Dome Light Issues

[JW20]

Hey guys,

I'm working on getting my 1997 XLT Extended Cab back to serviceable condition. It seems the door latch switch(es) have failed and the dome light stays on regardless of whether the doors are closed or not. I've tried each position on the slider switch to no avail. I sprayed both latches with liberal amounts of WD-40 and it started working correctly briefly, but then went back to staying on. I have opened/closed the doors repeatedly, slammed them, taken a rubber mallet to the area around the latch, and sprayed close to half a can of WD-40 in there. I think at this point it's probably safe to say I need to replace the switches. But before I do that, I was just hoping someone might have another trick I can try before I go taking the latches apart.

I don't have any play in the doors and they close correctly, so I don't think that's the issue unfortunately. If anyone has done this job before, please let me know if there's a video or pictures somewhere so I can have a general idea of what I'm getting into before I start.

 

[superj]

i haven't had to on a ranger based vehicle so i cannot give advice.

it is a bummer not having the light on when the doors open and its really dark out though so i am totally with you on fixing this

 

[RonD]

If its the door switch then the "Door Ajar" light should be on when dome light is, is it?

Dome light can also be turned on full time by Dimmer Wheel, when its turn all the way "up" you will feel a click/detent and dome light(and cargo light, if so equipped) will come on

The Door switch is a Ground switch and has no direct connection to Dome light, when a door is OPEN switch is Closed and Grounds a wire to the GEM module(Body computer)
GEM then activates Interior Light Relay to power the dome light

Interior Light Relay is in relay box 1, just above gas pedal, there can be 7 relays in this box, it faces Parking brake pedal and has a cover over it
The Dome light has full time power, not just Key on power, but it does get power from Battery Saver Relay, also in relay box 1, GEM controls battery saver relay as well, GEM turns OFF Battery Saver Relay after about 30min when key is off and doors are closed...................................but if one door switch is not working, GROUNDED, then GEM would not turn off battery saver relay, and dead battery the next morning

The Door switch is at the bottom of the latch, so over time water runs down inside the door and can bring dirt into the switch, so it sticks closed, the WD40 can help clean it out to UN-stick it, but it's temporary
You need to pull out the switch and give it a good cleaning, or replace it
It has a 2 wire plug, unplugging it would disable the Grounding of GEM so no dome light