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Sable 1996 dome and inside lights do not go out with doors closed
1996 Mercury Sable LS. Problem: Dome light and inside door lights do not go out when all the doors are closed. I have tried spraying WD-40 in the door latches and that has not worked.
Here is some additional information: 1. The door ajar indicator is not lit when the doors are closed and the car is running even though the dome light and inside lights are on. 2. The inside door panel on the rear passenger side door came off about a couple of months ago and I put it back on a couple of weeks ago. This is my daughter's car so I don't know if the problem started before or after I fixed the door panel, but I am pretty sure it started after the door panel fell off.
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You have a little sensor that is pushed in when the doors shut. It is the same one that controls the dome light coming on. Make sure that the doors are closing all of them. One is probably not getting pushed in correctly.
One of the door switches is damaged. Look closely at each switch to determine which one is defective. Try depressing each switch manually with all the other doors closed to see if you can get the light to go off. Also, make sure the dome light is not set to the ON position instead of DOOR.
Next to the headlight switch is a dimmer dial for the interior dash lights... if you turn it all the way up, the interior lights remain on... there is a "detent" on the dimmer. turn the interior dash lights all the way full on ...you'll feel the detent, then turn it down back past the detent a little bit...that should cancel the interior courtesy lights... wait a bit because the interior lights are sometimes on delay timers.... good luck let me know what happens.
THERE IS A SWITCH, IT IS THE DOME/DOOR AJAR SWITCH INSIDE THE DOOR ON THE LATCH. U MUST DE-TRIM THE DOOR AND REMOVE THE REAR GLASS RUN CHANNEL TO REPLACE IT, ALSO ANYONE OF THE 4 SWITCHES CAN BE THE PROBLEM, FORD CAN TEST IT WITH A NEW GENERATION STAR TESTER AND ID THE PARTICULAR DOOR THAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. PART IS ABOUT $25.00 EACH
SEE PHOTO:
I had the same problem in my 98 and 96 Sables. Ford dealer says it is a problem with a sensor, located behind the left rear quarter panel. It doesn't recognize when the doors are closed, therefore it leaves the dome light, etc. on--sometimes briefly, but possibly until the battery goes dead. Worse when the weather is damp. Their solution was to throw it on the diagnostic computer BUT ONLY WHILE THE PROBLEM IS ACTIVELY HAPPENING, then replace the sensor--they quoted me a minimum of $300. I leave the cover off the dome light, and pull the bulb when necessary.
One of the door adjar switches inside the door is sticking.
What works most of the time is to shoot some WD40 into the door latch it self then open and close the door several times,start with the drivers door.
Check the dash light dimmer switch. Perhaps it's set to have the interior lights on, when you turn the dash lights all the way bright, turning it a little more turns the interior lights on. Let us know how you make out.
problem fixed. Dimmer light was up all the way. What a dummy I am.
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