Door Ajar Circuit?

My door ajar started to stay on unless the door is absolutely slammed. Likely due to the shims I have in the door sill to keep the whole door from clunking on bumps.

I see that there is a "button" that is depressed when the door is closed and that is working on the driver's side at least because it seems to actuate a light in the driver's side foot well. That turns on and off properly. Are the strikers involved in the door ajar circuit that keeps the lower door panel lights on as well as the indicator on the dash?

Thanks

 

That is the door switch you are referring. You can push them and look on your dash to see its operation. Maybe adjust your shims or the strikers? The switch could be bad ($14).

I was just looking at some old pics and that door shim mod pic was in that batch. Mine are working well with no problems. Truck is quiet on the rumbles.

 

Yes, the door switch. Is the only trigger for the dash warning light, those two switches, one on each side?

 

Should be yes. You can test the sides by swapping good side with the bad side. Switch their places and see what happens. Easy work with a 10mm socket and some clips hook ups. Make sure the 10mm bolts are somewhat tight and clean because they are grounded on the door and won’t work without grounding.

 

If you're shimmed enough (1/16-1/8") locate where the pin switch hits the door and put a little vinyl adhesive pad to make up for the additional distance.

 

I think this is the solution! Thanks

 

Nope. I think I caught the switch in its dying moments. Now when I push the switch by hand, the door ajar stays on. So I think I need to replace the switch. Might as well get them both just in case.

Now, how should I disable the circuit until the new switches arrive?

 

Unplug it.

 

I wouldn’t worry about it.

 

Something else is going on here. I figured unplugging it would work as the button depressed likely "turned off the circuit." Well with the switch removed, the door ajar light was still on. So I pulled the passenger's side switch out. The door ajar is still on!

 

Uh oh. Pinched wire? Something tapped into it causing a ground signal?

 

Those clips are a little loose and funky at the connection. Iirc is a sharp 90° and kinda janky. Or there is a pinched wire somewhere. Sounds like your pushing the buttons made it go away and the pressure is right there on the door/connection. Did you ever swap the sides?

 

Do the access cab doors have a switch as well? I think the problem is there.

With the switches on both front doors removed. I can get the light to go on and off if I slam the access doors, while the fronts are open so there must be another switch in this circuit, no?

I dont see any other button like switches so I would guess the metal u shaped latch is involved.

 

Okay it gets stranger...So if I have the access doors shut and the drivers side switch connected but not bolted down with the driver's side door open, the door ajar light is not on. Then as I insert the bolt and get it just a bit situated, the door ajar light comes on again.

Scratch that. The bolt must be involved in the ground of the circuit as I didnt have the button depressed in the above paragraph. So that seems normal on second thought

 

Yeah. Not being there to see your process is having to rely on you knowing the Front Door Switch is Grounded. Bolts must be tight and both switches in place for the system to work properly. There is another switch on the rear doors. Its the little black wing thing.

You have enough info now to figure it out.

 

Yeah, I didn't realize the bolt was acting as the ground on the switch, hence my confusion at first when looking at the single metal terminal between the wiring and the switch body. lol

The rear door seems fixed after a spray of PB blast, maybe too much dirt in there. The front is not the switch itself but the door is not closing tight enough.

So two issues:

1. rear access door has a switch: mine just need a blast of PB to clean the contacts
2. front door switch is not being depressed enough, likely due to door shims

Thanks everyone

 

Yeah. Post #4 was explained about the grounding.

 

Thanks again!

 

I was having the same problem. You can remove the access cab inner panel and unplug these three connectors to solve the issue.

 

trying to find my problem, did a search and thus reviving this old thread.... started this evening...got home and closed driver door and dome lights , door ajar light and the little light around ignition switch stay on.. I can turn off the dome lights....ideas ?

have a 400 mile trip to make tomorrow....is this gonna be an issue other than lights on


update

so went out and pushed the door light/courtesy light switch in and out a bunch on both doors, noticed the driver door little light does not come on or off ...is there a short there. Pass door little light does not go off but assume its triggered by what ever is causing the issue...no difference if I open the rear doors and close a few times

really dont need this when its below zero and a needed trip...btw merry Christmas

 

ok...up date #2
so I tried many things with the keys, turning on and off thinking it could be related to a worn out ignition switch..nope...maybe. But I had to move it for my daugther in law to park in her spot...we have to plug cars in at night in alaska... when I moved it and shut it off...all worked right...well except drivers door did not light up..but to be honest i dont pay attention to that until today. Maybe ignition switch? Maybe park/neutral switch?