Door "Dome Light" and "Door Ajar" issues

[beezee2]

Hello!.. New member here. I own two Rangers, a '95 XLT and a 2000 XLT V-6. Both have door sensor issues. I;m attempting to deal with the '95 first. I've had it for 2 years, bought it used. From day-1 the dome light never would come on when the door was opened, nor would the door-ajar chime go off (the no-chime was just fine with me, but I really missed the dome light!) I finally tore into the driver's side door, and found that there were two plugs attached to the door latch, and one had been unplugged. I shorted that plug and found that the dome light came on. The other plug I'm guessing is the switch for the "Door Ajar" chime and panel light? It was still plugged in, but didn't seem to do anything. I modified the dome-light switch by installing a door-jamb switch instead of the internal latch switch. It works fine now. Today I opened up the passenger side door and found that there was only two wires which lead to one switch in the latch mechanism. I unplugged that one and tried shorting the wires, but nothing happened. Two questions:

1. Why are there only two wires on the passenger side?
2. And how do I trouble-shoot to fix it?

Thanks!

 

[FritzTKatt]

Passenger side should only control dome light, not chime. You probably had the driver side open (so dome light was on)...

Check the plugs get power, keep tracing it back until you find the break.

 

[Ruffinit]

I had similar issues when I first got my '96 on the road. The problem ended up being the sensor in the door, which I replaced. I also took pics, but they were difficult because of the confines of the door.
My dome light would stay on, my dinger would work and then it wouldn't, the door ajar light would come on or wouldn't ... It was a mess that just changing out the door sensor fixed.

 

[beezee2]

Passenger side should only control dome light, not chime. You probably had the driver side open (so dome light was on)...

Check the plugs get power, keep tracing it back until you find the break.

Thanks, Fritz!... I didn't realize that the second plug on the driver's side was the chime sensor... (who wants those anyway?!)

 

[beezee2]

I had similar issues when I first got my '96 on the road. The problem ended up being the sensor in the door, which I replaced. I also took pics, but they were difficult because of the confines of the door.
My dome light would stay on, my dinger would work and then it wouldn't, the door ajar light would come on or wouldn't ... It was a mess that just changing out the door sensor fixed.

Hey, appreciate the reply! I couldn't figure out how to get the door-lock connector off of the latch mechanism, so I never even got to see what the switch looked like or how it was connected. My door-jamb switch mod will make it so I won't have to dismantle the whole door in the event of any future switch issues. Thanks again!

 

[FritzTKatt]

94's only have 1 switch in the jamb that controls both on the driver side and just the light on the passenger side. From what you said you answered your own question, buddy...

I wanted nothing to do with my light/chime. Pulled the switch, and cut the thing off. Capped and sealed the wires and stuffed them back in. Redneck? Yeah... Care? Nope, because "ding-ding-ding-ding" isn't making me pull my hair out. I can always manually turn the dome light on.

 

[Andy D]

So, I can kill the switch in the door post and the chime will go away? Nothing els happens? Kewell The Rat's dings when I open the door even with the key out. Losing the dome light automatic on is worth it.

 

[black_demon69]

So, I can kill the switch in the door post and the chime will go away? Nothing els happens? Kewell The Rat's dings when I open the door even with the key out. Losing the dome light automatic on is worth it.

look for the chime itself (little black box under dash around the ash tray) open it up and cut traces on circuit board for the speaker..


you have just removed the chimes vocal cords and dome light will still come on as before

 

[beezee2]

94's only have 1 switch in the jamb that controls both on the driver side and just the light on the passenger side. From what you said you answered your own question, buddy...

I wanted nothing to do with my light/chime. Pulled the switch, and cut the thing off. Capped and sealed the wires and stuffed them back in. Redneck? Yeah... Care? Nope, because "ding-ding-ding-ding" isn't making me pull my hair out. I can always manually turn the dome light on.

Thanks again, Fritz!