Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
what to check out. Thanks,

 

Tail and dash lights are on the same fuse on all cars.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:
>
> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,

 

Tail and dash lights are on the same fuse on all cars.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:
>
> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,

 

Tail and dash lights are on the same fuse on all cars.
God Bless America, Bill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:
>
> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,

 

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:

> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,

First, buy a CJ manual of some sort with a wiring diagram and a cheap-o
mulitmeter from RadioShack. $30 or so well spent.

If front and rear turn signals work, I don't think it's anything in the
steering column. It's true that some of the wiring for the lights go
through there, but usually it's the turn signal functionality that bites
the dust first.

As you guessed, first replace the headlight switch. Also check your fuses
to make sure they're not blown, they're the right value, and they're
actually there (missing fuses are quite common). If that don't fix your
problem, trace to a common point on the wiring diagram. There's not too
many common points on a lighting system, and tracing the lighting wiring
diagram on an '85 is pretty straight forward.
--
Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer

 

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:

> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,

First, buy a CJ manual of some sort with a wiring diagram and a cheap-o
mulitmeter from RadioShack. $30 or so well spent.

If front and rear turn signals work, I don't think it's anything in the
steering column. It's true that some of the wiring for the lights go
through there, but usually it's the turn signal functionality that bites
the dust first.

As you guessed, first replace the headlight switch. Also check your fuses
to make sure they're not blown, they're the right value, and they're
actually there (missing fuses are quite common). If that don't fix your
problem, trace to a common point on the wiring diagram. There's not too
many common points on a lighting system, and tracing the lighting wiring
diagram on an '85 is pretty straight forward.
--
Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer

 

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:

> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,

First, buy a CJ manual of some sort with a wiring diagram and a cheap-o
mulitmeter from RadioShack. $30 or so well spent.

If front and rear turn signals work, I don't think it's anything in the
steering column. It's true that some of the wiring for the lights go
through there, but usually it's the turn signal functionality that bites
the dust first.

As you guessed, first replace the headlight switch. Also check your fuses
to make sure they're not blown, they're the right value, and they're
actually there (missing fuses are quite common). If that don't fix your
problem, trace to a common point on the wiring diagram. There's not too
many common points on a lighting system, and tracing the lighting wiring
diagram on an '85 is pretty straight forward.
--
Michael White "To protect people from the effects of folly is to
fill the world with fools." -Herbert Spencer

 

The tail lights and the dashboard share the same fuse.

The brake lights are fed through the turn signal switch -- when you apply
the brakes and turn at the same time (assuming you use the turn signals) the
brake lights are turned off and the turn signal on that side is turned on.
Since the bulb is the same for both, it is important to understand that the
electricity is a bit different. The electricity between the brake pedal and
the brake lamps is interupted by the turn signal switch. The key to your
troubles is in the steering column. You can try testing my theory by gently
moving the turn signal stalk while using the brakes to see if you can get
the lights to come on. My '81 CJ5 had a hissy fit in this area not long ago,
and I found that I could press the stalk a bit to get it to make contact and
allow the brake light to come on. I had this problem on one side only, and
you seem to be having it on both sides, but I am pretty sure you can clean
the switch, or you may find that it must be replaced. Either way, it has to
come out first ...




<dwgrulke@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:1144117041.909420.325440@v46g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com...
> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,
>

 

The tail lights and the dashboard share the same fuse.

The brake lights are fed through the turn signal switch -- when you apply
the brakes and turn at the same time (assuming you use the turn signals) the
brake lights are turned off and the turn signal on that side is turned on.
Since the bulb is the same for both, it is important to understand that the
electricity is a bit different. The electricity between the brake pedal and
the brake lamps is interupted by the turn signal switch. The key to your
troubles is in the steering column. You can try testing my theory by gently
moving the turn signal stalk while using the brakes to see if you can get
the lights to come on. My '81 CJ5 had a hissy fit in this area not long ago,
and I found that I could press the stalk a bit to get it to make contact and
allow the brake light to come on. I had this problem on one side only, and
you seem to be having it on both sides, but I am pretty sure you can clean
the switch, or you may find that it must be replaced. Either way, it has to
come out first ...




<dwgrulke@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:1144117041.909420.325440@v46g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com...
> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,
>

 

The tail lights and the dashboard share the same fuse.

The brake lights are fed through the turn signal switch -- when you apply
the brakes and turn at the same time (assuming you use the turn signals) the
brake lights are turned off and the turn signal on that side is turned on.
Since the bulb is the same for both, it is important to understand that the
electricity is a bit different. The electricity between the brake pedal and
the brake lamps is interupted by the turn signal switch. The key to your
troubles is in the steering column. You can try testing my theory by gently
moving the turn signal stalk while using the brakes to see if you can get
the lights to come on. My '81 CJ5 had a hissy fit in this area not long ago,
and I found that I could press the stalk a bit to get it to make contact and
allow the brake light to come on. I had this problem on one side only, and
you seem to be having it on both sides, but I am pretty sure you can clean
the switch, or you may find that it must be replaced. Either way, it has to
come out first ...




<dwgrulke@mindspring.com> wrote in message
news:1144117041.909420.325440@v46g2000cwv.googlegr oups.com...
> Help please. My 85 Scrambler, which I just purchased, has no running
> tail lights or no brake lights even though the headlights, and front
> and rear turn signals do work. The interior dash lights do not work
> either, but I assume replacing the head light switch will fix that
> problem. Would the tail light problem possibly be part of the head
> light switch problem. Could it be in the steering column/ignition
> switch wiring? Can some one help me get started on what to look for and
> what to check out. Thanks,
>