Door Ajar Indicator: Operation

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Jeep Liberty. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The door ajar indicator gives an indication to the vehicle operator that one or more of the passenger compartment doors may be open or not completely latched. This indicator is controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit based upon cluster programming and electronic messages received by the cluster from the Body Control Module (BCM) over the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus.

The door ajar indicator function of the Vacuum Fluorescent Display (VFD) is completely controlled by the instrument cluster logic circuit, and that logic will only allow this indicator to operate when the instrument cluster receives a battery current input on the fused ignition switch output (run-start) circuit. Therefore, the VFD door ajar indication will always be off when the ignition switch is in any position except On or Start. The instrument cluster will turn on the door ajar indicator for the following reasons:

Door Ajar Lamp-On Message - Each time the cluster receives a door ajar lamp-on message from the BCM indicating that a door is open or not completely latched, the door ajar indicator will be illuminated. If the ignition switch is in the On position and the vehicle is not moving when the door ajar lamp-on message is received, the VFD will repeatedly and sequentially cycle the door ajar indication in two second intervals with the odometer/trip odometer information and any other active warnings including: gate ajar, glass ajar, and low washer fluid. If the vehicle is moving, or once the cluster of a non-moving vehicle receives an electronic vehicle speed message from the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) indicating a speed greater than zero, the warning sequence will consist of three complete display cycles with an audible single chime tone accompanying each cycle, then revert to only the visual door ajar indication and odometer/trip odometer display cycling until the door ajar switch is cycled. The door ajar indicator will also be extinguished when the cluster receives a door ajar lamp-off message from the BCM, or if the ignition switch is turned to the Off position, whichever occurs first.

The BCM continually monitors the door ajar switches to determine the status of the doors. The BCM then sends the proper door ajar lamp-on and lamp-off messages to the instrument cluster. For further diagnosis of the door ajar indicator or the instrument cluster circuitry that controls the indicator, (Refer to ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENT CLUSTER - DIAGNOSIS AND TESTING) .

For proper diagnosis of the door ajar switches and circuits, the BCM, the PCI data bus, or the electronic message inputs to the instrument cluster that control the door ajar indicator, a diagnostic scan tool is required. Refer to the appropriate diagnostic information.