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XJ Ask the Question Thread
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Washington
Posts: 88
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1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Headlight Switch / Dash Lights
Lost dash lights a short while back, research indicates typically a ground issue and/or headlight switch. Checked, cleaned, fixed grounds in engine bay and dash. Ordered headlight switch, only $14 new, well worth it. (Also just put in the Putco headlight harness upgrade a few days ago - this was after the no dash light problem, so not part of the current problem).
Headlight switch came in today, popped the old one out expecting a quick fix - headlight switch looks ok, but harness is melted!
Found a picture with the switch pin-outs labeled (thanks Cruiser54) got out the multi-meter and started checking wires...
B1: Battery - Red wire, 13.75v
B2: Dome lights power - 2 red/blue wires, 8.5v
D: Dome lights ground - 2 black/white wires, 0.35v
H: Headlights - tan/black, 2.1v
I: Dash dimmer lights - orange/black, 0.01v
R: Parking lights - 2 blue wires, 0v
No dash lights, no parking/running lights.
PARK LPS fuse shows 12v both legs
INST LPS fuse shows 0.01v with old headlight switch, now 0 with new switch.
Looks like a couple issues:
1) Ground issue somewhere still, or is small current value normal/ok on dome light circuit? (Dome lights work correctly, open door and using switch)
2) Dash dimmer lights - what voltage should be there, and what's the next step to track it down?
3) Parking lights - same question, voltage and where to go next?
Previously I had found a post about checking a ground in the drivers side taillight, but can't seem to find the post now. I did pull my taillight and look, but didn't find a ground behind the lens. Was that in all years of XJ's?
Headlight switch came in today, popped the old one out expecting a quick fix - headlight switch looks ok, but harness is melted!
Found a picture with the switch pin-outs labeled (thanks Cruiser54) got out the multi-meter and started checking wires...
B1: Battery - Red wire, 13.75v
B2: Dome lights power - 2 red/blue wires, 8.5v
D: Dome lights ground - 2 black/white wires, 0.35v
H: Headlights - tan/black, 2.1v
I: Dash dimmer lights - orange/black, 0.01v
R: Parking lights - 2 blue wires, 0v
No dash lights, no parking/running lights.
PARK LPS fuse shows 12v both legs
INST LPS fuse shows 0.01v with old headlight switch, now 0 with new switch.
Looks like a couple issues:
1) Ground issue somewhere still, or is small current value normal/ok on dome light circuit? (Dome lights work correctly, open door and using switch)
2) Dash dimmer lights - what voltage should be there, and what's the next step to track it down?
3) Parking lights - same question, voltage and where to go next?
Previously I had found a post about checking a ground in the drivers side taillight, but can't seem to find the post now. I did pull my taillight and look, but didn't find a ground behind the lens. Was that in all years of XJ's?
Herp Derp Jerp
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Parham, ON
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12 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tai...-issue-189512/
I found it in Google with "check ground driver's tail light site:cherokeeforum.com". The in-site thing at the top is plain ****.
CF Veteran
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,149
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24 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Washington
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
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1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Not this one, was it?
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tai...-issue-189512/
I found it in Google with "check ground driver's tail light site:cherokeeforum.com". The in-site thing at the top is plain ****.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/tai...-issue-189512/
I found it in Google with "check ground driver's tail light site:cherokeeforum.com". The in-site thing at the top is plain ****.
Newbie
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: ny
Posts: 5
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Received 0 Likes
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0 Posts
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
ok it worked. lost a 4 paragraph post introducing myself and describing my jeep issue,(I got the post to short message) retyped it all and lost it again! not happy!
try again tomorrow, sigh.
try again tomorrow, sigh.
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
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1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
on
1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Lost dash lights a short while back, research indicates typically a ground issue and/or headlight switch. Checked, cleaned, fixed grounds in engine bay and dash. Ordered headlight switch, only $14 new, well worth it. (Also just put in the Putco headlight harness upgrade a few days ago - this was after the no dash light problem, so not part of the current problem).
Headlight switch came in today, popped the old one out expecting a quick fix - headlight switch looks ok, but harness is melted!
Found a picture with the switch pin-outs labeled (thanks Cruiser54) got out the multi-meter and started checking wires...
B1: Battery - Red wire, 13.75v
B2: Dome lights power - 2 red/blue wires, 8.5v
D: Dome lights ground - 2 black/white wires, 0.35v
H: Headlights - tan/black, 2.1v
I: Dash dimmer lights - orange/black, 0.01v
R: Parking lights - 2 blue wires, 0v
No dash lights, no parking/running lights.
PARK LPS fuse shows 12v both legs
INST LPS fuse shows 0.01v with old headlight switch, now 0 with new switch.
Looks like a couple issues:
1) Ground issue somewhere still, or is small current value normal/ok on dome light circuit? (Dome lights work correctly, open door and using switch)
2) Dash dimmer lights - what voltage should be there, and what's the next step to track it down?
3) Parking lights - same question, voltage and where to go next?
Previously I had found a post about checking a ground in the drivers side taillight, but can't seem to find the post now. I did pull my taillight and look, but didn't find a ground behind the lens. Was that in all years of XJ's?
Headlight switch came in today, popped the old one out expecting a quick fix - headlight switch looks ok, but harness is melted!
Found a picture with the switch pin-outs labeled (thanks Cruiser54) got out the multi-meter and started checking wires...
B1: Battery - Red wire, 13.75v
B2: Dome lights power - 2 red/blue wires, 8.5v
D: Dome lights ground - 2 black/white wires, 0.35v
H: Headlights - tan/black, 2.1v
I: Dash dimmer lights - orange/black, 0.01v
R: Parking lights - 2 blue wires, 0v
No dash lights, no parking/running lights.
PARK LPS fuse shows 12v both legs
INST LPS fuse shows 0.01v with old headlight switch, now 0 with new switch.
Looks like a couple issues:
1) Ground issue somewhere still, or is small current value normal/ok on dome light circuit? (Dome lights work correctly, open door and using switch)
2) Dash dimmer lights - what voltage should be there, and what's the next step to track it down?
3) Parking lights - same question, voltage and where to go next?
Previously I had found a post about checking a ground in the drivers side taillight, but can't seem to find the post now. I did pull my taillight and look, but didn't find a ground behind the lens. Was that in all years of XJ's?
Look at the attached photos.
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
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1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Just kidding!! Welcome to Cherokee forum.
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Washington
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
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1 Post
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Lost dash lights a short while back, research indicates typically a ground issue and/or headlight switch. Checked, cleaned, fixed grounds in engine bay and dash. Ordered headlight switch, only $14 new, well worth it. (Also just put in the Putco headlight harness upgrade a few days ago - this was after the no dash light problem, so not part of the current problem).
Headlight switch came in today, popped the old one out expecting a quick fix - headlight switch looks ok, but harness is melted!
Found a picture with the switch pin-outs labeled (thanks Cruiser54) got out the multi-meter and started checking wires...
B1: Battery - Red wire, 13.75v
B2: Dome lights power - 2 red/blue wires, 8.5v
D: Dome lights ground - 2 black/white wires, 0.35v
H: Headlights - tan/black, 2.1v
I: Dash dimmer lights - orange/black, 0.01v
R: Parking lights - 2 blue wires, 0v
No dash lights, no parking/running lights.
PARK LPS fuse shows 12v both legs
INST LPS fuse shows 0.01v with old headlight switch, now 0 with new switch.
Looks like a couple issues:
1) Ground issue somewhere still, or is small current value normal/ok on dome light circuit? (Dome lights work correctly, open door and using switch)
2) Dash dimmer lights - what voltage should be there, and what's the next step to track it down?
3) Parking lights - same question, voltage and where to go next?
Previously I had found a post about checking a ground in the drivers side taillight, but can't seem to find the post now. I did pull my taillight and look, but didn't find a ground behind the lens. Was that in all years of XJ's?
Headlight switch came in today, popped the old one out expecting a quick fix - headlight switch looks ok, but harness is melted!
Found a picture with the switch pin-outs labeled (thanks Cruiser54) got out the multi-meter and started checking wires...
B1: Battery - Red wire, 13.75v
B2: Dome lights power - 2 red/blue wires, 8.5v
D: Dome lights ground - 2 black/white wires, 0.35v
H: Headlights - tan/black, 2.1v
I: Dash dimmer lights - orange/black, 0.01v
R: Parking lights - 2 blue wires, 0v
No dash lights, no parking/running lights.
PARK LPS fuse shows 12v both legs
INST LPS fuse shows 0.01v with old headlight switch, now 0 with new switch.
Looks like a couple issues:
1) Ground issue somewhere still, or is small current value normal/ok on dome light circuit? (Dome lights work correctly, open door and using switch)
2) Dash dimmer lights - what voltage should be there, and what's the next step to track it down?
3) Parking lights - same question, voltage and where to go next?
Previously I had found a post about checking a ground in the drivers side taillight, but can't seem to find the post now. I did pull my taillight and look, but didn't find a ground behind the lens. Was that in all years of XJ's?
First the one in my brain that I failed to use...then the dash lights and parking/running lights.
When I pulled the old switch and saw the connection, I think at that point I just assumed the wiring was the issue and not the switch. Anyway, while checking the voltage of each wire and connection somewhere along the line I stuck the old switch back in.
The light came on in my brain and I realized that the power to the INST LPS fuse comes after the switch. Just because the switch looks good doesn't mean it is!
Put the new switch back in and blue lights!
....although re-reading my original post I did have the new switch in there at some point because I was getting 0v at the INST LPS fuse with the new switch
Well it's working now, if there is still a gremlin in the circuit I'm sure it will turn back up.
Still curious about the slight voltage on the ground side of the dome light circuit, that doesn't seem right.
Junior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Washington
Posts: 88
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Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,971
Received 1,559 Likes
on
1,263 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Moderator of Jeeps
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Year: 1993 YJ Wrangler
Engine: 4.0 I6