Left Turn Indicator gets BOTH Rear Flashers

[STL Enterprises]

HELP again. 99 XJ 92k miles, totally stock

I have the intermittent dash electrical problem, and am getting the parts to fix it this weekend - thanks all. Additionally, I've noticed that intermittently, seems to be more with the Left Turn Indicator the rear flashers (both sides) come on. There is no indication of this from inside the vehicle, but I've seen it when following the XJ, and someone stopped me in a parking lot Sunday and asked if I had meant to turn on my emergency flashers.

I have replaced the combined turn indicator/emergency flasher module ($35), but evidently the problem is still happening. I can't tell when driving it - only the left dash arrow comes on.

I haven't yet looked at bulbs, corrosion, etc. California vehicle, dry climate so I wouldn't expect to find anything...

Any thoughts - I've searched, and there doesn't appear to be anything like this posted before.

[scoobyxj]

do you have a trailer wiring harness? if so i would bet money that its your problem.

[STL Enterprises]

Actually, this problem was noted before I installed the T-connector for the trailer wiring. Trailer wiring hasn't seemed to effect the problem. What is your theory about how trailer wiring could cause this problem? I could see a short circuit, but this???

[cherubikee]

my '99 is doing the same thing...ive checked and rechecked everything with wiring, fuses, relays etc...i have come to the conclusion that the problem lies in the turn signal switch in the housing for the signal lever. im thinking its this because i drive around with my highbeams on a lot and one time i noticed that it wasnt doing it while they were on..(i drove by a large window and saw the reflection) so when i got home i parked it with the rear facing my moms kj so i could see the reflection again...when i put the left signal on without high beams it flashed both...but then i tweaked the lever a bit by pulling it back slightly and it stopped, when i released it it started again. theres a little switch that you can see underneath the lever..the lever pushes on it and it switches on whatever signal or beam you want. check yours the same way i did...
im getting this to fix it... http://www.jeepsareus.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=JAU&Product_Code=MB50&Category_Code=C2
that link should take you to a replacement part from JeepsAreUs. not too bad price-wise.

[STL Enterprises]

Thanks, I will look into that... I was beginning to wonder if it had something to do with the brakes being applied when the left turn signal was on - but this makes more sense. did replacing your switch take care of the problem?
Larry

[cherubikee]

i havent done it yet because im in the process of fixing my girlfriends '97 overheating problem so i havent gotten around to it yet. i am about 99% sure that is what will fix mine...i probably wont get around to it until a couple weeks from now though. for now im content driving around with my highbeams on so that it doenst do it haha. if i get to it sooner and it works ill let you know.

[jneary]

if your sure it is not the switch. since it only happens on the left, check the front bulb. it could shorted to the park lamp filament and feeding current back through the other lights. a quick way to verify this, would be to switch it with the right front bulb and see if it changes. it could also be the bulb socket.

[STL Enterprises]

Thanks everybody - I hope to have time to play with it this weekend! I'll let you know what I find... I've never had a vehicle with so many gremlins...

[scoobyxj]

Actually, this problem was noted before I installed the T-connector for the trailer wiring. Trailer wiring hasn't seemed to effect the problem. What is your theory about how trailer wiring could cause this problem? I could see a short circuit, but this???
sence your problem was before the harness upgrade then ill retract my bet lol but ill try to explain it for you anyway your jeep uses two seprate bulbs one for turnsigs and one for tail & brake lights [ i belive this is refered as a 3 light setup even though it only has two bulbs there is two filiments in the tail/brake bulb] the trailer wiring has a converter in it to convert to the two light setup which uses one bulb with the two filiments in it, which uses one filiment for your tail light and the other for your brake and turn light. the converter must figure out when you just have the turn sig on or the brake on or both on and if it went bad it could short from one turn to the other and make both flash when you turn on one. but sence you stated that this was happining befor you added the trailer harnes ill bet on the turn signal switch on the stearing wheel.

[old_man]

I have seen problems similar to this because of a faulty ground. There is one particular ground that causes tons of tail light problems. It is located in the drivers side rear panel, behind the facia that is behind the spare tire. It consists of a bunch of wires held to the frame by a sheet metal screw about a foot or so above the bed. LOL

[STL Enterprises]

I didn't get a chance to look at the XJ today, but hopefully tomorrow - I'll look into that ground as well, I've had experience with grounding issues on Fords and they can be FUN!

All responses appreciated - I will let you know what I find!

[filmxj]

Any outcome? I've got the same problem.

[xjtrailrider]

My sons 00' has had the same problem since he bought it several months ago. His is more intermitent and has been very difficult to trace. It ONLY happens when he is moving at speed and ONLY when he applys the left turn signal! But not always?

I've posted this one before with no luck.
I'll be glued to my seat watching this thread!

[filmxj]

I posted this previously on a related thread, but here is what I've discovered so far:

I think it is likely that all of these problems are related to the turn signal/high beam/low beam/hazard switch assembly. After experimenting some in a place where I could tell which outside lights were on, my turn signals seemed to generally work ok if the stalk was in the high beam position, regardless of whether the headlights were on or not. Also, any wiggling of the stalk would tend to make the "phantom" signal disappear until the signal was re-triggered. Additionally, pushing the hazard switch away from the driver (toward the front of the vehicle) kept the errent taillight from flashing, pulling it toward the rear of the vehicle seemed to make the problem more frequent.

I haven't had a chance to actually look inside the thing, but it seems clear that something is contacting where it shouldn't be - physical clearance type of deal - inside the swith assy.

[drifto77]

filmxj....
Thanks for bumping this thread, I have the same problem with my 99.
(guess i missed your other thread)
Allways thought it might be the switch itself.
NOW i know where else to start looking to solve the problem.

[Wayne Sihler]

My Wife,s 98 does this ,and today another late model XJ did it in front of me,so it seems to be a common problem.Has anyone found a factory TSB for the problem.
Wayne

[jwtrapper]

And I thought that I was alone on this one. Mine has been doing it for a few months now. I don't use my turn signals much anyways and now I never do when turning left. At first I thought that it would be the trailer harness also but I pulled all of that out and its still there. I will have to see about getting a new switch. I might junk yard one and see if that helps.

[UNCC_99XJ]

My 99 did it about a block away fromm pulling out of carmax when I bought it a year and a half ago. A new turn signal switch did the trick. very common problem on the last generation XJ...i've seen several around town doing it too.

[XJEEPER]

I'm calling my buddy at the local dealership.....too much of a coincidence, gotta be a known issue. My 2000 will random phantom e-flashers on a left signal too.

[ROOK1]

It is the switch. Mine does it too, but if I give it a little tap from the bottom it will stop. I have searched this forum in the past and found several threads on the topic. I personally think it is a poor design issue combined with my theory, people probably pull down harder than they push up causing it to wear out quicker.

3 solutions. Replace it. Dont use it or hold it down w/o clicking it to lock.

[indianaXJ]

hello:

my 97 has had this problem for a while now. I havn't repaired it yeat, but it has to be the turn signal switch (mechanism that turns the signal off ). I have noticed that after you start to rotate the wheel to the left the right flasher shuts off and the left blinks normally.

[racerxrick]

anybody repair this problem yet...was it the lever/switch???

00' LMTD w/tow package. Both flashers with left turn signal unless high beams are on. Partially depressing turn lever and the left turn signals work fine.


THANKS!

[filmxj]

My experience is the same as above. Has anyone found a way to fix the existing switch vs. putting in a new one? Hard for me to spend the money on an overpriced part from Jeep when I can make it work by pushing forward on the thing, but it is kind of annoying to have to remember.

[filmxj]

So I never got around to opening anything up. I finally just pushed a little shim down in front (rear of the vehicle) of the hazard switch and everything works fine. I tested it a whole bunch of times and never had a mis-fire. Without the shim it would fire both rear indicators about 2/3ds of the time.

[bassfishinXJ]

my 98 XJ has been doing this for a couple of years also, havnt had any luck with shimming it. just decided to live with it, at lest i'm giving some sort of signal when i turn left

[Blaine B.]

I've seen this on one 97+ I was following once......their turn signal was on and both rear flashers flashed for a little bit. I've heard of this before on forums too......so you aren't alone.

[jwalter04]

Anybody find a final solution to this problem. I've just been told my 99 is doing this as well. Did the replacement switch solve the problem?

[fdijacks]

I have the exact same problem. After some deductive reasoning and bouncing my tilt steering up and down the problem lies withing the signal light switch. I am ordering the part now and will change soon. Good luck to all who have same problem and do not read this thread. :gonnablow

[x99j]

i had the same problem. the combo switch is 53 dollars at the dealer. at least it was 2 years ago. mike