Electrical issue?

R

relyt

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Sidney, OH

• Dec 8, 2008

• #1

Driving my '87 XJ today, it died while I was coasting to a stop. After, it really didn't want to start. I did eventually get it started, but now my headlights don't work. Where should I look for a short or a bad ground connection? Are there other problems that could cause this?

All suggestions are very appreciated.

 

J

jneary

NAXJA Forum User

Location

springfield, virginia

• Dec 8, 2008

• #2

check the wiring at the ignition switch

 

R

relyt

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Sidney, OH

• Dec 8, 2008

• #3

What in the ignition switch should I look for? All other electrics work. It's really just the headlights I'm having a problem with.

 

R

relyt

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Sidney, OH

• Dec 9, 2008

• #4

Does anyone have a list/diagram of the chassis grounding points and information on what is grounded where?

 

8Mud

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Central Germany

• Dec 9, 2008

• #5

The power for the headlights comes from a fusible link and then through circuit breaker built into the headlight switch.
If the fusible link went, it would likely affect other stuff also.

 

R

relyt

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Sidney, OH

• Dec 10, 2008

• #6

I ended up taking it to a shop to have it diagnosed. They said the headlight switch failed, and the believe it died because of a clogged fuel filter.

 

R

relyt

NAXJA Forum User

Location

Sidney, OH

• Dec 10, 2008

• #7

Well, the headlight switch was worse than I expected. Apparently it had a loose ground, shorted itself, and melted itself along with the connector. Long story short, the new switch is in and the wires are run to it individually. It seems to be a lot better now, and the dash lights are brighter than they've ever been since I've owned it.