when is a door a jar?

[auto117584]

when your truck says it is.

just made that up yesterday, thinking about this problem. the ceiling lights stay on, and the "door ajar" light stays on. i had to disconnect the battery last night.

thought i'd share my joke and see if someone has the quick answer for me. i'll dig out my book in the meantime, get ready for some research. always a fun thing. I couldn't see anything obvious, like a little thing sticking out somewhere that gets depressed, so i have no idea... thanks.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

The door switch for the dome light is rather prone to failure. I believe it's part of the latch mechanism, hidden inside the door.
Unhooking the wire from the door switch usually turns off the dash light, but also prevents the dome light from coming on when the door is opened.
Speaking of dome light, I need to locate mine. It's nowhere to be seen, and obviously does not light up.

 

[88_Eddie]

you're wrong about the joke, the joke is, "when is a door, not a door?........when it's 'ajar' ".....nice try though

 

[auto117584]

you're wrong about the joke, the joke is, "when is a door, not a door?........when it's 'ajar' ".....nice try though

that's not the joke i made up yesterday. that's an old old not funny joke, and mine isn't funny either, i guess...

when is a door a jar?
when your truck says it is.

 

[auto117584]

The door switch for the dome light is rather prone to failure. I believe it's part of the latch mechanism, hidden inside the door.
Unhooking the wire from the door switch usually turns off the dash light, but also prevents the dome light from coming on when the door is opened.
Speaking of dome light, I need to locate mine. It's nowhere to be seen, and obviously does not light up.

so which do you think would be easier: dismantling the light fixture to disconnect the hot, or dismantling the door and trying to find said switch to disconnect its hot? i'd have to do both doors. that settles it, i'll go into the light fixture. or is there a fuse? hmmm...

 

[auto117584]

ps

ideally, i'd like to fix the thing... but now is not a good time. there's a problem clutch in line ahead of this

 

[Earl43P]

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/f197/door-ajar-light-dome-light-stays-203206.html


10 seconds of spray lube ain't gonna break the bank....

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/f197/door-ajar-light-dome-light-stays-203206.html


10 seconds of spray lube ain't gonna break the bank....

this here. they are almost always stuck. spraying some lube in there may or may not help it though. doesn't hurt to try and then slam the door a few times.

its usually just 1 door, you figure out which one by disconnecting each.

i'd just unplug the dome light from the socket, its a pain in the ass to get the latch in and out if you've never done one

 

[tbirdsps]

I've alway wondered why cars and trucks call doors ajar. Why not door open. Same number of letters. I don't open a jar, get in a start up the truck.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

who knows. maybe its for when you're driving with a barely clicked door. its ajar rather than fully open.

 

[Rogue_Wulff]

I dunno. I think the light should be replaced with a recording of Jeff Dunham's "Walter" yelling out "Hey! Shut the damn door!!!"

 

[auto117584]

http://www.rangerpowersports.com/forum/f197/door-ajar-light-dome-light-stays-203206.html


10 seconds of spray lube ain't gonna break the bank....

Rogue, Brutus, T-Bird, stay on task! earl, tell me more. just spray PB into the key hole? for ten seconds?

i wonder if i can vibrate it? oh, geez, you 3 never mind i said that. earl?

 

[Earl43P]

Here goes (I hate typing).

Open the door.
Look how the door's latch hits the frame post, that door latch moves.

Get spray lube and a phillips screwdriver.
Spray the latch mechanism liberally, through each nook, hole and cranny with the straw.

Take the screwdriver in one hand and the outside door handle in the other, then
use the screwdriver shank to simulate the door post (u-shaped bar, probably) striking the latch (as in when the door closes).

Close the latch with the screwdriver shank "click", open the door handle to release the latch "click", repeat many times, quickly (rather than open/close/slam the door over and over), obviously applying pressure on the shank to actuate the latch open/closed.

You can do that pretty fast a bunch of times, repeating the spraying as desired, watching the activity of the dome light while you are at it.

I have done this to literally dozens of Ford models with the switch in the latch like ours is. Never had to replace a switch yet. I've used WD40, PB Blaster (messy and dark), Remington teflon gun lube, etc. I like the gun lube because it is clear and clean. Others report the WD40 gets gummy over time. Even 3in1 oil would work fine. The idea is to douche out the gummy dirty crap and lube the switch and its mechanism. Wipe up the drips/mess.

Spraying the keyhole does nothing for this problem. Using a straw gets it in there where the switch is. An alternative is to take the door panel off so you can eyeball it. Good luck with that. I don't bother.

PS. You clearly did not read the link(s) I posted.

 

[auto117584]

Here goes (I hate typing).
PS. You clearly did not read the link(s) I posted.

great description! i'm sorry earl, i didn't notice it right in front of my eyes. but i sprayed the latch before i got your email here, i mean post, and after slamming both doors ten times the problem disappeared. or retreated. it's probably luriking as we speak. thanks for the tip, it did it for me!

 

[bilzy7]

I wonder what problem my trucks last owner had since he removed this.

It was a hole till the explorer dome light you see. I only have it screwed through one connection.