Headlights STILL out even after replacing switch

[Redsnake]

Please see original post f/below...

http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=98134

ANY help would be appreciated. I hate to have to take this to an electrician and pay by the hour to track down the trouble.

Thanks.

[87manche]

check the fusible links. It's in the spaghetti nest of wires that come from the start relay. Possible that if the headlamp switch shorted it took out the fusible link.
Just pull on them, if one's burnt it will come apart.

[Redsnake]

87manche... can you tell me where the fusible link is? Is that under the dash or in the engine bay?

Is it in this mess somewhere?
http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a349/Redsnake/87XYLightSwitch002.jpg

Thanks.

[johnlv6]

Check the fuse panel and make sure they're all fully seated (i don't remember which one was the problem...i think it was one of the large black ones).

[Lou]

Do you have a meter or tester of some kind?

[Redsnake]

Lou... I have a nice meter, but I'm not very good w/it.

What do you suggest? Is there a way to check those relays?

I couldn't find any fuses in the fuse panel (under the dash) that were blown, and none of those are labeled for the headlights.

[87manche]

the fusible links are under the hood, just behind the battery, under that big plastic cover.

[Lou]

If you haven't already tried, let's check these.

1) Power feed into HDLAMP switch -- RD/WT
2) Power out of switch into Hi/lo stalk -- TN/BK
3) Lo-beam out of stalk -- VT/WT
4) Hi-beam out of stalk -- PK/LG or RD/OR

In an attempt to find where the power is being interrupted.should

Each of these should have about 12 volts on it (depending on switch positions).

Set your meter to something over 15 Volts DC -- usually 20, or 40.

BLACK lead to ground, and make measurements with the RED.

[Redsnake]

Lou there is power to the hi/low stalk -- TN/BK but there is NO power to the other out wires (this is a Wagoneer w/dual front headlights) see pic below.

Is this stalk or switch (black plugged into white) replaceable or not? I know that you can't remove the black f/white as it appears to be melted together. Or is there a trick to removing it.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a349/Redsnake/87XYLightSwitch003a.jpg

Thanks for all the help. I'm assuming that the power is NOT getting f/teh Power out switch thru to the headlight wires.

[langer1]

Thats it then the dimmer switch is bad.

[langer1]

If you do blow a fuse link there here.
The relay in your other post is for fog lights.
The circut breaker is built into the light switch.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/langer1/jeep/FSM/87XYLightSwitch006.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v11/langer1/jeep/FSM/Flinks.jpg

[jrowell]

When my beams went out a couple months ago, I had to replace that High/Low stalk switch. Mine was burnt a little as well. I had to get some pliars on it and do some pretty good cussing before it came loose. I could not find one at the parts stores in my area (although they did have the floor button type that plugged in and got me going for a couple weeks.) I grabbed one off a junker, and now have the floor type switch as a spare.

The floor button type was only like ten bucks, and I would have left it in had the junker switch not fell into my lap!

[Redsnake]

Thanks guys. Any tips on installing a dimmer switch or where to find one... other than a junk yard? I may have to call the only salvage yard around town that has a lot of Jeeps and see what they might have.

Oh, and is the part called a DIMMER SWITCH so I know what to look for? thanks again.

[Lou]

That connector is removeable, and it seems that the dimmer switch(dimmer -- Thanks Langer, I just learned something) is replaceable.

There should be some kind of 'spring' latching/locking system the keeps the black connector from just pulling out of the white dimmer switch. It is probably located on the lower portion towards the foot pedals.


Tape the rod to the steering column so that it doesn't fall out.

The steering column is a GM/Saginaw -- I think it's fairly common.


Until you get the dimmer switch, once you pull the connector, you could short out the TN/BK and VT/WT wires which would give you low-beams.

[langer1]

Napa has new ones less than $20.00

http://partimages.genpt.com/partimages/500922.jpg (http://javascript<b></b>: ViewImage())
Click on image to see enlarged view
http://www.napaonline.com/images/u_clear.gif
Item#: MPEDS130SB
http://www.napaonline.com/images/u_clear.gif
Price: $13.99
tax and shipping not included

Disclaimer: The stated price may vary from the in store price and may change at anytime.


http://www.napaonline.com/images/u_clear.gif
Attributes:
Type of Packaging:Box

[Redsnake]

Man this place is an awesome wealth of knowledge... :)

I think the black part of the switch (where the hot wire comes in and the power to the headlights goes out) has melted or fused somehow. I guess I will have to get a pair of pliers and pull hard to get them apart.

(thanks for the tip on tapping the metal rod to the steering column.

Any tips on getting the old dimmer switch off? Do I have to remove the steering wheel as the Autozone and Napa details say I do. My Haynes manual isn't very clear and I'd like to get some input f/people who have actually done this job before.

Thanks.

[bjlinma]

If it still isn't fixed, try this.

[Redsnake]

try what?

[bjlinma]

Sorry, one of the kids woke up and I didn't mean to send yet.

Anyway, my 89 would intermittantly loose it's head lights.

I finally found the problem. A connector next to the air cleaner box had partially melted. All of the front lighting wires went through it. I had to cut it out and splice all the wires.

Here's the pic. The corner that's melted was the headlight wire. Other contacts were a mess and causing "dim" marker lights.

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic?id=a240HCxOt2sh8Td5v2vJM7UHkPS2JqliNx37v4xQp5F d3Ig=&size=l

[Redsnake]

WOW!! I removed the air cleaner box, and didn't see anything like that. Was this located under the air cleaner box? I bought a new dimmer switch this evening and will attempt to install tomorrow afternoon. Hopefully that will fix this problem.

[bjlinma]

I hope the dimmer switch fixes it.

Here's a picture I took today. Sorry, it's a little blurry

No, it wasn't under the air box. The connector was just after the wires came out of the large harness on the right of the photo below. The wires then went into a smaller harness and out toward the headlight.

You can see I had to unwrap the harness and pull wires out to splice them. You have a different year so the connector may not even be there. The splices are RED and BLUE.

http://links.pictures.aol.com/pic?id=a240HCxOt2sh8Td5v2vJM7UHkCjjmwC2roDiv4xQp5F d3Ig=&size=l

[jrowell]

Any tips on getting the old dimmer switch off? Do I have to remove the steering wheel as the Autozone and Napa details say I do. My Haynes manual isn't very clear and I'd like to get some input f/people who have actually done this job before.

Thanks.

You do not have to remove your wheel. Just apply a little elbow grease, and it will come... depending on how badly it is melted together I guess... Put some pliars on it and work it out.

Once I knew that was my problem, it was like a 5-min job. I guess it just depends on that melting issue.

[Redsnake]

Guys... THANKS for all the help. I replaced the dimmer switch and it fixed the headlight problem. My son told me tonight that he didn't have dash lights, but at least he could see the road :) Must be I forgot to plug something back in, or loosened something up.

I didn't notice the dash lights because it was bright and sunny when I fixed the headlights. Guess I'll work on that more tomorrow or the next day.

[Lou]

That's great news on the headlights.

As for the dash lights -- I only mention this because many have missed this -- the headlight switch acts as a dimmer for the dash lights. Have you turned the knob?

[Redsnake]

Lou... it's funny you mentioned that. This is my 16 yr old son's Jeep... and he told me about it last night when he got home f/work. I was actually thinking to myself "did he turn the headlight switch for the dash lights?" ... so I'll try the simple thing first... hopefully that will fix the 'problem'. I'll report back.

[Redsnake]

follow-up... All is working fine. Simply didn't turn/rotate the light switch dimmer. All is well w/the lights. :)