Door ajar sensor always on

[rosebasket]

My 2003 Expedition EB shows door ajar on the message center but no doors are ajar. This in turn causes the lights to not go out and the door locks to not lock automatically and when you take the key out of the ignition the radio goes off instead of staying on until you open the door.

The WD40 tip did not work for me. Any other tips?

[TBIRD430]

U will need to replace the switch on the door latch on whichever door is causing this false message...

[99Expy]

Did you check to make sure the rear hatch was secured? I have done this before, reason I suggest. Also check rear window make sure it is secured.

[aircargoo]

put wd-40 on all latches......door locks. i read that clears it. i havent tried it yet cause my light is on too...but heard it works.

it must cause when its wet out or raining....light is ALWAYS out....something is sticking

[-virus-]

Yup, locks and latches replacement will do. That happens to me but in my cargo liners lock. I didn't know how did that happened but I just brought it to some mechanic and told me that wirings are the problem.

[BroncoJoe19]

Rosebasket and all,
Unfortunately the door ajar light doesn't tell you which of the four doors or tailgate, (which may have two sensors) is sending the signal to the GEM module to turn the lights on, and the other issues it controls such as the door locks and radio functions mentioned above.

Ok.. so this is how you discover which of the lock's door ajar switch is malfunctioning.
The GEM module looks something like this.
Gem.jpg
It is located under the dash on the driver's side near the fuse panel.
It has four plug/connectors (instead of the three like this pic)
Only One of the connectors will look like this, and have this many pins.
1998ExpeditionGEM.jpg

Notice the pinout discriptions?
You are interested in pins numbered 4-8
Please Note: This is for a 1998 Expedition, it may be the same for a number of years, but I do not know.

You'll want to pull that connector, and check each of those pins (4-8) to see if it is grounded (has continuity to ground) or if it is an open circuit.

IF it is grounded, the corresponding door is sending a door ajar signal.

I am not certain about the glass latch, but just test it open and closed. You should have continuity one way and an open circuit the other, if not the switch is failing.

As a side note: removeing the kick panel (in the windstar) made accessing the GEM connector humanly possible.

[timdave1]

I had that problem several different occassions and finally learned to spray some WD-40 or LPS into the doors latch and it fixed it every time. Just get dirty and don't work right.

[moor30]

okay, the WD-40 or LPS lubricants are not working. I used almost an entire can. I'll try the bypass trick. Do anyone know anything else?

[Haxtonic]

I just recently purchased a 2003 expedition and I am having the door ajar light problems... Did anyone ever find a tried and true answer to this problem?

[TBIRD430]

Replace the switch in the door latch with a new Ford part