Expert: Rob Painter - 3/5/2011

Question
in my 2000 escalade the interior warning sound is on when i turn off the vehicle and i open the driver door as if my keys were still in the ignition but they are not and the vehicle is off, the sounds stops once the door is closed or you turn the vehicle on

Answer
Hello,

It sounds like you have a bad "key Buzzer" switch in the column. Now, it's important to note I have worked on thousands of columns, but this style was introduced in 1995 and used currently. Although I have disassembled this style column a thousand times, I have never had to pay attention to the intricate wiring components in it.

1994 and before, they used a little switch with a tension spring installed into a hole near the lock cylinder inside the column. It was known as a "Key buzzer" switch that never failed. However, a complaint like yours in the older steering columns was a bad ignition lock cylinder. The old cylinder had a tab that contacted the key buzzer.

Now, your style column has 4 small wires running into the lock cylinder housing. DO NOT mess with them. That is for your anti theft system. Colors should be red, green, yellow and black.
Since I do not ever remember the old fashioned key buzzer in this style steering column, it is most likely going to be a turn signal switch issue or and electrical ignition switch (opposite from where you insert the key on the left side of the steering column.

What you could do to narrow it down is remove the screws holding the plastic shrouds on the column. Disconnect and remove the electrical ignition switch. If the issue goes away, you need an electrical ignition switch. If the problem still is present, the t.s. switch is linked to the problem and needs to be replaced.

Normally I might consider a bad door pin switch located at the pinch point of the door jamb, but your description does not support this.



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