Crazy radio and interior lights

pdalbey

My newly purchased 03 Eddie Bauer Expedition has a great high-end radio/CD player. The odd thing is it only works if I turn it on. If I turn off engine and leave the car...the radio keeps working so I have to physically turn it off.

There are no interior lights that come on when I unlock and open the door. BUT when I leave the car (after shutting off the engine) the dome lights come on and shut off after locking up after about 10 seconds. What gives?

alwaysfords2

What happens if you open a door other than the drivers door, does the radio turn off and do the dome lights come on? I ask because it sounds like you have a bad door switch. In a properly functioning Expedition if you turn the vehicle off the radio will stay on for about 20 minutes or until a door is opened. The trigger for both the radio to cut off and the dome lights to come on is the door switch.

pdalbey

Hi again. Sounds logical. I'll check this out this weekend. Thankfully the Expie isn't my daily driver.

pdalbey

Just looked at the open drivers door. I don't see a typical little spring-loaded button that when you close the door the dome lights turn off. The only thing that seems movable is a curved piece of metal that disappears into door jamb. If that's it, which side is the actual switch? inside kick panel under dash or inside the door?

alwaysfords2

It is not on the hinge side, it is on the side that opens, it is built into the strike that catches the Nader bolt. Did you try a different door to see if the lights come on and the radio shuts off?

Quick fix is to soak the latch with WD40 and open and close the door a bunch of times. Respray if needed. The latches get gunked up and the WD40 dissolves the crud and cleans the contacts.

pdalbey

Sorry it took so long to respond...I'm trying to finish a bathroom gut/remodel that's taking all my time and energy. I'll try the WD-40 trick, and no, I have not tried the other door for the odd radio / light issue.

pdalbey

Another issue... when I start the Expedition there is a clicking that sounds as tho' it's the radio / CD player - not the, not the front heater/AC door regulator. Clicking stops after a few seconds and then radio dial says "CD ERROR" CD door won't open or eject CDs it thinks are inside.

stever

May as well check the fuse to rule that out. If nothing else, sometimes pulling the fuse will "reboot" a CD player.

pdalbey

Thanks a lot !!! I was about to remove dashboard to extract the radio/cd !!!

stever

Did one of the suggestions work or just delay the fun part of tearing out the dash?

pdalbey

I'm waiting for a few days off to spend on all the little things that annoy me. Haven't pulled a fuse..or the dashboard yet.

pdalbey

I just "went in" and removed the fuse box cover and pulled two fuses that seemed remotely related to the radio (but not the CD player). I pulled fuse No. 7 listed as the Radio start signal. No change in problem. Put it back in after about 2 mins. Then pulled Fuse No. 22 listed as Radio-delayed accessory feed. Put it back in after another 2 mins. No change in problem. Also checked to see if it would actually turn off after I turned of engine and exited the car. After 15 mins. it DOES turn off.

Next, I WD40'd all the door latches/switches until WD40 was running onto running boards. No change there either. Any more ideas to try?

stever

Find the CD fuse and check it?

It does sound like you've made a bit of progress if the radio is at least turning off now (after the "usual" 15 minutes).

pdalbey

That's the problem...there is no fuse dedicated to the CD player. Tons of bizarre fuses labeled such as "Trailer tow back-up lamps relay coil" or "Brake shift interlock solenoid". But no fuse for "CD". There is one for the 2nd row DVD player !!!

thecardoc3

Do any of the doors NOT turn on the interior light when the door is opened? You'll have to wait for the lights to go out as each door is checked.

A tech with the IDS scan tool can see the door switch data in the SCM (Central Security Module) and then see the data and commands in the GEM module. He/she can also use bi-directional controls to ensure that the module can control the circuit correctly. A door latch switch issue is common and usually the penetrating oil does help, but not always.

pdalbey

I'm going to print this info out and take it and the Expie to my car guy. THANK YOU !!!

pdalbey

And NO, none of the doors open with the lights coming on. But when I turn off engine and open the doors...then the lights come on...and go off about 12 seconds after door is shut and locked.

pdalbey

OK, my car guy did the diagnostics on it and said he couldn't get the security module to behave. So for $500 he can order a new one, then program it then take out old one and put in new one. He said this car doesn't have a GEM module, only the Security module. But first I'm gonna spend that 500 dollars toward my son's up-coming wedding on the 30th.

alwaysfords2

It does have a GEM, so he is wrong about that - it is behind the fuse block in the passenger side foot well. Still wise to take care of your son first.

pdalbey

It's been a while for me. Still debating on replacing the security module for 500 dollars. All this just so my radio goes off when ignition is turned off....and to get the lights to come on when I open the doors at night. I assume that with or without the GEM, replacing the security Mod. will achieve what I want to achieve.