Door ajar light

[New Ranger Owner]

I just bought a 2004 Ranger XLT. Every now and again when I hit a bump the door ajar light comes on along with my dome light. Where should I start in fixing this issue?

 

[Spott]

At the door switch, that's what turns on your dome light and signals to the system that the door is open.

Probably the switch is loose on its mount, or a wire or connector is loose.

 

[New Ranger Owner]

Definitely makes sense. Thank you very much! I will check back on how things go once I take a look!

 

[rtg143]

Spray WD 40 in the latch area then open and close the door a few times. They often get stuck in the open position.

 

[Spott]

Spray WD 40 in the latch area then open and close the door a few times. They often get stuck in the open position.

Wrong problem. His is not stuck open, instead it's intermittently closing when going over bumps (when it should stay open).

Also, WD40 is both a poor lube and a poor penetrant, compared to other commonly available products.

 

[Big Jim M]

Ditto on the WD40! NEVER use it on firearms! The varnish it evaporates into is terrible on small working parts.
Big Jim

 

[LIMA BEAN]

I don't use "Water Displacment try #40". Its spendy stuff but I use Kano Aero kroil. WD 40 was used to displace moisture in missiles and things back in the day, the 40 if I remember right denotes how many times the inventor had to tweek his recipe for the military to accept it. I am too damn old and tired to look up the story so you whippersnappers have at it.

 

[Spott]

Yeah, Kroil, PB Blaster, Liquid Wrench and a few others are better penetrators, there are many better lubricants (Tri-Flow, Boeshield T-9, many by 3M).

WD-40 was designed to coat surfaces and displace water, preventing rust from forming. By design, it remains sticky, and a side effect is that it collects crud. It may free up your part right now, but later it will gum up the works worse than before.

Unless you're working on an old farm tractor, WD-40 is probably the wrong stuff for the job.

 

[New Ranger Owner]

Finally got to take the door panel off and look at everything. Nothing was loose at all but that door latches on the suicide door were as dry as can be and after spraying those and closing and opening a few times the problem has been fixed and has stayed fixed!

 

[rtg143]

Glad you fixed it. Thanks for the update.