Window/Door Lock buttons staying illuminated

[RED025.9]

I have an 02 5.9 and I noticed earlier the switches on the drivers and passengers door are staying illuminated after the turck is turned off and locked. They have been on now for 4 hours. I've tried opening and closing the doors, locking/unlocking etc. It's below freezing here the past couple of nights which means it's to cold for me to be jacking with this. Truck won't fit in the garage. Any thing I should check in the morning? Thanks for any help, I did a search for "lights staying on" and didn't find anything.

 

[HemiBabe]

Welcome to RF!

That's pretty weird, I bet someone will chime in shortly

 

[RED025.9]

I hope so, I have had my battery charger/tender hooked up now for 4.5 hrs and it's still showing charging. I just tried to start it and it's cranking but not catching to start. The lights came on and are staying on the door panel now still. Does this sound like it could be a starter or alternator problem possibly? Thanks for any suggestions!

 

[WhiteExpress]

Are those the only lights that are staying on? IE the dash lights / dome light are off?

To me it sounds like a short in the door harness somewhere.
Also, the 2 tiny little bulbs really shouldn't drain a battery over night.

If it is cranking, you issue is 99.8% NOT the starter.
The alternator could be the cause of your discharge, but is likely unrelated to your door light issue.

 

[nim81]

i had this same problem on my 99 durango, never did figure it out, never did drain the battery, i finally just forgot about it.

 

[RED025.9]

WhiteExpress: yes, these are the only lights staying on. I thought about a wiring short or bad switch possble. The more I thought about it, I agree the lights shouldn't drain the battery, but then again they could have been on for over 2 days as the last time I drove it was Sunday afternoon.

I went and tried it again and it will crank, I gave it some gas and it fired up and will rev but as soon as I stop giving it throttle it just dies. It did this two/three times would let me rev it to 2-3k rpm fine but as soon as I let off the throttle it died. Makes me think it's fuel related? I filled up last Wed, drove the truck some Wed, it sat parked until we drove it on Sunday, has been parked since. I'm less worried about the lights staying on at this point and really want my truck to start! I can always just unplug the harness inside the door panel to remedy the lights issue.

 

[RED025.9]

Problem solved!

so this is silly, but I'm posting how we fixed the problem...

discovered the key and ignition cylinder were very worn and had actually worn past the 'stop' detent for the key off position and the key accessory position. So every time I thought I was turning the ignition off I was actually putting it in accessory mode.

So buying a new ignition cylinder and matching the tumblers to my current cylinder and using my 'spare' key which is in near new condition, much better than the worn out previously used daily key and the problem is solved!

 

[chedched]

So what about the cranking/starting issue?

 

[RED025.9]

While in the column replaced the electrical part of the ignition switch also and it's all good.