Before driving off, you may hear beeping or a chime and see a warning light on your dashboard signaling that one or more of your doors aren’t fully closed.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how the door ajar warning system works and learn what may cause this feature to malfunction.
The door ajar light illuminates when the system detects that one or more doors are slightly open. Each door latch mechanism usually comes with a door sensor and switch. When the door is closed, the switch is closed and the body control module (BCM) is connected to the ground. The drop in voltage causes the BCM to switch off the door ajar light.
The sensor is sometimes connected to the dome lights that go on and off when a door opens and closes.
You may notice an illuminated door ajar warning light even if you slammed the door shut. The problem is usually caused by dirt and contaminants jamming the switch in the door latch. There’s also the possibility of a BCM-related failure.
If the BCM signal or ground wire breaks around the door jamb, the BCM won’t detect the voltage drop. This may cause it to keep the door ajar warning light on even if the doors are all shut.
Before attempting any extensive fixes, check your doors, clean the latches, and inspect the switch.
It’s easy to forget to check the other doors if they’re ajar when driving by yourself. No matter how hard you slam the driver’s door, the door ajar light will still be on if one of the passenger doors is slightly open. Before driving off, step out of the vehicle and check/close the other doors to turn off the warning light.
If all the doors are fully closed and the light is still on, you can try cleaning the door latches. Liberally, use WD40 or equivalent into each door latch and then open and close the door a few times. This won’t hurt anything and it will usually fix a sticking door ajar switch.
Lastly, you can inspect the switch if it’s damaged, but it can be a pain if you haven’t done it before. Here are some basic steps that might or might not be right for your vehicle.
The best thing you can do is to take your car to a mechanic. They’ll have the proper tools and know-how when it comes to fixing a damaged or malfunctioning door ajar warning light.
The fix they’ll do depends on what’s causing the issue. Expect them to replace the door switches/electrical components if needed or repair structural damage that affected the warning light. Generally, they’ll check and replace any damaged wires connected to the door ajar switch or examine the computer.
Overall, expect to pay between $55 and $200 to have a malfunctioning door ajar warning system fixed. The price differs depending on the damage and your car model. Generally, a simple switch costs around $5, with luxurious car models ranging from $50 to $125. Meanwhile, labor typically ranges from $50 to $75 an hour, with the price varying depending on repair complexity and mechanic rate.
The easiest way to turn off the door ajar warning light is to properly close the doors. Doing so should press the switches on the door that send the signal to the computer, turning the warning light off.
You can also disconnect the door ajar switch to turn it off, but it’s not recommended since the door ajar warning light is a safety feature that ensures you properly close your doors.
Driving with an illuminated door ajar warning light won’t affect vehicle performance, as it’s only a safety feature that warns you of potentially open doors. However, it’s not recommended to do so since a door could swing open and hit moving vehicles on the highway.
As mentioned, the door ajar switch is usually connected to the dome light, meaning it stays on as long as a door is open. An illuminated dome light can distract other drivers. It can also drain your car battery.
Lastly, the door ajar system may also prevent you from locking the door, making you vulnerable in slow-moving traffic, as someone outside can easily open your door.
Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.