27th Aug 2005, 19:06
Mercury Sables and Ford Taurus' have a dome light switch that is located in the door (s). A simple fix that I found was to lubricate the latch mechanism in the door with WD-40. Open and shut the door several times. This worked like a charm and helped to free the light switch that was stuck.
2nd Feb 2006, 17:29
I too had a problem with the interior dome lights staying on along with the door ajar light. I found a simple solution to this problem. Take a can of W D-40 with the long nozzle and thoroughly spray in the latches of all four doors and trunk. This was found on-line and worked like a charm for me.
12th Mar 2006, 16:17
I was in disbelief! One of the largest issues I have been having with my 99 Sable LS was the pesky issue with the dome light not turning off. I recently spent 15 minutes at the airport parking light slamming my door just to get the light to go off. I took the door apart and discovered the switch was not where I would have guessed it to be -- and then found the switch had to do with the latch mechanism. I adjusted the hook that is mounted to the body because I had hypothesized that the latch was not being pushed all the way through to the "closed" position. Needless to say, the issue appeared again in about a week, especially when it is about 45-50 degrees outside and a little damp.
I came home from the grocery store today, with the dome light on all the way to the store, all the time in the parking lot and all the way back home. I read the string about the WD-40, and thought, "what the heck?" I just doused the mechanism with the WD-40, opened and closed the door a couple of times, and it worked itself into the mechanism like a charm! No more issue (although I will make sure to keep the WD-40 in my car just in case).
Thank you to all who mentioned the trick for helping to save me big money at the mechanic's office!
By the way, other than the dome light issue, I love my Sable. It is comfortable and has all the bells and whistles (I got it used on a pretty good deal). I have driven an '85 Ford LTD (Police Car), and an '87 Town Car, but this is the best Ford I have had in my driveway to-date. I have found it to be pretty darned reliable, even at over 128,000 miles.
Ryan, from Ohio.
11th Apr 2006, 14:26
I have a 1996 Sable and had the same electrical issues. The door ajar light would be on making all of the interior lights stay on. I pulled out fuse 37 which is the interior light one as a work around and then read about the WD-40 solution. I sprayed and opened and closed the doors a few times and...voila the problem was gone.
Thanks for the help.
1st Jun 2006, 15:01
I have a 97 sable with about 175,000 miles on it. What problems I have had with it. The dome light would constantly stay on. I ended up removing the light to solve that problem. The check engine light used to stay on for a couple thousand miles and then go off for the next couple thousand. I had a head gasket replaced at 130,000 and just found out today from my mechanics that the head gasket blew and that one of the cylinders is filled with oil. This car was a hand me down from my parents. They took extremely good care of it and I also did when I got it. From the most part it has been reliable, but I will never own another sable again. There are too many problems.
31st Aug 2006, 19:25
I will start by saying that overall I love my Sable LS. I was hit on the driver's side by a tractor trailer and was pushed 500 feet, the car was totaled and I was OK. I went in search of a replacement Sable. Found one, but have only had it for a year and a half and have already had to replace rotors twice. My mechanic showed me the rotors and instead of wearing through the brake pads, it seems as though they are wearing around the rotor not ON the braking surface??? Can anyone explain this? Am I going to have to keep replacing them every 15,000 miles??? Is there anything else that I can have done within reason to keep the rotors from wearing so fast? Is it a design issue? Any thoughts welcome... Should I get the highest quality rotor possible??? It is frustrating...
30th Sep 2006, 11:59
I also have a 97' Mercury Sable. I had problems with the dome light staying on, too. We just took out the light. Too lazy to try the WD40 trick. This car won't shift out of first gear most of the time and when it does, it takes a while. Found out that when you stop the car and put it in park then back in drive, it will work most of the time. I believe it's the speed sensor which only costs about $30 for the part. I will get that changed soon and we will see if that's the problem.
4th Oct 2006, 19:31
Those Sable switches (anti-theft switches) are prone to malfunction and I was told by the parts guy at the local Ford dealership that they sell many of them. Mine is a 97. I bought one the first time my dome light stayed on. The worst part is trying to find out which one is acting up! The next time I took the switch out (you might need to find someone with rubber arms to help) and soaked it in WD-40 overnight. It worked like a charm.
27th Aug 2007, 13:09
I recently bought a Mercury Sable 1997, Here are a few problems I could use help with. The service engine light stays on. The ABS Light stays on. Also it skips sometime while driving and if I brake and then gas it jumps and the tires squeal, actually I do not feel to safe driving this car. My mechanic says all is well, but it obviously is not.
5th Oct 2007, 21:07
I just bought a 97 Sable with 93000 miles on it and the only thing I can find wrong with it is the door ajar light. Thanks for all the advice on how to fix it. After reading these comments I am expecting my dome light to start staying on any day now :D.
13th Jul 2004, 16:50
I also have a Mercury Sable 97, and have had problems with the Dome Light and Door Ajar staying on. I've had to get this fixed twice, and I'm around 68,000 miles.