When I open my driverdoor on my 2002 dodge ram sport 1500 the interior lights do not come on but when i open the other doors they do. I know there is a switch but do they tend to go bad and are they hard to replace or is this something else?

 

Sounds like the switch is either bad or just sticking to me.

 

Ya I knew that but wheres the switch/how much/howhard to do yourself?

 

Hope this sheds some light on it....

DESCRIPTION
The door ajar switches are integral to the door latches on each door. The switches close a path to ground for the Instrument Cluster when a door is opened.
The door ajar switches cannot be repaired and, if faulty or damaged, the door latch unit must be replaced.

REMOVAL
[ol][*]Raise the window to the full up position.[*]Remove the waterdam.[*]Disconnect the actuator rods.[*]Remove the bolts.[*]Disconnect the electrical connector and remove the latch. [/ol]

 

so the only solution is a whole new latch?

and there is just something in the latch that closes the circut signalling the chimes to go off for exteriorlights and keys and the interior lights to come on.

wow sounds expensive but easy to fix

How much would one of these run and could i just get one at a junk yard/ebay/anyone on here got one for sale?

 

New from Dodge. Regular cab part # 55372843AA cost about $87.00
Quad cab part # 55372851AA cost about $36.00. Is a pretty simple fix. The only hard part is getting it out from around the window track. It takes some patience. Hope this helps....

 

thanks wow thats not bad i figured it would be something like the price of the reg cab. Now just the way it works is the "signal" is transfered from the cab to the door latch through the door and then somehow a wire picks it up and transfers it to the computer? Or is there a wire that runs off the latch itself?

Is this a common problem?

 

yes very common

 

If the switch provides a path to ground to complete a circuit, I presume the switch is a "normally open type"( with door closed) & closes the connection when the door opens. If that is the case can't I simply unplug the wiring connector to achieve "permanently open" status? I have a thumb wheel that does - 1. everything off no matter what, 2. door activated, 3. on until I dial back the thumb switch. I dont want to pay $87 for another crappy normally open switch

 

so the crappy switch has lasted 12 years...

I guess you never owned a gm car from the 80's. 3 years tops..
same with power window switches... same cars.

I had to replace the brake light switch a few months ago.... on a 04 with 50,000 miles