Chrysler Repair: 94 Concorde, push button switches, 1994 chrysler concorde

Question
Dear Mr. Finston,
I am having some problems with my 1994 Chrysler Concorde. I have a new battery in it. The curtesey lights on the doors seem to be coming back on after the doors are closed and after a few hours the alarm will sound. Now since I haven't driven it in a few days, the car is dead. I tried to jumpstart it but all I heard was clicking. I had my mechanic check the alternator but he said it was fine. I wanted to know if you had any suggestions. The car has never had any problems before.
Thank you for your time,
Lauren

Answer
Hi Lauren,
The courtesy lights coming back on is the clue to your problem. These are proximally controlled by push button switches in the door openings which have to be reliably pressed far enough in to open the contacts of the switch. As the door latches wear or shift their position the doors begin to come to rest slightly ajar such that the push buttons falsely believe the door is open and thus turn on the courtesy lights. The next time this happens try pushing closed against each door from outside, one at a time, to find which one needs to have its latch striker plate adjusted or the position of the push button shifted outward. You can also simply epoxy a penny on the inner door skin where it contacts the button, which will have the same effect.
That should end the battery drain-down problem. You might find an inexpensive battery charger to be a useful addition to your car tools. I wouldn't be without one.
Roland