yahoo to 03RangerInROC
Default

ya the WD40 works for the latches but what for the dome light?
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-14-2010, 01:54 AM
Tom Tom is offline
Ranger Enthusiast
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 6,831
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by 03RangerInROC View Post
ya the WD40 works for the latches but what for the dome light?
So your dome light stays on, but your door ajar light is operational and turns off after closing your doors... yet your dome light still stays on? Doesn't seem right.
__________________
2006 Ford Ranger Sport 4.0 2WD on 32x11.50R15s
-3" Doetsch Spindle Lift


Using the forum:
How to Post on the Forum
Creating a signature (do this before asking any questions)
Upload an Avatar (image of your Ranger)
How to Post Pictures on the Forum
Switch the site layout: Light Theme or Dark Theme

Things to do:
Participate in Truck of the Month
Participate in the Ranger Photo Contest
Participate in the Non-Automotive Photo Contest
Become a Site Contributor
Shop at the FordRangerForum.com Store
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-15-2010, 03:59 PM
03RangerInROC 03RangerInROC is offline
Ford Truck Driver
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 76
Send a message via AIM to 03RangerInROC Send a message via MSN to 03RangerInROC Send a message via Yahoo to 03RangerInROC
Default

ya the light stays on after i close the doors
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-15-2010, 07:28 PM
FX4 FX4 is offline
I make paint shine!
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 842
Default

you could always disconnect the sensors.... when you open up the door panel and remove it, it's the plug that's the hardest to get to, so you will have to remove the 3 bolts in the side of the door and push the latch toward the inside of the door itself and remove it. The one that's easier to get to is for auto locks...

Rafal
__________________
2002 Ranger XLT FX4

Got new wheels? Post them here: http://www.fordrangerforum.com/wheel...ence-page.html
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-09-2010, 09:00 AM
Rick Rick is offline
Learning to use the forums
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3
Default Dome light issue

Have you checked the dome light switch? By this I mean the wheel on the dashbord. Have you turned it back and forth? Sometimes this is the problem, but anyway go over every door latch on your truck again with the WD40 cause if the chime stopped it means you fixed the drivers door, but the others still make the dome light on but not the chime.
Let me know if this helped.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 10-21-2011, 01:51 AM
pwbsmokey pwbsmokey is offline
Learning to use the forums
 
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 6
Default Re: Door Chime / Dome Light / Door Ajar Problem

I had a 98 that had the same problem. Light would stay on, no chime , just the light. Spraye WD-40 into the latch and open and close the door a few times. Instead of having an old style plunger swith for the dome light, it is somehow built into the latch.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 10-22-2011, 01:31 PM
Rick Rick is offline
Learning to use the forums
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 3
Cool Re: Door Chime / Dome Light / Door Ajar Problem

Most of the times this problem appears after a car wash or heavy rain. Moisture somehow short circuits the sensors and even though you closed the door, the sensor doesn't, know. What WD-40 does is displacing the moisture and restablishing th proper working of the sensor. From my experience I can tell you that is better to spray it from the side where the lock is.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 10-30-2011, 09:02 PM
yankeefan yankeefan is offline
Liking the Ford Ranger Forum
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 21
Default Re: Door Chime / Dome Light / Door Ajar Problem

I was just going to ask this very same question. My 2000 is doing the exact same thing and it is driving me nuts....off to use up some WD40. Thanks guys!!
__________________
2000 Ranger 4x4 Super Cab XLT / 4.0 V6 / Mild Tbar Crank / K&N Filter / Uniden Pro 520XL / Diamond Plate Tool box / 32x11.50 BFG Mud Terrains / Explorer Alum Rims / Air Box Mod
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-27-2011, 09:56 AM
73ckn797 73ckn797 is offline
Learning to use the forums
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 6
Default Re: Door Chime / Dome Light / Door Ajar Problem

I have found, with the problem of the door chime, door ajar light issue, that the switch mounted at the door latch can get loose in the bracket. That causes the switch to not fully depress. I simply tightened the bracket so the switch would not move around.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-27-2011, 06:40 PM
ashleywoodson88 ashleywoodson88 is offline
Liking the Ford Ranger Forum
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 25
Default Re: Door Chime / Dome Light / Door Ajar Problem

My 95 that i just bought was having the same issue. I just took the door panel off and removed the wiring harness off the sensor. fixed my issue. I plan on replacing the sensor, as it is only like $12 at Oreillys. Just looks like its gonna be a pain in the butt to get to.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 12-19-2011, 08:20 AM
piscespokerbrat piscespokerbrat is offline
GMC Driver now...
 
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 147
Default Re: Door Chime / Dome Light / Door Ajar Problem

Talk about old thread revival.. lol I guess I'll pitch in my 2 cents on this. I had the same issue, and I used a lot of white lithium spray on my latches. White lithium is good for colder temp areas.
__________________
My name is Jeremy, and I am a former B series owner!

"Like" me on Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/wwbsol
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Door Ajar Light smurphy Interior Tech 7 02-14-2012 03:26 PM
Dome light won't go out? Chime won't stop? greyghost Interior Tech 3 10-06-2009 06:02 AM
dome light door switch! swat784 Interior Tech 3 10-04-2009 05:26 PM
door ajar light stays on slomoto General Ford Ranger Discussion 2 06-25-2009 08:41 AM
98 Door ajar KyDan Electrical Tech 3 06-20-2009 08:27 PM