help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

[Michael L.]

Guys,

I am completing the resto on my 69 L-46 and since getting it running a couple of years ago the door ajar light has always worked whenever the door is open and interior lights go on. I recently had to return it to the body shop where I had it painted to do a couple of minor things that would have required them to have the doors open in all likelihood for an extended period. Now the door ajar light no longer comes on. I'm guessing these guys left the door open for extended periods and maybe burnt out the bulb? Although they didn't kill the battery unless they threw a charger on it when I was ready to pick it up because it cranked over no problem. I can't think of any reason why else it wouldn't be working. Guess there's nothing to do but pull the center dash and swap in a new bulb? Unless I'm missing something.

Mike

[Jimmy P.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

Just guessing here, but maybe they disconnected the wires from the back of the switches? (Doubt it, but still worth a look!) I'd check those first or simply just ask the shop if they disconnected anything. I wouldn’t tear into the dash unless its the last resort!

[Tom M.]

[Jimmy P.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

Ugh! Your right Tom! No way could the shop easily get to those wires! I was thinking courtesy lights, my bad! Senior moment possibly!

[Don L.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

Michael, is the DOOR AJAR light problem misbehaving on both doors?

[Mark M.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

Check the fuses first. Michael if you have an assembly manual for 69, check upc 1/ b9 for part 6 (plate) and upc 12/ c5 (switch) is part 4. Check if both switches are there and seeming to move in and out, and as Don asked if both doors are misbehaving. These switches wear out, get installed poorly or the special connectors come loose. The wires are accessible behind the body mount cover in front of the rear tire. If you can unscrew one of the switches out and connect the two wires with a jumper, the light should come on. Bulbs do go bad; more work.

[Michael L.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

Good info guys. I thought it was the one at the front of the door jamb too and that both the interior lights and door ajar worked off the same switch. I will start troubleshooting that.

Mike

[Michael L.]

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

Be very careful with original switches! The 60 year old plastic end that holds the connectors can be very fragile. If I remember correctly the metal part is aluminum (?) so it should clean up easily. You can get new connectors from any of the usual sources. My guess is that there is no good contact between the ends of the small pins and the base of the metal. Maybe try electronic cleaner spray first before you attempt to take anything apart.
Jeff

[Tom M.]

[Leif A.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

This is the best contact cleaner on the market...period.

https://www.amazon.com/Hosa-D5S-6-DeoxIT-Contact-Cleaner/dp/B00006LVEU

[Michael L.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

So, I took the switch out. As an in-progress total resto, I had all the switches out already and had cleaned them up before putting them back in. the harness and pins are new too. I took a look at the pins and the plastic part of the switch. The plastic part of the switch is, of course, pretty tired being that it is 50+ years old. As a result, the pins don't sit at quite the exact same height when installed. I would need to try and find a way to optimize this contact. As there is zero corrosion on the already cleaned switch and brand-new terminals there is nothing really to use contact cleaner on. Not sure about the cleaner Leif posted above, as it may be a little too thin the stay around for a prolonged period of time to work long term as a contact enhancer. Is there any suggestion as to how to optimize this contact semi-permanently in this situation? Can I add metal (solder) to the tips of the pins or the contact surface of the plunger? I've thought about maybe a dab of dielectric grease to help promote contact. Any suggestions? OF course if there's a way to get replacement switches and swap over the striker where the SX is on the switch I would be willing to consider that too.

Mike

[Terry M.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

So, I took the switch out. As an in-progress total resto, I had all the switches out already and had cleaned them up before putting them back in. the harness and pins are new too. I took a look at the pins and the plastic part of the switch. The plastic part of the switch is, of course, pretty tired being that it is 50+ years old. As a result, the pins don't sit at quite the exact same height when installed. I would need to try and find a way to optimize this contact. As there is zero corrosion on the already cleaned switch and brand-new terminals there is nothing really to use contact cleaner on. Not sure about the cleaner Leif posted above, as it may be a little too thin the stay around for a prolonged period of time to work long term as a contact enhancer. Is there any suggestion as to how to optimize this contact semi-permanently in this situation? Can I add metal (solder) to the tips of the pins or the contact surface of the plunger? I've thought about maybe a dab of dielectric grease to help promote contact. Any suggestions? OF course if there's a way to get replacement switches and swap over the striker where the SX is on the switch I would be willing to consider that too.

Mike

Those switches are self adjusting. They6 are installed with the pin out as far as possible and the door is closed and voila the switch is adjusted.

If you can't figure out how that works -- it is common to find a rubber (maybe plastic) pad glued to the door in 1971 & 1972s. None of my cars have that pad, but the TIM&JG comes to the rescue, again. In the 6th Edition of the 1970-72 TIM&JG see Fig I 9.1 and Fig I 9.2 on Page 35.

[Michael L.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

Thanks Terry. I had read that about the self adjusting but I think my 50 yo switch is beyond the limits of the adjustment. I will need to come up with something to compensate for the uneven pins.

[Jeffrey S.]

Re: help troubleshooting the door ajar light on a 69

You mention that the pins are not all at the same level. That could be the problem if one is not making contact. gently push on the one that appears low. If it moves at all you need to get it to stay full in. Sometimes the tab that holds the pin in is pushed too flat to hold the pin in position. Perhaps you could remove it form the plastic and reshape the pin. Or, maybe you could insert a small piece of toothpick from the open end to hold it in place. Just be very gentle. Just some thoughts.
Jeff