Locks cycle when I hit a bump

[luxuryrules]

On the old man's 95... it's weird.

Symptoms:
If you arm the alarm, it goes off within five minutes.
When driving, if you hit the unlock switch, they unlock and then lock again immediately.
When I hit a bump, they cycle. Sometimes several times.
On the driver's side, pressing unlock unlocks the doors and locks them again. Pressing lock does nothing.
Here is where it gets interesting:
I get the door ajar warning.
The door ajar warning sometimes beeps every few seconds, telling me that whatever is triggering it is repeatedly triggering it.
And it is not the time-delay switch that these are notorious for, we can use the code after it's been sitting overnight.

We're going to pull apart the door and do a continuity test on the lock/unlock switch, but I am sure there is another problem elsewhere and I have no idea where to start.

Possibly a loose connection at the message center?

Or a loose connection at the door ajar switch inside the door?

Something else I'm not thinking of?

Thanks!

[Fordace]

I'd start with the door ajar switch, really

[luxuryrules]

Cool. Looked at all the connections inside the DS door, everything looks good, no loose wires or corrosion anywhere.

The door lock switch needed its contacts cleaned, so we did that and it tested fine.

Also cleaned both the door ajar switches using the WD40 and Silicone Spray method.

Will be monitoring symptoms and we'll see if that took care of it.

[Philip]

I have to agree with the door ajar switch, it sounds like it's cycling the autolock feature because it thinks the door was opened and closed.

I had my driver's side on the 1998 replaced. Seems like the Motorcraft part was about $20 or so. If you're already going inside the door, you've already done the labor. I'd spring for a couple of new switches, no questions asked.

[luxuryrules]

Word. Seems to have done the trick, as the symptoms have all disappeared.

Just thought it was strange that the faulty door ajar message would have triggered the locks, but hey I can't complain for an easy fix.

On an aside, the time delay switches in my 96 were both shot. Replaced one and the problem persisted, and hit both with a continuity tester to discover that they were both dead. What are the odds...