Door Open Light

[Mike92STX]

I have a 04 extended cab FX4, and the door open light will come on really easy. It is usually the passenger side rear, so I close it firmly and it's good until it's opened again. can someone tell me where the sensor for that side is because today the temperature is -2 degrees, and it is staying on even if I slam either door?

 

[RonD]

Picture here of a rear door latch: https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/CMUAAOSwAs5iteyy/s-l500.jpg

On the left you can see the door sensor plug in, white
You can just unplug it, to disable Door Open
Its an open or closed ground switch, when door is open its grounded, when door is closed its unGrounded, so unpluging it is "ungrounded" door closed

It is a twist lock switch so in most cases you have to loosen the latch to pull it away from the door enough so you can twist it around to release it, if you wanted to replace it

 

[Mike92STX]

Thanks, Ron, is there one switch per door or one switch per side?

 

[RonD]

One switch per door

But............left rear, right rear and right front share a common wire to activate door ajar light, and/or dome light
Drivers door has separate wire, so it can trigger "key in ignition" chime or "headlights on" chime

Not that any of that helps, lol

Diagram shows all 4 switches in door CLOSED position, unGounded

 

[James Morse]

On the '97 I like the way they have the switch in the handle. Those spring-button dome light switches by the door hinges tended to flake out on other cars I had. On mine, if you lift the door handle it triggers the dome light but not the door ajar because if you have the truck locked it still triggers the dome light by lifting the handle even though it doesn't unlatch it. Then the light times out after a while (no matter whether you get in truck or not), or if you start the truck it turns it off. I think it's a good design. I like the light staying on until I get the key in the ignition.

There must be another switch to detect door ajar. Shop manual would know.

I think, that if you turn on the left/right dome lights via the switch there, it does -not- time out. Or else I didn't wait long enough. Just saying, there's at least one way you could run the battery down if you had brain fade.

 

[RonD]

1997 has the GEM and Battery Saver Relay

Once key is off and out of ignition and both doors are closed, the GEM runs a 20-30min timer
Once timer has expired GEM turns off Battery saver relay which cuts power to Fuse 27 in cab fuse box

Fuse 27 powers dome/map lights, glove box light, and cargo light
So if GEM and Battery saver relay are working these shouldn't drain battery

Headlights, park lights and brake light power would still be on to drain battery

 

[James Morse]

Very cool. I didn't wait that long. That's a good feature; just yesterday other half left dome light on in '02 Lexus RX300 (263k miles) and it ran the battery down.
Seems like Lexus would have at least had the features of a 5-yr earlier truck. Maybe it does and relay is shot and never turns off.
For mine, I see in the diagram the 2 switches for each door (one to turn on lights, one for door ajar, each side).
Thanks Ron.

 

[Mike92STX]

Well, I think it's fixed for now. I sprayed some lubricant in and around the latches and checked the passenger side rear door and it wasn't latched on the bottom, made sure it latched and the light and door agar light are staying off. The weather warmed up here today, but I wanted to check my back brakes. If it stays warm, I might take the door panel off and check the switch or unplug it, since it's a rear door it won't open unless the front door is open.

 

[James Morse]

Great!
That's a serious lift on that truck and ginormous tires. What is the lift kit, and what else was modded besides the wheels/tires? How streetable is it?
Would like to see pics.
I think it is same gen as mine right?

 

[Mike92STX]

Sorry, James Morse I don't have the Ranger that is in my profile anymore. I wanted to get something that is easier to get into, so I bought the 04 Ranger that is in the picture. I bought the 92 with most of that stuff already on it but I never did any off roading with it. The only improvement I did was, I was at the junkyard, and they had a newer truck than mine and it had a better gear ratio then mine, 92 was a 327 and the newer was a 373 with a limited slip differential. The only drawback was the newer rearend was a couple inches wider but with those tires that was noticeable.