Just purchased a 94 Cherokee. The radio was removed prior to purchase. I think there was a CD player installed at one time (I have found CD things in the vehicle) if that makes a difference.
~~Issue: the instrument panel doesn't illuminate. I replaced 2 blown fuses, checked the panel and # 19 blew again (Instrument panel lamps, radio illumination). At this point I don't care about the radio, have no plans right now to install one, but I do want to have the dash lights work.
I can see a cluster of wires taped together that have been cut, and a wire with a plug on the end. I'm assuming it is because of how the radio/cd player was removed.
Is there anything I can do to keep the dash lights working? Or do I need to take it to a shop?

Thanks!
Nan.

 

Hi and welcome to CF from Tj… There is a wire in the radio harness the get 12+when the lights are put on, I would see if its running to ground. I sent you a PM to help you troubleshoot things...Tj

 

Dont know your mechanical abilities, but if youre confident, time to start chasing wire. There is a short somewhere, youre probably in the right area starting with where the radio was cut out.

 

I'm pretty much clueless actually, and not mechanically inclined. I was hoping for an easy fix, fuse or something. I guess it will go to a shop.

 

all you need to do is find the 12+ for the lights that's hooked to the radio and disconnect it if its grounded out...Tj

 

Easiest fix would be to take the bundle of wires that are all taped together and just make sure that none are touching eachother. it's a pain and there are easier ways, but for someone who doesn't know how to use a multimeter, it's the easiest way... make sure that all the ends are taped or capped and no single wire is touching another...

 

Excellent Idea oggy, and welcome to the forum...Tj

 

Well, I can definetly take the time to seperate all the wires, can I wrap electric tape around each one?

I'm not sure what "all you need to do is find the 12+ for the lights that's hooked to the radio and disconnect it if its grounded out" means.... 12+??

Nan.

 

Wrapping with electrical tape is fine, just make sure that it's not going to fall off. Again it's not the best way to do it, but it'll work and so long as you wrap each individually it should fix your problem.

The best way would be to use either wire caps if you plan on installing a radio in the future. When you do install your head unit yourself, I would typically recommend a harness kit, in this case though it sounds like the plugs have been cut for the previous head unit, so I'd recommend doing a search online for which wires are used for what... a simple google search will do the trick...

Thanks for the welcome, Glad to be here.

 

Thanks for the welcome. What part of Jersey are you from? I'm from the OC area, just got back from vacation in Wildwood though... I miss being near the water....