# Interior lights and door ajar light goes on and off while driving

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/interior-lights-and-door-ajar-light-goes-on-and-off-while-driving/12974>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** driving, ford, lights, expedition\
**Created:** [April 17, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interior-lights-and-door-ajar-light-goes-on-and-off-while-driving/12974 "2008-04-17T04:11:11Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![karmina4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@karmina4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/karmina4)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 4:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interior-lights-and-door-ajar-light-goes-on-and-off-while-driving/12974/1 "2008-04-17T04:11:11Z")

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My 1999 Ford Expedition has the interior lights go on and off while driving and the door ajar light is on most of the time. When I close the driver’s door the interior lights stay on and sometimes my battery goes dead. I’m thinking it’s a door sensor. If so, is this easy to replace on my own or do I need to take it in? Please let me know what I can do to solve this issue. Thanks!

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**Author:** ![edb1961](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/edb1961/32/122_2.png) [@edb1961](https://community.cartalk.com/u/edb1961)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 5:06am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interior-lights-and-door-ajar-light-goes-on-and-off-while-driving/12974/2 "2008-04-17T05:06:13Z")

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If it’s the same setup as my 98 Windstar, the door switch/sensor is built into the door latch. Before you replace anything, spray some electrical contact cleaner or WD-40 into the door latch while working the handle. Hopefully this should help. Let us know if it works or not.

Ed B.

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 10:49am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interior-lights-and-door-ajar-light-goes-on-and-off-while-driving/12974/3 "2008-04-17T10:49:12Z")

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Clean and adjust the door sensor and check for possible broken wires or connections at the door.

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**Author:** ![SteveF](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/stevef/32/2_2.png) [@SteveF](https://community.cartalk.com/u/SteveF)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2008, 12:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interior-lights-and-door-ajar-light-goes-on-and-off-while-driving/12974/4 "2008-04-17T12:12:02Z")

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We’ve had this one before. Apparently this problem is common with many types of Ford vehicles of that vintage. Most owners report success with Ed’s advice above.

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**Author:** ![karmina4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71c47a/32.png) [@karmina4](https://community.cartalk.com/u/karmina4)\
**Post date:** [June 11, 2008, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/interior-lights-and-door-ajar-light-goes-on-and-off-while-driving/12974/5 "2008-06-11T17:13:10Z")

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Thanks for your advice on this. Your suggestion to use a lubricant, like WD-40, and spray the latch did the trick. Amazingly simple! I haven’t had a problem since.