This 2003 Ford Explorer came in with several complaints; the door ajar light stays on with the doors closed and the engine running, the dome and puddle lights stay on for ten minutes after exiting the vehicle, when locking the doors the doors will lock then unlock on their own and the alarm will go off for no reason. This was pretty easy to isolate to the driver’s door ajar switch with the aid of a good scan tool. Once I found that the driver’s door ajar switch was reporting an open door no matter what position the door was in, all I had to do was confirm that it was a switch and not wiring or a computer problem.
In removing the door panel the first step is to remove the interior door handle trim panel. At the forward edge insert a small flat prying tool and release the retainers.
After removing the panel now you can lift and remove the switch trim panel assembly. There is one screw under the panel that has to be removed.
There are two screws that have to be removed from the lower edge of the door panel.
After removing all three screws lift the door panel up and towards you. Then you will need to support the panel and remove the wiring from the power mirror switch. This can be a little difficult so take your time. You will need to slide a small screwdriver blade under the retaining clip in order to release the harness connector.
Peel the left hand side of the vapor barrier back and locate the harness connector that I did not get a picture of.
Update October 21, 2011. Well, I finally got another one of these Explorers in and took some extra pictures to show the harness connector and the wires. Note the change in paint colors
Disconnect the harness connector and with an ohm meter check the resistance of the door ajar switch,two small wires yellow/black and black. The resistance should change from an open to a closed circuit with the movement of the latch assembly. If it does not change the switch is faulty.
You may also take a jumper wire and connect the small yellow/black to the small black wire and see if the lights and locks respond properly now. A closed circuit indicates a closed door and the lights and locks should now function properly. Roll a window down before doing this so that you will not lock the keys in the car.
The backside of the harness connector. I looked at the color codes to locate the two needed wires.
In order to remove the latch assembly and or the door ajar switch the lower window track will have to be removed. There are two screws at the rear of the door.
There are three screws that hold the latch in place. There is also linkage that will have to be removed. Pay careful attention to positioning and adjustments so that reassembly will not be a problem.
After gaining access remove the harness connector and twist the switch to release and then pull. To install the new switch push the switch into position and rotate until click is felt. Reassemble door and test system as you go.
At the rear lift gate and hatch, did you disconnect all three switches? Have you looked at a wiring diagram to determine if your year model is the same as the one in the post? Some years use the opposite strategy.
Is there a single ground or power source for all the door ajar switches? My 2002 Explorer has the door ajar light and I have checked all the switches and none of the doors chime when the doors are open. Is it possible that it has set a code and it needs to be cleared? At one point I had all 4 door switches disconnected and manually worked the rear hatch and glass switches with negative results.
If you are not mechanically inclined the best solution that I could offer is to have the horns disconnected. That way the horns will not sound but the lights will flash. This could still cause an issue in the neighborhood. Also you would not have the horn working while driving unless you reconnected it every day. I could offer other suggestions if there is someone there that is able to disassemble and test with a meter.
I have a 2003 Ford Explorer EB Edition. For over a year now I have had the problem of the alarm going off when no one is around the vehicle. It will do it at night or during the day. But, there doesn’t seem to be a pattern to it. Yes, the door ajar warning light comes on when there is no door ajar and it will click on and off many times when I am driving. But, it does not do this all the time. I have had it in to the Ford dealership three times and to an independent manchanic twice, but outside of greasing and oiling the locks, etc., nothing has helped. They have run diognostics..nothing. They can’t get the ‘door ajar’ warning lights to come on when it is in there. It was on for two straight days and when I took it in they would not come on. I think it may be demon possessed. I even got my neighbors mad at me because this crazy thing sometimes goes off in the middle of the night and it gets the dogs in the neighborhood barking. One neighbor even called the police on an particulary bad night of alarms. I don’t think it goes off if I leave my car unlocked. But, I have lost two GPS’s doing this. So, I am stumped. I am not at all machanically minded. HELP!…before I get voted out of the neighborhood!
Thanks for your quick reply! I really appreciate it! I’ll go ahead and try to fix this damned problem! Thnx for your tips! :]