Why do the door ajar light and dome lights stay on or come on while driving in a Sable?

Answer 1

3 Step Cleaning & LubeThis is a common problem and is caused by the door switch plunger sticking (due to dirt, other elements or rust). This can often be corrected by performing the following:

1. Thoroughly spray the door switches (on each door) with:

• Cleaning spray - clear the sludge out of the mechanism - electronic contact cleaner, carb, brake, etc
• Air, canned or even better, from a compressor
• Spray lubricant - a dry lube (best), silicone spray, WD-40 or similar

2. Open and close each door several times to work the lube into the mechanism

This is usually sufficient to clean the electrical & plunger mechanism inside the door switch.

If this doesn't work, you could remove the door panel and do the spray treatment from the inside also.

This approach works for most, but the switch may have to come out for repair (see Windstar "Related Question" below), or replacement.

Answercar has roller switch to the right of the headlight switch turn until dash lights are on car usually has maybe 1-2minute delay till they turn off or one of your doors is not properly closing AnswerI just bought a 1998 Ford Taurus SE and right away I noticed the Dome light wasn't even coming on. The 2 map lights did work. I asked the previous owner about it, but he had no idea. Today I bought a new bulb and noticed that the light stays on forever, and the door ajar icon stays lit. I read through some of the responded posted for the problem, so I tried the WD-40 idea and it fixed it in 30 seconds. What you need to do is spray light lubricant (WD-40) on the drivers door latch. This is right at the end of the door (where is swings away from the car). You'll see the latch looks like plastic. Give it a few sprays, then open and close the door several times. If it works, the light should go off in about 30 seconds, and the door ajar light will go out. What must be happening is that the door closes, but something is sticking, not allowing the switch in the door to close. Spraying on the lubricant loosens this up, and in my case fixed it right away. Hope this helps. Regards, Doug AnswerSee "Related Questions" below for moreAnswerThe door ajar switch is attached, between the exterior door panel and the interior door trim. The only way to get to the hinge is to remove the iinterior door trim panel and follow the electrical harness to the switch. This is not an easy item to replace unless you remove the entire door latching mechanism. AnswerThe door ajar sensor is located inside the door panel, a pain to get at but Ford knows about the problem and a quick call to the parts department at a dealer can get you the part you need. I did my Mercery in about 2 hours. I do recommend getting some door panel posts if you are at the dealership though, I broke two off getting the panel undone. AnswerThis switch is inside the door itself. you'll need to remove the inner door panel to replace the switch. Sometimes if you spray a good lubricant inside the door through the door handle that may lubricate the switch so it doesn't stick. AnswerThe "door open" sensors are located by the door locking mechanism. Open the door, spray some WD-40 on and into the door latch, work it open and closed with a screwdriver while releasing the latch with the inside door handle. Do this to all the doors and your sensors should be operating normal once again.

When your sensors think your door and/or doors are open, your electric locks will not work properly and your dome light will not go out.

I'm not positive about the 2001, but I had a problem with my '98 always having the door ajar light on. I found an article online that said to spray same lubricant (WD40 or liquid wrench) into the lock mechanism at the end of the door (not where you put the key in, but the latch itself). I tried this with some WD40 and the problem disappeared immediately. Apparently the switch is built into the latch.

AnswerWE often find that dirt gets into the door ajar switches. To free them up, we spray penetrating oil directly into each door latch until it is practically running out the bottom of the dor, and then open and close the door repeatedly and rapidly. This may take care of your problem. AnswerCould be one of two things. Check the hinges on all doors for a small plastic bracket that might've slipped off, it could be causing the door to not shut properly.

Second thing to do is get a can of WD-40 and liberally spray each doors' lock mechanism liberally, then close and open each door several times afterwards. One of these tricks should fix the problem.

I had the same problem. found this solution after I had removed a door panel, shorted the switch wiring harness, replaced the relay, and read in my Chilton shop manual that has incomplete schematics, all to no avail. I then sprayed WD-40 into all the locks, opened and closed the doors a few times, and the door ajar light went out. The drivers side door ajar switch is located above the actual lock mechanism on the inside of the door, so I made sure to spray up into each of the locks.

Try the dimmer switch under the steering wheel on the left. Sometimes it clicks on and you don't know it.

AnswerDo they go off after a few seconds? You may have a security system in your vehicle. Do they go off when you put the vehicle in gear? If so then it is a security system. AnswerDoor switch if button type not adjusted properly or defective

If located in the latch assembly - try spraying latch liberally with WD-40 open and close door a few times and then spray with a silicone - common problem for Lincoln - may be same situation

AnswerYou really need to know which door switch is bad. It could be any of your 4 doors. It doesn't have to be the driver's door. The only way to find out which door, without tearing all the door panels off and disconnecting them all, is to talk to the GEM module with a scan tool and find out which switch is indicating the door is open. There is another step you can take fairly easily that may or may not fix your problem. Sometimes the switches don't actually go bad. They get dirt in them, that causes them to stick. Get some penetrating oil, like WD40. The switches are on the backs of the door latch assemblies inside of the doors. Spray a whole bunch of WD40 up inside the latch itself. I mean drown it until oil starts running out underneath. Then open and close the door rapidly numerous times. Do all the doors, and see if the problem goes away. We fix a lot of them that way.

You have a stuck door ajar switch. You won't be able to tell which one it is, but usually it's the driver's since that one gets the most wear. You may be able to unstick it yourself. Get some penetrating oil, go around to each door, open it, spray penetrating oil directly into the door latch until it just about runs out the bottom of the door. Then rapidly open and close the door several times. that may fix your problem. If not, then you will need a new door latch switch on one of the doors, but without special equipment, yopu will not be able to determine which door it is.

I have had the same issue with my 98 Sable and it appears to be something sticking in the door lock area. I have used a good spray grease (one that comes out as liquid spray, but then turns to grease) to shoot the actual lock mechanism itself. I squirt it in just about every crevice you can see, don't overdue it by any means, a little goes a long way, then work the door by opening closing it 8 to 10 times. You can do this to all of the doors, but mine tends to be the driver door, but I only know that simply because I usually don't have passengers.

There could be other issues of course, but this is a very cheap and easy fix if it works for you as well.

19JAN2010

Wow! What a great web site! Tonight my wife came home from work with our 1999 Mercury Sable and when she locked the car with the wireless control the two map lights and the red door ajar light stayed on and the horn honked twice indicating that the car was not "secure". I d/c'ed the battery so it wouldn't go dead and browsed on the internet for a solution to the problem. I immediately found ANSWERS.COM and the above information from the other participants and applied their advice. In less than an hour of work the lights went out and the horn honked only once indicating that the car was in fact now secure. The bottom line is: The WD40 solved the issue when I sprayed it on all four door latch mechanisms and also immediately above them where I could feel the lock solenoid operating when the wireless door lock button was pushed. Thank all of you fine gentlemen AND Anwers.com.