The interior light problem is a huge inconvenience. I have unplugged the connections in both doors and was told it would not come on auto any more. I could turn them on with the switch on the dash. That worked, BUT the interior lights still will come on auto and stay on running the battery down. If someone has a solutions PLEASE post it. No interior light is a hassle. Any FORD dealer is willing to work on it, knowing they do not have a solution, and can reel in some major service charge money.
This problem is common among the rangers. Instead of paying Ford to fix this problem (It is a door sensor that was probably engineered to f%!k up!), I went to the junk yard and found a dome light from a luxury Ford that I could turn off. It cost $10.00 and and about 30 minutes of my time. The door ajar light still comes on but it is a lot more tolerable then the dome light not turning off!
Door ajar light came on intermittently while driving with the door secure. Only occasionally at first and re closing door made it go away. As time went on it got more and more frequent and the interior light started to come on also. I tried the WD-40 trick, But it didn't help. The driver's side door was the one causing the fault. I removed the interior door panel and disconnected the 2-wire electrical plug to the latching mechanism. The dome light doesn't come on when I open the door anymore, But I'm OK with that. Be sure to tuck the connector out of the path of the window.
Removing Door panel - (manual windows and locks) Window has a plastic cover that clips off and there is a torx screw holding the handle on. There are 2 screws holding door pull handle on. It clips out after screws are removed and there is another screw under it. There is 1 more screw on the bottom, towards the rear of the vehicle. The panel needs pushed upwards to be removed.
I just bought this truck and drove it about a 150 miles when I was parking it and looking it over the int. lights stayed on. But thanks to this great answer I was able to get the int. lights to go off. Now if I can get the "door ajar" light on the dash to go out I will be even more happy. I will try taking it for a ride.
I've owned the Ranger since 38,000 miles. It's been decent but especially when it is damp outside... the damn interior light will NOT turn off because only Ford is stupid enough to make that a feature of the "door ajar" light. All the doors have been checked and re-checked. Impossible to drive at night. Pulled the fuse, which means that the spedometer doesn't work now either. This problem seems to be common in Ford products. Why not make the switch be external somewhere on the door??
I am going to try the WD-40 suggestion. If it works, hallelujiah!
The door lock on Fords seems to get sticky quite a bit since I saw this problem reported on other Fords. The WD40 trick is the solution. The door ajar/dome light is controlled by a switch inside the lock, which is unusual for other cars ... usually there is a dedicated switch on the door threshold. My car had a lot of dust in the lock, so it got gummy.
When I go to get out of the truck the interior light will stay on. In order for it to go out, I have to get back in, and drive it just a little ways until I hear a click. Then the light will go out (sometimes not turning back on when opening the door). This happens more and more
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
The interior light problem is a huge inconvenience. I have unplugged the connections in both doors and was told it would not come on auto any more. I could turn them on with the switch on the dash. That worked, BUT the interior lights still will come on auto and stay on running the battery down. If someone has a solutions PLEASE post it. No interior light is a hassle. Any FORD dealer is willing to work on it, knowing they do not have a solution, and can reel in some major service charge money.
- Tony D., Pulaski, TN, US