accessories - interior problem
7.5
pretty badTypical Repair Cost:
$118.00
Average Mileage:
110,805 miles
Number of complaints:
30 complaints
Most common solutions:
- not sure (18 reports)
- WD40!! (4 reports)
- wire together (3 reports)
- Fix defective Gem switch (1 reports)
- replace door contact switch (1 reports)
- replaced driver's side safety switch in door (1 reports)
Helpful Websites About 1998 Ford Windstar door ajar light and dome light stay on
2007Jul 01
Windstar 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 125,000 miles
The door chime and interior light stayed on while driving the vehicle. It was very annoying. We fixed problem by installing a new driver's side door safety switch. Do not use liquid lubricant to fix the issue!
2005May 02
Windstar LX
- Automatic transmission
- 85,000 miles
we soldered the bottom 2 sensors together on the sliding door and it solved it !! after a year of annoying lights and dinging! my 95 did the same thing - nice to see ford putting out the same problem. my last ford for sure - hope this cheap fix helps.
2003Jan 02
Windstar GL
- Automatic transmission
- 89,000 miles
I was so glad to find company in my misery. I have been telling everyone for the past few years about how whenever it rains, my car's "door ajar" beeping thing and interior light stays on the whole time you drive. Everyone in turn, from mechanics to family and friends, looked at me like I was crazy and it must be in my head, for how could the rain have anything to do with this? I have to say, it is more annoying that a gnat, or a neighbors barking dog. And, I DO believe it is a safety issue, because if it is night time, and you are trying to back out into traffic with the interior light on, it is very difficult to see. At one point, my uncle unplugged a fuse which took care of the problem. But it was the same fuse that controlled the wiper blades. Ironic huh? so I had to plug it back in the next time it rained, just in time to hear the beeping again. I have taught my children so many new words in my sentiments to Ford while driving. It is awful. Thanks for the advice, I am going to try these fix ideas...BG
2007May 04
Windstar GL 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 126,000 miles
i cant find out which switch is doing it. but it keeps the doors from locking too. i hope someone knows what it is
2007Sep 15
Windstar 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 204,000 miles
I had a constant "dinging" when the key was in the ignition and the vehicle was idling or driving at a low rate of speed...after consulting a mechanic i found the following---->
If the "dinging" continues it is your drivers door that is the problem, if there is no "dinging"but the door ajar light is on and the dome light is one it is one of the other 3 doors. The "dinging"can be stopped by replacing or "lubing" the pressure switch inside the drivers door. It is connected to the door clasp mechanism(inside the door) there are 2 sets of wires one is for door looks(if equipped), the other is for the door open indicator. I have removed mine and sprayed it with WD-40, push the switch several times to make sure it is in working order and put it back inside the door. Mine has worked fine for the past 6months. The passenger side door also has the pressure switch and can be fixed with the same technique. Use a low grit sand paper on the side sliding door on both sets of contacts, this fixed my problems with them. Have had no problems with the rear door so no fix for that one...YET!!!! LOL
2008Apr 16
Windstar GL 3.0L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 95,000 miles
Problem has happened on and off over the last 5 years. Usually I get out of the vehicle and slam all 4 doors and that has fixed the problem. Now I am going to try the lubrication and also perhaps shining the contacts with a high grit sandpaper on the sliding passenger door. Not sure where the other 3 door ajar sensors are located. Are they in the lock mechanism or somewhere else. Good luck to all!
2008Mar 04
Windstar LX 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 100,360 miles
This is a matter of sanity. The door ajar light, with the faithful bell, continue to come on whenever I stop at a traffic light. Pressing the lock button, slamming the doors and whispering threats to the engine do nothing. It continues to haunt me. Fords are an embarrassment to the United States. No wonder it was easier for me to afFORD one than any other minivan. Does anybody know what the WD40 solution is? Ford should recall these, but they only recall for threats to safety... (avoiding law suits).
2007May 11
(reported on)Windstar LX V6
- Automatic transmission
- 119,000 miles
I tried the WD40 solution and it works. Great idea. I verified the side door was the problem by starting the vehicle and using a piece of wire to jumper the top and bottom switch contact on the frame of the side door. When I jumpered the contacts the light went off after about 1 second. This is a sure fire way to isolate the problem. If this stops working I'll take the side panel off and just jumper the contacts or maybe there is a way to jumper the contacts from the outside? Hopefully this will last for a while. Just bought a new Honda Accord. Sick of US engineered bullshit with this vehicle.
2007Mar 15
Windstar GL 3.2L
- Automatic transmission
- 101,992 miles
Okay , this is a real headache. I've read several of the comments posted by other members and have found some of the same underlying issues. I believe Ford should recall the vehicle. I'm having a problem with the "door ajar sensor". I suddenly started out of nowhere. One day I'm headed to DQ and when the kids and I got out of the van.... the lights never shut off. I went in hoping that the lights would shut off, unfortunately they didn't. Ten months later.... Still having the same problems... I've read some of the other comments and I think I will try the WD40 trick. I wonder if Ford has received enough complaints to RECALL!
2007May 24
(reported on)Windstar GL 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 146,000 miles
Well I have had the light problem for years and we learned to live with it. I used WD40 and that worked a few times. Today the Ding Ding Ding started and would not stop. Couldn't live with that! I read the post on opening up the side door and came up with an easier approach. I drilled out the to rivets on the side door frame. This exposed the wire harness and it was a snap to cut the top and bottom wires and wire them together. 2 sheet metal screws later and that door was "closed" as far as the van was concerned. Problem NOT fixed. On to the rear door. I removed the inside door panel and found the wires that went to the side latches. Cut those BUT DO NOT WIRE THEM TOGETHER. You need to tape these wires off "open". Put it all back together and door # 2 "fixed". Still Ding Ding Ding and the lights are still on!!! Only 2 doors left. On to the driver's side door. After removing the panel I realized I could not isolate the wires for the latch. So I put it back together. Last ditch effort.... WD40 on the driver's side door latch. FIXED!!
2007Oct 26
(reported on)Windstar GL 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 112,000 miles
I'm having the same problem with the door ajar switch that many of you are reporting - but unlike some of you, my problem comes with a nonstop SCREAMINGLY LOUD constant beeping sound. It is enough to make you want to jump out of a moving vehicle!
My car will start beeping just as soon as the key goes into the ignition. Like another poster reported, if I accelerate FAST I can get it to stop temporarily, but I have to hit at least 30, and as soon as I slow down and the vehcile shifts down into 2nd or I apply the brakes - it starts again.
I've also found that my problem seems to be temperature sensitive and goes away in the heat of the summer and starts as soon as the weather starts to change to cold - which I find is odd.
I was reviewing the owner's manual instructions yesterday hoping for a solution and I decided to try to disable the tone alert that happens when you leave your turn signal on for over 1/2 mile since that is the same tone that is used for the door ajar sound. The manual tells you how to disable the turn signal warning by using the rear window defrost switch. It occured to me that there are only three tone alerts in the Windstar - for the lights on w/ keys in, the turn signal on too long and the doors ajar. I was unable to disable the tone alert from the signal. My rear defrost has been having sporatic problems - and I began to wonder if the tone alert was somehow linked to a short or fault of some kind in my wiring that connects with the rear defrost mechanism - which is why I can't always keep my rear defrost working and why I wasn't able to turn off the turn signal tone using the defrost switch as the manual suggests.
Has anyone run into this problem?
Meanwhile I'm going to try the WD40 which some of you have found helpful. If that doesn't work I'll bypass the switch in the sliding door.
As far as the slider wiring is concerned, my locking mechanism in my slider began to fail about 2 years ago and the shop wanted almost $500 to fix it telling me that the motor that powers the auto-lock in the door was going out - so I opted not to fix it. (Hey the kids can pull up the lock and push it down like we did growing up, right? - for $500 they can, anyway!) Does anyone have any idea if this could be part of the problem? Have any of you who are having the door ajar problem also having problems with the lock on the slider or the rear defrost? With temperature?
It is a shame in many ways that this is going on. The problem makes the car unbearable to drive when the tone is sounding - and I never know when it will start happening. I bought this car new and it has safely hauled my children and I around for 10 years now and I know it is a reliable vechicle - unless I go crazy from the beeping and jump from the moving vehicle!
2007Oct 01
(reported on)Windstar 3.0L
- Automatic transmission
- 137,000 miles
The interior light stayed on, so disconnected it. I think because the "door ajar" light is on, it made the interior light stay on. Makes a high pitched alarm noise, beeping, until you accelerate to over 15 mph, then stops. When you hit the brake, the alarm sounds again as you get below the 15 mph.
2007Sep 22
(reported on)Windstar Grey 3.8L
- Automatic transmission
- 130,000 miles
I was also having a problem with my door sensors for the longest time. I thought for the longest time that it was the sliding door contact sensors on the exterior side of the door. In fact, it was not that. After I had replaced them and found out that was not the problem, I investigated it further, & come to find out that it was a rear contact switch located on the inside of the sliding door on the back of it. It may take a little time to take the interior door trim panel off to get to it, but it was worth it when i got it fixed, cause i no longer am having any more problems with the doors not locking or the interior lights not going off any more. You just have to be careful when you take the door panel off. The clips are plastic & will break easily, but you can buy replacement clips at an auto parts store fairly cheap. The part is also not that expensive, but you do have to purchase it at a Ford Dealership. If I remember it was about 20-30 dollars, but it was worth it though.
2007Sep 03
(reported on)Windstar Limited
- Automatic transmission
- 201,000 miles
The dang door ajar w/interior light staying on. it really bad, had to pull all the interior lights, didn't want to pull the fuse and lose window control.
The fact that everyone else is having this problem doesn't make it any better. Ford really should have done a recall on this.
2007Apr 16
(reported on)Windstar Northwoods V6
- Automatic transmission
- 144,268 miles
The WD40 solution worked!!! I would say a thousand thank-yous but this too would get annoying, but a least I wouldn't ding every time I said it.
2006Jul 20
(reported on)Windstar
- 130,000 miles
The door ajar light stays on, sometimes decided to beep for an undetermined amount of time, and the dome light stays on for an undetermined amount of time as well. This problem has been looked at by multiple mechanics including the Ford dealership and no one has ever been able to fix it! When the battery is older, it drains the battery and can leave you stranded, so I highly suggest jumper cables if you have this problem.
2007Feb 09
(reported on)Windstar LX 3.8
- Automatic transmission
- 109,637 miles
Ford states that it is rare for it to go out, however $220, later problem solved. Hope this helps.
2007Jan 02
(reported on)Windstar GL 3.8L V6
- Automatic transmission
- 98,900 miles
I too had an issue with the door ajar light staying on causing the interior lights to stay on. I took a previous posting idea and bypassed the switch in the sliding door. Here are the details: Remove the inner panel of the sliding door. This will take some effort, use a large flat screwdriver. Start from the left side as you face the door from the inside. Once you get the bottom loose it will come easier. Remove the door handle by removing the retaining clip with a small flat screwdriver. After removing the inner panel, you will see the four (4) wire harness on the inside of the door, to the left. It attatches to the four pins in the door that make contact when the door is closed. The two you want to isolate are the top and bottom pins. The top pin has a black wire, the bottom has a black with white line wire. Since it is nearly impossible to unplug the harness, ( the door handle mechanism blocks access) you can pull the wiring harness out. The other 2 wires go to the power door lock (if equipped). Expose the 2 black wires and cut them. Connect the black and black/white wires closest to the four pin harness (toward the left). Before you replace the panel, test the lights. The lights will come on when the door is open. Upon closing door, the lights should go out after a short delay. Ensure all other doors are shut. What you have done is bypass the door switch. This means the door ajar light is also disabled, so be careful. This repair costs you only time. It took me about 30 minutes to complete the task. Good luck.
2006Sep 23
(reported on)Windstar
- 100,000 miles
Numerous sensors..... happened again, and again, and again, and again,..... get the picture?
2006Sep 07
(reported on)Windstar
- 85,000 miles
Every time it rains the open door alarms won't shut off, even with all doors firmly shut. This is so frustrating.
2006Apr 01
(reported on)Windstar
- 78,000 miles
We have had this door ajar and interior lights on issue for the last 4-5 years. We've had other electrical/computer problems too. We had the door ajar issue fixed once, but it came back. Our Service Engine light is on all the time, but since we get our engine serviced regularly and there is no obvious problem, we figure it's just the gas cap. Our anti-lock brakes started screeching and going in and out so we pulled the plug on the anti-lock brakes. Now our anti-lock brake light is on all the time, but the brakes work fine without it. Our newest problem is the door ajar light comes on and there is a terrible beeping noise whenever we brake. As soon as we accelerate, the beeping and lights turn off. This problem is REALLY driving us nuts. Have tried lubricating the door hinges and using steel wool on the sliding door contact points. This has worked only temporarily or not at all. Will definitely try the WD40 in the locks. If this works, I will be unbelievably grateful!
2006Mar 13
(reported on)Windstar LX
- 50,000 miles
I purchased my 98 Windstar in Dec. 97. The door ajar alarm problem first occured after about 2 years.
Altogether we have had the drivers, passengers and sliding door fixed three times, one repair under warranty and other two repairs were paid for at a cost of about $1,200.00 US The last was last year, Feb. 05 at a approx. cost of $700.00
2006Jan 16
(reported on)Windstar
- 112,000 miles
I suffered the frustrations you all did, but here is my solution to my door ajar light and dome light saga. I dummy latched all door latches to isolate the prob and narrowed it down to the rear door latch switch on sliding door. I took door panel off and simply cut the two wires leading to the switch and wired them together. The circuit breaks at front latch when opened, so all works perfect except if door is actually ajar, it won't alert you so be careful.
2005Jan 04
(reported on)Windstar
- 60,000 miles
The "Door Ajar" light will not turn off, and therefore, the dome light won't go off after the car is turned off. We've tried the WD40, and that hasn't worked. It did last year, though. Any more suggestions?
2005Jul 21
(reported on)Windstar
- 99,800 miles
The door ajar light stays on. Sometimes it turns off after driving some length of time. The dome light goes on/off at will, and the alarm beeped 3 times for no reason, so now can't lock the doors. Now the battery is dead, I have to get a ride to work, and now I have to take it in to get fixed.
2004May 16
(reported on)Windstar
- 65,000 miles
My door ajar light was on all the time. Then my dome light wouldn't shut off for about a half a mile. Then it wouldn't shut off at all! I even took out the fuse for the interior light #27 because I was afraid of running down the battery. Frustrated, I looked up the problem on another site... windstarguy.com and found the solution! Squirt WD40 in all the door lock access points, especially the overlooked rear lock of the sliding door. Then be patient! It took almost a full day for it to work. That evening I went out for milk but couldn't stand not having the power windows (which taking the fuse out will cause.) So I put the fuse back in.... the door ajar light went off and the interior lights were working once again! I'm so proud of myself I had to share this info with the other people with this anoying problem
2004Apr 24
(reported on)Windstar
- 89,000 miles
Just bought a used 98 Windstar. Works perfectly except for the fact that the dome light will not turn off when the engine is off. The door ajar light on the dash never goes off also.
2004Mar 27
(reported on)Windstar
- 77,000 miles
I just bought a used 1998 WIndstar in great shape. Everything works fine except that I'm having a problem with the 'Door Ajar" indicator. It won't go off. ALso the dome light stays on even after the engine is turned off and all the doors arer closed. I've been pulling the fuse for the dome light every time I get out of my car so I won't drain the battery. Does anyone have any ideas? Please help!
2003Mar 11
(reported on)Windstar GL
- 114,195 miles
Door ajar light stays on, when all doors are closed. This is the stupidest problem ever! Ford has the door ajar light as a supposedly convenient feature--never mind it doesn't indicate which door is open. The frustrating thing is even after having a relay replaced, and all the switches replaced, the damn thing has gotten worse. It used to go off after half a mile--now the dome light won't even turn off after its turned off. I'm sure I'll need another damn battery==and the Ford people-=they could care less. I've already spent $500 on this problem--and it's not the only problem with the van!
AAAAA!
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
2008Jul 07
Windstar LX 3.8L V6
When I bought my vehicle, I noticed that the previous owner removed the dome light. I later figured out it was because the door ajar light would sometimes stay on. The dome light wasn't that big of a deal, but then a few months ago the van would ding as if the door was open while the keys were in the ignition. The only thing was, the door wasn't open. It continued to ding and ding until I reached about 20 MPH and then it would stop, but then when I slowed down it would ding again. This would happen on and off until recently, then it would stop. I read the complaints on this site. It gave me an idea of how to fix it. I posted a tutorial on how to fix it along with pictures check it out:
http://www.squidoo.com/1998-Ford-Windstar
blondejon
Hudsonville, MI, USA
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