Door Ajar indicator displays on panel, and dome and foot lights stay on while driving. Component in driver's side door replaced, but did not fix problem. Connected or disconnected, the indicator on the panel stays on, and test equipment shows that the door is still ajar. The following helped sometimes:
1. Close door and connect seatbelt.
2. Press door lock button on driver's door panel
3. Insert key and start engine.
My very reliable mechanic suspects the Light Control module, but that's $1,000 for the component and labor, and he does not wish to just "take a chance" that this will fix the problem. Both of us do not wish to go to Ford to allow them to overcharge me to fix this problem.
Driving at night with the dome light on is very annoying, and the cops probably won't like it any more than I do . . .
Update from Sep 10, 2009: Mechanic suspected the Light Control module ($600 component plus labor). I proved this by setting the automatic light switch, the one that either turns the headlight on at start-up or turns them off after a short period at shutdown, to the center or OFF position. The Door Ajar message no longer displays. After the engine has started, the light switch may either be turned to the Manual On position or turned to the left, the Timer position. At shutdown, the lights will turn off after a few seconds.
Since most of my driving is during the day, I can either turn the headlights on or let them off. At night, I use the switch to turn headlights on for driving. This is a work-around, but completely solves the annoying problem.
Door Ajar indicator displays on panel, and dome and foot lights stay on while driving. Component in driver's side door replaced, but did not fix problem. Connected or disconnected, the indicator on the panel stays on, and test equipment shows that the door is still ajar. The following helped sometimes: 1. Close door and connect seatbelt. 2. Press door lock button on driver's door panel 3. Insert key and start engine. My very reliable mechanic suspects the Light Control module, but that's $1,000 for the component and labor, and he does not wish to just "take a chance" that this will fix the problem. Both of us do not wish to go to Ford to allow them to overcharge me to fix this problem. Driving at night with the dome light on is very annoying, and the cops probably won't like it any more than I do . . .
Update from Sep 10, 2009: Mechanic suspected the Light Control module ($600 component plus labor). I proved this by setting the automatic light switch, the one that either turns the headlight on at start-up or turns them off after a short period at shutdown, to the center or OFF position. The Door Ajar message no longer displays. After the engine has started, the light switch may either be turned to the Manual On position or turned to the left, the Timer position. At shutdown, the lights will turn off after a few seconds. Since most of my driving is during the day, I can either turn the headlights on or let them off. At night, I use the switch to turn headlights on for driving. This is a work-around, but completely solves the annoying problem.
- bsamstag, Culver City, CA, US