Weird door ajar problem

[robertmac]

Just wanted to say hi to everyone and how bout that Kurt Busch this past Sunday
bobby
streetdreams.org

[Fantom7.3]

Originally Posted by klhansen

[ QUOTE ]
This thread should be a "sticky." There has to be 3 posts a week about this.

[/ QUOTE ]
OK, Stuck! [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

OK, I have the sticky switch sydrome. Dome light on, radio staying on, box light staying on in my 02 F250. Have tried the 40 but still nothing. Maybe I am spraying in the wrong area. Where, exactly, do I need to soak the latch? Better yet, to be more clear, do I soak from the handle side or on the side where the latch is exposed. That is where I have tried the 40 with no luck. I would greatly appreciate any help with this ASAP. I have a dealer appointment on Monday the 29th and my wallet is quivering. Thanks

[Sheldon]

I'm with you Fantom7.3, I've sprayed the bejesus out of all the latches and that light still stays on and electric locks don't work because of it! Does anyone have a link as to how to take the door panels off (manual I have shows squat!) or how to check which latch it might be thats causing the problems? Thanks........Sherm

[Fantom7.3]

Originally Posted by Sheldon

I'm with you Fantom7.3, I've sprayed the bejesus out of all the latches and that light still stays on and electric locks don't work because of it! Does anyone have a link as to how to take the door panels off (manual I have shows squat!) or how to check which latch it might be thats causing the problems? Thanks........Sherm

Sheldon,
Finally bit the bullet and took her to the dealer. After three days of diagnostics the VSM (Vehicle Security Module) was replaced and that cured all my issues. Not a cheap fix at just under $800. But at least things are back to normal. E-mail me if you would like more detailed info on how they determined this to be the issue. Would be glad to share my story.

[sleeeper]

Hello, have another tip that I found:
Hey guys, just an FYI to help figure out which door switch is causing the problem.

On my 03 screw FX4, I used the odometer display Instead of disconnecting each door switch to figure out the bad one. You do this by holding the "trip/reset" button in and turning on the key and continue to hold until the display changes then let go. You will get all kinds of kool displays by pushing the trip/reset once each time including a digital Tach. and speedo and check all your dash display bulbs too. Keep pushing until you see the one that says "DOOR" and #'s next to it. When you open and close the doors the numbers next to "DOOR" will change back and forth. Whatever door you open and close and the display does not change is the door switch that is bad. This is extremely helpfull when you have a 4 door truck.
As far as I know, this method should work in any of the Ford vehicles with the small green digital odometer display.

Also, if you need to replace both switches, They are LEFT and RIGHT sensitive. (I belive they r different colors too) If you put the right switch in the left door and the left in the right the switches will work opposite of what they are supposed to ( turn on when you shut the door ETC....)
Allong with the letting lights time out trick I found that the only door that works is my front passenger??? Do you think that all other door switches are broken? I lubbed and cleaned the heck out of them but no dice! Thanks...

[vandel4x]

OK, so I replaced and had the dealer program the vsm on my truck (2002 crew, lariat 7.3). It fixed the usual door lock and remote problems but the door ajar problem remained. I thought the wd40 trick would take care of the rest but NOT! Checked all the door switches and all are functioning, (pulled every door panel and manually tested, got ground on each of the switches after activation) still the door ajar light is on in the dash! Any Ideas?

[sleeeper]

After I tried the tricks you read here I still had a door light on. Disconnected and jumped all door switches used WD and then silicone lube with no fix gave up for a day or two and guess all the bumping around while driving for a few days must have loosened something because no door adjar light anymore!!! Knock on wood!

[Sheldon]

vandel4x, I've got the sameo problem, still. Replace the VSM and that fixed the electric door locks but, the "ajar" light is still on! Took the mechanisims out of both doors and the switches checked out on both but the light still on! Not sure where to go from here, don't know if them reprogramming the computer at Ford will cure this or not.....Sherm

[jimswife182]

My radio and windows go off when I turn off the truck, but...come 'back' on after about 15 seconds after removing the key. Also, my gas gauge stays on the whole time, battery light, check engine light, emmissions light all come back on. I pull the pcm relay, the battery light goes off, the other dash lights get brighter. pull the accessorie delay relay and it does nothing. I have a 2003 f250 7.3l diesel, do I have a gem? Would the vsm do all this? would it also start the manifold heater immediately without the glow plug starting first> (not that I need it in 100 degree weather!) ALso....yea there's more.... would it drain the battery within minutes after recharging? 2 brand new batteries? something dealing with the pcm relay has got to be draining the battery because when you pull the relay out, like I said, the batt light goes out and the other lights get brighter. Anybody? I am tired of playin stump the mechanic!
Kim

[vandel4x]

Sheldon, I tried what Sleeeper suggested with the trip/reset button and I think I am a step closer to fixing this supremely annoying issue. My door ajar light would never shut off, ever no matter what I did with any of the four doors. After doing the trip/reset hold and entered the diagnostics menu (I think that's what it's called) the door ajar light went off! Hoorayyyy! Wait not so fast. I realized my two front doors were open. As I shut the doors the light came back on! I reopened the doors and the light goes off. It is doing the exact opposite of what it's supposed to do. Then I tried disconnecting the batteries for an hour to reset everything but that didn't help either. I ran out of time and patience and left as is for now. Did you have the dealer program your new VSM? If not that may solve your problem.

[Sheldon]

I haven't taken it into the dealer yet, I'll have to call and see if that would in fact fix the problem or just cost me money, it didn't seem to work in your case. Also, my truck dosen't have the digital speedo unit so I don't think the trip/reset button trick would work in mine. I had the locks all apart, again, cleaned up the switches and checked them and they are working fine, maybe the reprogramming??? Sherm

[jimswife182]

I never recd an answer to this one, I think I stumped everyone in the Ford world:
My radio and windows go off when I turn off the truck, but...come 'back' on after about 15 seconds after removing the key. Also, my gas gauge stays on the whole time, battery light, check engine light, emmissions light all come back on. I pull the pcm relay, the battery light goes off, the other dash lights get brighter. pull the accessorie delay relay and it does nothing. I have a 2003 f250 7.3l diesel, do I have a gem? Would the vsm do all this? would it also start the manifold heater immediately without the glow plug starting first> (not that I need it in 100 degree weather!) ALso....yea there's more.... would it drain the battery within minutes after recharging? 2 brand new batteries? something dealing with the pcm relay has got to be draining the battery because when you pull the relay out, like I said, the batt light goes out and the other lights get brighter. Anybody? I am tired of playin stump the mechanic!
Kim
Guess what! 'I' figured it out! Not a mechanic...the wife! Bad Alternator!...I know..right? Who'd a thunk it? Replaced it and everything works great now!! Just thought I would let yall know just in case it happens to you!

[eddie625]

I have the same problem as many others on here, but there is a twist to it. my 02 f350 crew cab diesel had the door ajar light on and interior lights on. I replaced the vsm and it is at the stealership now. they programmed it but they are now saying that its not fixed and he needs to reprogram the instrument cluster. when he trys to do so, he is unable to communicate with the instrument cluster and the programming fails. I did not have the old vsm so he did an as built program on the new one and he says that worked fine. why can he not communicate with the instrument cluster now?? thanks

[eddie625]

I forgot to say, the truck thinks the front doors are open when they are closed and closed when they are open!!!

[eddie625]

This is my last post on this topic, because MY TRUCK IS FIXED!!!
For anyone wondering, the fix was based on the the TSB listed below. The "mechanic " was not doing something properly when he programmed the VSM. He called and found out what he was doing wrong in the programming and bam, it's fixed. Still only charged $120 but I did have to leave the truck overnight before he got it right. No door ajar light, no interior lights staying on and the doors lock when I drive as they should. Also the key fobs work!! here is the TSB, hope it helps...

17784 2002-2004 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES/EXCURSION - DOOR AJAR LIGHT WORKING IMPROPERLY AFTER VEHICLE SECURITY MODULE REPLACEMENT
SOME 2002-2004 SUPER DUTY F-SERIES/EXCURSION VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A DOOR AJAR LIGHT ON AFTER ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED, GOING OFF WHEN A DOOR IS OPENED, AFTER VEHICLE SECURITY MODULE (4C7Z-15604-AC) REPLACEMENT. THIS CONDITION MAY BE DUE TO PROGRAMMABLE MODULE INSTALLATION (PMI) PROCEDURES NOT BEING FOLLOWED DURING VSM REPLACEMENT. IF THERE WAS NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE ORIGINAL VSM, AS BUILT DATA MUST BE OBTAINED AND ENTERED INTO THE NEW VSM TO COMPLETE THE PMI PROCEDURE.