Dome light stays on?

Tiny
2CP-ARCHIVES
  • MEMBER
  • 2003 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 15,000 MILES
It seems that on certain days, mostly on real warm days, when someone gets into the passenger side door the door doesn't want to shut (according to the computer). Then when I am parking my truck, the dome light will stay on?

Tuesday, February 1st, 2011 AT 11:24 PM

27 Replies

Tiny
WRENCHTECH
  • MECHANIC
  • 20,761 POSTS
The switches that control the lights for open doors are made right into the door latches and they have a history of sticking and causing problems like that. Here is a technique that often works well and eliminates the problem at no cost. Get a can of spray lube like WD40 or something like it and has a straw on the nozzle. Spray it generously up into the latch mechanism. Now open and close the door numerous times to work it in. Repeat this process several times. Since you don't really know which door is causing the problem, you should do all of them. It's usually caused by the most frequently used door but it's not guaranteed to be that one. I have seen the GEM module cause this as well
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Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011 AT 12:24 AM
Tiny
REBOOM
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
  • 2000 FORD RANGER
Electrical problem
2000 Ford Ranger 6 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 8o, ooo miles

Hello. My dome light wont go off and the dashboard door ajar light stays on. I have looked for a button around the door that would shut light off and can not find one. Believe me when I say I have slammed the doors many times but no luck. Hope you can help. Thanks.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Try this cure, buy a can of brakekleen and a can of spray white lithium grease, spray the latch area, thats the claw in the door where it closes, spray liberally with brakleen, open and close the door 5-6 times, repeat, then spray with the white lube, open and close the door 5-6 times. Reapeat on all doors. The switch is in this area. Inside the claw.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REBOOM
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Well I tried that but no luck. I guess I will need to change latch. But witch one. Thanks for your help anyway.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
My guess would be the driver's, it is the most often used!
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RCFISHIN
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Reboom,

Let us know what fixed it. I have a 2002
Ranger FX4 and I have had the same promblem for the last month, at first it was intermitent, but now it happens all the time and it has been driving me nuts. I have babied this truck (only have 75k miles on it)and have not had one problem until this last month. Where every weird thing you can imagine is happening. We had two hard rains and both time the next day my drivers side door was filled with water!? And also about once a week usually when I run somewhere, stop, go in and get back in the truck and try and start it won't start. After having it towed once to the shop (they could not get it to do it again, no codes, no ideas on what it could be), replacimg the battery, jump starts. The only thing that works is to let it sit for 10-15 minutes and then it starts right up and runs fine for another week! Frustrating.I love my truck but.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REBOOM
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hello, I have not messed with dome light problem yet. I have had the same problem with my truck not starting. What I have figured out on that is when you start your truck dont turn key to start right away. Just turn to the on position wait about 5 seconds then try to start. When I do that it starts. Hope this helps.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Test your fuel pressure and regulator like this:
https://www.2carpros.com/car_repair_video/test_fuel_injection_pressure.htm
Go here and checkout our video.
https://www.2carpros.com/affiliate/uid/merlin2021_1
Tools available here!
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LOSTRANGER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1999 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 144,000 MILES
Hey team, I have a strange question. My dome light stays on unless I pull the fuse. The door ajar light is on like a door is open but neither is. I took the passenger door apart to see if there was a disconnect but everything is in tact. This unit has the light switch inside the latching mechanism? What are my options I tried disconnecting the plug thinking it would over ride it and it didnt help?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FLEXY5
  • MECHANIC
  • 512 POSTS
Try spraying some lubricant into the door latch. It will trickle down into the switch (yes is located on the bottom side of the latch mechanism). Open and close the door multiple times. Do this with both doors. Usually the door that gets used the least is the one that sticks. This should take care of the concern. Post your findings after you try this, if it does not work I have some other options for you.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LOSTRANGER
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
WOW you guys rock.
This was the key. In fact I ran into a guy at the gym with the same model and I told him about the fix he said he had had the problem for 2 years.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DRHUNTER
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
I have a 1998 that had the same problem. One night I disconnected the battery to keep the lights from draining it. The next morning when I connected the battery back up it fixed the problem. I guess what ever was causing the problem reset itself. But remember any time you have to dissconnect the battery cables you will have to reset any pre-programed radio stations and your clock. But the first you will need to do is turn off everything in your cab radio, fan, lights, ect. And let your engine idle for about 2 minutes so it can reset the idle speed. Hope this works for you like it did me.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:49 PM (Merged)
Tiny
REYNALDO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1999 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 80,000 MILES
Dome light does not turn off. I have made sure switch is off---At first light would stay on for period of time then turn off normally. Then the time for turnoff became longer and longer and now it simply stays on. I have had to disconnect this fixture to avoid draining batter. Is it possible that fixture needs to be R and R?
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
98RANGERXLT
  • MEMBER
  • 301 POSTS
No it is not it is the door ajar switch in the door you can spray the lower half of the latch with brakleen and shut the doors a few timse and see what that does you may have to replace the switch.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LYDIA JOHNSON14
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1998 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 75,000 MILES
The door ajar light and dome light have been coming on for a while when I first start off, but has been going out. This happens when the doors are tightly shut. Tonight the dome light stayed on, tried driving around and moving the switch positions - no luck, still on.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DDWILSON524
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Try spraying tri-flow or WD-40 on the door latch mechanism in the door. The sensor is there, and sticks when it needs lubricated. It fixed the problem in my daughters 96 Ranger. This can be done without dissassembly. Good luck.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MADISON1JAKE
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1997 FORD RANGER
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 12,200 MILES
I pulled the fuse to extinguish the dome light for now. I have been looking previous questions/answers some have come close to helping me. The drivers side door handle is a little loose compared to the passenger side. I don't think that it will cause a problem but could be wrong. The doors close fine. If its the ignition switch, generic electronic module, door switch, or timer delay switch were would they be located and how are they replaced? Any insight would be appreciated.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SERVICE WRITER
  • MECHANIC
  • 9,123 POSTS
This is likley an easy fix.

Spray the door latches with a cleaner like brake clean. Then follow up with a thin lube such as wd-40. Open and close the doors several time to work the latch and this will should resolve this. Very common on the ford products. The latches on rare occasions need replacement.
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DAVE99
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
  • 1995 FORD RANGER
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 95,000 MILES
The dome light stays on. It is supposed to turn off shortly after closing the doors or after getting up to about 15 mph. I had to remove the bulbs.

I cannot find a door switch to see if that might be the problem. Usually, there is a small button that will be pushed in by the closed door. There does not appear to be one that I can see.

Can anyone tell me where the switch is or what might be the problem here?
Thanks
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MASTERTECHTIM
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,749 POSTS
The switch is located insiode the door panel, mounted on the door latch. This is very common, try spraying the bjesus out of it with wd40 and open and shut the door a hundered times real fast, this will usually free it up. **Its usually the door thats least used, like the passengers side. Let me know how you make out
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Thursday, January 21st, 2021 AT 1:50 PM (Merged)

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