What do the various “door ajar” warnings mean in the message center?

What do the various “door ajar” warnings mean in the message center?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The “door ajar” warnings in the message center could indicate a number of things. Usually the door ajar warnings are an indication that one or more of the vehicle doors are open. However, there are some cases when this is an indication of another problem.

Each door has a switch inside the latch of the door and there may be up to five (5) door ajar switches for a vehicle:

Driver’s side door ajar switch
Passenger’s side door ajar switch
Right rear door ajar switch
Left rear door ajar switch
Rear latch/trunk door ajar switch

After checking to make sure that all of the vehicle doors have been shut properly and there isn’t anything obstructing the door or trunk, check to see if the door ajar indicator lights have turned off in the message center. If they have not, there are several possibilities that could explain this:

The Door Ajar Warning Indicator Light dimmer needs to be adjusted
The door ajar switch is stuck and needs to be lubricated
A fuse box relay for the interior lights needs to be replaced
A faulty door ajar switch needs to be replaced

If your Door Ajar Warning Light is on in the message center and you need assistance determining why it will not go off, it would be a great idea to have the door diagnosed by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

The door ajar Warning Light is located on the instrument panel. This light illuminates when one of the vehicle`s doors is not properly closed. Securely close all doors, and the light will turn off.
The B1336 code is a standard OBD-II trouble code that detects a problem with the right (passenger side) rear door ajar circuit. The door ajar Warning Light will illuminate on the gauge cluster when the system detects that the right rear door is not completely latched.
Did you Know? : Originating from 1718 Scottish dialect a char “slightly open”, ajar is defined as “neither entirely open nor entirely shut: partly open. Make Sure Your Vehicle is Always at Peak Performance.
Sounds like one of the door switches (located in the door jamb of the doors) is faulty. Either the switch contact is not opening when the door is shut or the switch is corroded and there is a permanent earth signal on the signal lead back to the body control module or the instrument panel (depends on model and year).
/əˈdʒɑ/ The adjective ajar describes something that is slightly open. A door that has been left ajar is easily pushed open by the wind or a nosy person. To correctly pronounce ajar, say “uh-JAR.” People in a hurry leave drawers and cabinet doors ajar, or hanging open.
Slightly turned or opened. The door was standing ajar.
Mechanical Door Ajar Switch

Using a push-button trigger within the striker, this mechanical system detects when the door has been left open and sends an alert to the driver. The primary benefit of this system is that the switch may only be activated by positive engagement of the lift bar.

The door ajar sensor is relatively straightforward in its purpose: it recognizes when a door on your vehicle is open and alerts your car`s ECU, or electronic control unit. It then lights up an icon on your car`s dash, letting you know a door is open.
Most cars today have a “door ajar” warning light on their dashboards. When the system is working properly, the light lets you know that one or more of your doors is either open or not closed securely. On some vehicles, the trunk lid, rear hatch and even the hood can be part of the system.
“Ajar” means open just a crack; “open” means open more than that, like all the way “open.”
Bright red flashing light alerts to possible danger. Simple to understand, test and use.
synonyms for ajar

On this page you`ll find 11 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to ajar, such as: open, unclosed, unlatched, and unshut.

/əˈdʒɑːr/ [not before noun] ​(of a door) slightly open. I`ll leave the door ajar. The office door stood ajar.
Ajar is a place in the region of Kashmir in India.
Dooring is the act of opening a motor vehicle door into the path of another road user.
Cabin hooks are used to hold a door open and are commonly used on external doors including back doors and French windows.
This can be easily fixed by adding weather stripping to your exterior doors. Also make note of other climate factors, such as fluctuation in temperature and/or humidity. All of these environmental factors can cause a door sensor to go off.
Place your hinge pin on a scrap piece of wood. Find the middle of the pin and tap it with your hammer until it has a slight bend. It only took three taps with my hammer. This bend will provide enough friction to stop the door from closing or opening by itself.
Door Ajar Warning Light* The Door Ajar Warning Light indicates when a door is not securely closed. This warning light will come on in red if a door is not securely closed and stay on until the door is securely closed.
The car`s computer monitors the switch and alerts the driver when it thinks one of the doors isn`t closed all the way through. This is a safety measure to prevent any doors from opening while you are driving.
Doors come in different styles that are mainly based on their functionality. This classification can make it easier for new homeowners. Choosing the right door style can elevate your home`s appeal while also making it more efficient.
It also a colour of health and nurturing, and in colour psychology, pink is a sign of hope. A home with a pink door can be thought of as full of loving energy. Up the drama and sophistication by combining pink with dark colours such as black, dark green or grey.
In America a red front door holds the historical significance of meaning people are welcome at the homes that host a painted door. Travellers were welcome to rest and have a meal, and during the Civil War in the Underground Railroad, runaway slaves would also see a red door as a sign of a safe house.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

What do the door ajar messages mean in the message center?
ANSWER : While your car is equipped with a Door Ajar Light, it can also display messages about open doors in the message center. This actually provides you with more information than the light – the message center will actually specify which door is open. There’s also a separate warning message if the liftgate or rear glass is left open. Here are the warnings to look for:

Driver door ajar
Passenger door ajar
Rear left door ajar
Rear right door ajar

To turn off the warning message, open and close the door indicated. If the message does not clear, have the door switch inspected.

Read Full Q/A … : What do the various “door ajar” warnings mean in the message center?

What do the various “door ajar” warnings mean in the message center?
ANSWER : The “door ajar” warnings in the message center could indicate a number of things. Usually the door ajar warnings are an indication that one or more of the vehicle doors are open. However, there are some cases when this is an indication of another problem.

Each door has a switch inside the latch of the door and there may be up to five (5) door ajar switches for a vehicle:

Driver’s side door ajar switch
Passenger’s side door ajar switch
Right rear door ajar switch
Left rear door ajar switch
Rear latch/trunk door ajar switch

After checking to make sure that all of the vehicle doors have been shut properly and there isn’t anything obstructing the door or trunk, check to see if the door ajar indicator lights have turned off in the message center. If they have not, there are several possibilities that could explain this:

The Door Ajar Warning Indicator Light dimmer needs to be adjusted
The door ajar switch is stuck and needs to be lubricated
A fuse box relay for the interior lights needs to be replaced
A faulty door ajar switch needs to be replaced

If your Door Ajar Warning Light is on in the message center and you need assistance determining why it will not go off, it would be a great idea to have the door diagnosed by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

Read Full Q/A … : What do the various “door ajar” warnings mean in the message center?

What does it mean if the “Service power steering” warning is displayed in the message center?
ANSWER : Your car’s Power Steering system is an integral part of the vehicle. While the system can fail and you’ll still have the ability to steer, you’ll find that the wheel is much harder to turn. Obviously, it’s important to have the system serviced and maintained properly. If you see a warning in the message center that reads, “Service power steering,” it means that there’s a condition that has been detected requiring immediate service. Have your car inspected immediately.

Tip

If you see the “Service power steering NOW” warning, you need to take your vehicle immediately to a mechanic.

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What does it mean if the message center shows a warning saying “Sensor blocked see manual?”
ANSWER : Your car has a significant number of sensors that play vital roles in a wide range of different systems. If you see the warning “Sensor blocked see manual” come across your message center, it’s natural to feel a little nervous. Really, it means that the Blind Spot Information system (BLIS) and the Cross Traffic Alert system sensors (they’re tied together) have been blocked by something. You’ll need to remove the blockage before the system will operate correctly.

Read Full Q/A … : What do the various “door ajar” warnings mean in the message center?

What does it mean if the message center shows the warning “engine oil change soon?”
ANSWER : It’s absolutely essential that you keep up with normal maintenance, like oil changes, tire rotations, air filter changes and the rest. Your car is designed with a reminder system designed to help make keeping your car serviced easier. If you see the warning message “Engine oil change soon” in the message center of your car, it means that the engine oil life is now between 10% and 0%. Have the oil changed and then make sure to reset your oil life in the car’s computer.

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What does the “Brake fluid level low” warning in the message center mean?
ANSWER : Your car is equipped with some pretty advanced equipment in order to monitor the various systems needed for safe driving. One of those sensors is designed to check the level of fluid in the master cylinder reservoir. If the fluid gets low, the car will show a warning in the message center that reads “Brake fluid level low.” You’ll need to open the hood and check the level of fluid in the reservoir. If it’s low, it will need to be topped off. If you notice that it goes low again after you have topped it up, you may have a leak and should get the brake system inspected.

Read Full Q/A … : What do the various “door ajar” warnings mean in the message center?

Door ajar light on and doors only manually lock
ANSWER : All of the lock functions and rear wiper functions are controlled by the Body ECU. If the ECU is failing this could be the source of the issues. In the front door and in the rear door, there are both harness connections that flex as the door (front left or rear) is opened or closed. This can cause the harness to fatigue and wiring to break causing malfunctions as well.

Before the expense of replacing the Body ECU wiring to both the front door contact, and the rear lock actuator, the wiper motor should be checked to ensure wiring is not the issue. You may want to enlist the help of a mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who has the tools and training to trace and verify the source of the electrical issues, so that the correct repair can be made.

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What does the service AdvanceTrac® warning mean in the message center?
ANSWER : AvanceTrac is the electronic stability control (ESC) system used in Ford vehicles. It may also be referred to as “traction control” or “vehicle dynamic control” is other vehicle models. This system monitors the steering stability of the vehicle and engages when skidding has been detected, or the loss of traction.

The AdvanceTrac system counteracts oversteering and understeering by reducing power and/or applying brakes to specific wheels. This is done by the use of electronic sensors that communicate with the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) regarding steering performance and stability in adverse weather conditions. The are several components that are necessary for the AdvanceTrac system to work properly.

Anti-Lock Brake System-When/if the brakes lock up, this may cause a loss of control and the vehicle may slide. The anti-lock brake system prevents this from happening by preventing the brakes from locking up, as well as preventing oversteering and/or understeering when the vehicle starts to slide.

Traction Control System-The traction control system works by reducing engine speed and determining which wheel to apply brake pressure to in order to prevent the vehicle from sliding.

Electronic Sensors-The Powertrain Control Module (PCM) receives information from electronic sensors regarding the rotational speed of each wheel, the horizontal motion of the vehicle, and the vertical motion of the vehicle.

If the “service AdvanceTrac” warning indicator light comes on in the dashboard, this could be an indication of several issues.

A faulty wheel-speed sensor
A faulty steering-angle sensor
A faulty rotational-speed sensor
An issue with the steering rack
Something that is lodged in one of the wheels
The AdvanceTrac system needs to be reprogrammed

If you need assistance diagnosing the service AdvanceTrac warning light, contact a certified techncian for help.

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Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.