I replaced my headlight switch and now my car won't start. When I reconnect the neg battery terminal, the hazard lights flash and there is a clicking sound in the dash, instrument panel lights flash too. I made sure all wires were secure and grounds back in place. I'm totally stumped. Please help.

 

i would say check your fuses and relays, since you were in the dash you may have shorted the ignition module somehow

 

there is a clicking sound indicating a relay of some kind. there is so much stuff under the dash i don't know where to begin. i've checked for loose wires and there are none. the weird thing is when i reconnect the neg battery terminal without the key in the ignition, running lights start blinking and there is that clicking sound from under the dash. instrument panel lights blink in time with the clicking. after about 30 seconds it stops but the care won't start. when i try to start the car, the sounds and lights start up again.

 

Do you by any chance have a security system in it that doesn't work right? My 98 does the same thing. Everything works on my security system except for the audio horn. So every time I disconnect the battery and reconnect my lights will flash for awhile. And since I don't have the audio horn working I do hear the relays for the security system clicking. Just throwing out some ideas.

 

I similarly had an issue with an after-market remote control power locks. The "professional" installer hay-wired from the dimmer on to the headlamp switch using shoddy butt-splices.

I had months of "gremlins" in the car....blown fuses, flaky interior lights, etc. And it took me hours to finally clean everything up...

My point is...look around for something like that...something that might not be wired up quite the way it should have been!

Good Luck.

 

try to start the car from the starter with a screwdriver to see if cranks over, then work from the dash once you know you screw up your starter

 

That is exactly what it is and I can't get the darn thing to reset. There is a ground wire from the little anti theft device that attaches to the body when you replace the knee panel and it was not re-secured right and kept arcing and tripping the anti theft device. Now i can't figure out how to reset it. I've tried every combination I can think of. A friend of mine is coming over Saturday and we are taking it out, completely. How ridiculous is this.

 

Just curious. Is it a OEM security system or after market? I know that a after market is fairly easy to remove. That is after you locate all the connecting point and reconnect all of the sliced sections. I just don't know how difficult it will be to remove a factory installed system.
Let us know how it turns out.
Good Luck!

 

Robert,
it is an aftermarket and i cannot figure out how to reset it. i've tried various door/key/battery/fuse combos. I have a good friend who is master mechanic. He is coming over Saturday and we are taking it out, completely. I bought this jeep two years ago and never even knew it had an anti theft in it. Now I do. 4 days the jeep has been in lockdown and i've had to borrow a car to get around. What a pain in the you know what! Thanks for all your help.

 

That is the problem with a after market system. Without the remote you are pretty much dead in the water. That does suck that you have a perfectly good Jeep sitting there and you can't drive it because of the alarm system. Good luck with the removal of it and hope you get it back on the road.

 

End of Story:
cut all wires connected to the anti theft device. Car wouldn't start. Traced wires and found where the device had been spliced into the starter wire. Reconnected those two ends and wallah! Back on the road again, minus the evil minion. What a debacle.

 

Not serious right. Who put you up to this?

 

Great!
Glad you got it taken care of.