manual switch for backup lights

93 4.0 HO. AW4, 114K on the clock, stock.

i broke the crap out of my NSS when i pulled it to clean it, bypassed it since i don't have the cash to buy a new or used one (wife will kill me if i spend any money on my jeep right now). It isn't req'd by NC law to have backup lights, but they are helpful.

So, i want to put a manual switch in to turn on my backups when needed. couple questions on ways to do this:

1. can i just bridge A and E on the NSS harness ( like i bridged C and B so that i can start it...), throw a switch on that bridge and BAM?

2. other than at the lights themselves, is there a spot in the engine bay that i can tap into to make the splice?

3. forget about the OEM backups and add some cheapo HF lights and run them separately to save the hassle?

cheers!

1 and 3 seem the best options.

Or 4 snag one from a J/Y and rebuild it to install.

any idea on how much they cost at a J/Y? last time i tried to haggle one off of someone they still wanted $50 for it and i would have to clean it up still (not that it is a big deal to do that!).

any idea if it would cause issues for me to have the park/neutral bridged at the same time as the reverse (obviously for short times only while i back up)?

Tapping the harness-side plug should get you in the engine bay.

How broke is the old switch? Are any bits salvageable?

bits are salvageable (if i can find it still!) but the plastic case was broken into numerous pieces and the metal arm thing was trashed as well.

im pretty sure i threw it all away b/c it was in such bad shape, but i had been hoping to JB weld it all together again, but never got around to it. i am sure someone with a more creative mind and skills would have been able to fix it. (me even. i have improved leaps and bounds compared to my first mechanic attempts 5 years ago).

hightime81 said:

bits are salvageable (if i can find it still!) but the plastic case was broken into numerous pieces and the metal arm thing was trashed as well.

im pretty sure i threw it all away b/c it was in such bad shape, but i had been hoping to JB weld it all together again, but never got around to it. i am sure someone with a more creative mind and skills would have been able to fix it. (me even. i have improved leaps and bounds compared to my first mechanic attempts 5 years ago).

Click to expand...

Bugger. It's another "pet project" - when these things get busted, I'd like to round up the loose bits and see if I can't build a working unit out of them. Then, run another "exchange service" - even though you can find them ~$150 on fleaBay (which has $300-odd beat all hollow!) we can still do better than that.

And I've been playing mechanic for considerably longer than five years - what you may not have learned to do yet, I've probably been doing for a good long time...:wave1: Not tryin' to cut you down - just sayin'. Hell, if you can make it out here, I'm willing to teach!

No worries and no offense taken. thats why i come here for plenty of jeep wise and world wise folks to help me out.

i broke the NSS probably a year and change ago, but bypassed it and rigged it, so it was not a prob then. now i have a child and someday want to give him this exact same Cherokee if at all possible. so i am trying to make it last for the long haul.

Cheers and if i run into bits and pieces again, i will post up.

A lot of jeepers here have benefited from your experience and knowledge. i am just one more, so thanks!

Don't know if they're compatible, but I have an '88 Cherokee that I'm about ready to junk...still has the NSS. Could pull and sell/send if you're interested.

Not directly - ChryCo changed the wiring connector and pinout slightly for 1991.

However, I'll take it off your hands if you're willing to part with it. Clean it up, service it, test it, and put it in the Parts Exchange...