I have a 1998 Ford Windstar. The door ajar light sometimes stays on when the car is running and all the doors are closed. It has been difficult to isolate the door that is causing it, but disabled the slider door, and door ajar light was still staying on, so it's not that door. The switches are not easy to find; imbedded into the doors. Can anyone tell me how to isolate and change the switch OR just disable the door ajar light? Don't really need the car to tell me the door is ajar. I usually know if a door is open. Help! Right now, I had to disable all interior lighting because when the door ajar light stays on, interior lights stay on and kill my battery.

 

The door switches are mounted to the 'underside' of the door latch/s inside the door.. The switch 'actuating pin' points 'upwards' and collects dirt/debris and isn't a sealed switch causing the switch to stick or hang.. Prior to any trim panel removal, try using some penetrant (moderate amount) and spray the lower potion of the latch from the outside, as well as the complete latch.. Follow up with a heavier spray 'lube'.. With a little work, and repeated closures, at times the switch will work loose.. If you need to pull the trim panel, the door switch can be replaced for a fix, OR unplugged to cancel the 'ajar' light.. If unplugged, the dome light functionon the affected door/switch will not work..


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This issue occurs on numberous vehicles. I've found that silicone spray works great for freeing up the switch and keeping them freed. Too heavy of a lubricant can hold dust and cause the switch to gum up and then HANG.

 

I have a '95 Windstar andstumbled on an easy way to identify which door is causing the problem.

Start and drive thevan a short distance. The interior lights should go out when you reach 20-30 MPH. When the lights have gone out, park the car but do not shut off the engine. Now, open a door and see if the interior lights go on. If they do, they should go off when you close the door. That door is OK. Try the other doors. When you open one and the interior lights do not go on, you've found your door,

Hope this helps.

 

I treid this but none of them turn the light on. is it the same for an excursion?

 

WOW!!!

You folks are great!!!

My 2003 Ford Ranger has been occasionally having this problem during the last week where the DOOR AJAR light was staying on while driving but eventually going off.

Tonight I drove up to the store and the DOOR AJAR light stayed on along with all the dome lights when I went into the store. Could not find the typical door jam prong that some cars have located in the inside door jams of my truck thinking it may have been stuck.

Did a quick search here and found a possible solution.

Sprayed a a good soaking of penatrating lubricant in the lower portion of the latch from the outside of each door, as well as the complete latch.

PROBLEM SOLVED!!!

The DOOR AJAR light is out and the dome light now only comes on when it is suppose to.

THANKS A BUNCH!!!

 

I had the same problem on my 98 windstar, when I opened the sliding door, the door ajar dash light would stay on when I closed the sliding door. Also interior lights would also stay on for a few days to week then the relay under dash would click and all would be fine, until the next time I used the sliding door. Talked with Ford, they wanted 100.00 just to diagnose the problem.
Found a cheaper way, just janked all the interior lights in the Van.
I think my sliding door switch is bad.