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car thinks door is open

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50K views 9 replies 7 participants last post by  aed79108  
#1 ·
Light on dash indicates door open but no doors are open. Interior lights stay on but no doors are open. I can see the little 'don't step in the puddle' light on the bottom of the passenger door is on but that door and all others are closed. I have opened and closed all doors a few times but the interior lights still continue to stay on. I want them to go off. Please help.
 
#3 ·
If you said the door always thought it was closed (even when open), I would say it was a bad microswitch or bad solder joint on the door lock module. But I'm not sure if they can fail "open" (vs. Closed). Maybe others will know if the switches can fail either open or closed. There's a write-up for the door lock module repair in the info base. I've done it and it solved my "always thinks the door is closed" issue.
 
#6 ·
Nope, no magnets in there. It's all microswitches inside the door latch mechanism. The switch and the mechanism can get hung up and stuck in the open position.

OP: try spraying the latch mechanism with a good lubricant. NOT WD40, as it'll displace the good lubricants and then dry out within a few days. A good lubricant will free things up and possibly clear the issue, at least for awhile. Otherwise, find the writeup and prepare to tear into the door to pull the latch/lock mechanism.
 
#5 ·
Good chance it is the microswitch that detects the door latch position. A common failure. Switch is in the door on the latch mechanism If you are resourceful you might find a replacement switch and a way to mount it . Otherwise, expect to buy a new latch that contains the switch. Last I knew the latch part was about $170.
 
#8 ·
I pulled the door apart and pulled the plug that goes to the latching mechanism and this stopped the problem. I had to do something cuz I am going on a 2.5 mile drive tomorrow and would probably kill myself before I reached my destination if I had to listen to the 'door open' bell all the way.
I am kicking myself now though because I did not think of spraying some lube (not WD40) into the mechanism as bob has suggested. I have been around long enough to know that can sometimes do the trick.