Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

I highly recommend you get the Haynes CJ manual. It has excellent
wiring diagrams in it.

You sound like you have a couple different issues.

First off I would be wanting to verify all the bulbs are good. CJ's can
have some strange lighting quirks if you have burned out bulb
filaments. The brake and signals ground through the light fixture bolts
that can go rusty and the running lights ground via the wiring harness.

The tail lights or running lights because you have them up front as well
are on the same fuse as the dash lights. I would start there.

The brake lights and signals use the same bulb filaments. I would start
at the easiest point, the brake light switch above the pedal before
getting into the steering column switch.

Why do you think you have a headlight switch issue?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

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,

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

I highly recommend you get the Haynes CJ manual. It has excellent
wiring diagrams in it.

You sound like you have a couple different issues.

First off I would be wanting to verify all the bulbs are good. CJ's can
have some strange lighting quirks if you have burned out bulb
filaments. The brake and signals ground through the light fixture bolts
that can go rusty and the running lights ground via the wiring harness.

The tail lights or running lights because you have them up front as well
are on the same fuse as the dash lights. I would start there.

The brake lights and signals use the same bulb filaments. I would start
at the easiest point, the brake light switch above the pedal before
getting into the steering column switch.

Why do you think you have a headlight switch issue?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

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,

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

I highly recommend you get the Haynes CJ manual. It has excellent
wiring diagrams in it.

You sound like you have a couple different issues.

First off I would be wanting to verify all the bulbs are good. CJ's can
have some strange lighting quirks if you have burned out bulb
filaments. The brake and signals ground through the light fixture bolts
that can go rusty and the running lights ground via the wiring harness.

The tail lights or running lights because you have them up front as well
are on the same fuse as the dash lights. I would start there.

The brake lights and signals use the same bulb filaments. I would start
at the easiest point, the brake light switch above the pedal before
getting into the steering column switch.

Why do you think you have a headlight switch issue?

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

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,

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

Thanks for the info. I think that the dash lights may not work because
of a defective headlight switch for this reason. In the past I had
such a problem (no tail light problem at that incident) where no dash
lights work. The problem ended up being that the "rheostat" coil in the
headlight switch got brittle, broke and therefore there was no contact
and no juice going to the dash lights. I replaced the switch and
everything began to work. Dan

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

Thanks for the info. I think that the dash lights may not work because
of a defective headlight switch for this reason. In the past I had
such a problem (no tail light problem at that incident) where no dash
lights work. The problem ended up being that the "rheostat" coil in the
headlight switch got brittle, broke and therefore there was no contact
and no juice going to the dash lights. I replaced the switch and
everything began to work. Dan

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

Thanks for the info. I think that the dash lights may not work because
of a defective headlight switch for this reason. In the past I had
such a problem (no tail light problem at that incident) where no dash
lights work. The problem ended up being that the "rheostat" coil in the
headlight switch got brittle, broke and therefore there was no contact
and no juice going to the dash lights. I replaced the switch and
everything began to work. Dan

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

In this case, a blown fuse is more likely because the running lights are
also out, but....

Your turn signals are also on a different fuse from the brake lights.
The hazard flashers are on the brake light fuse as well as the clock. I
would be checking the hazards out also.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:
>
> Thanks for the info. I think that the dash lights may not work because
> of a defective headlight switch for this reason. In the past I had
> such a problem (no tail light problem at that incident) where no dash
> lights work. The problem ended up being that the "rheostat" coil in the
> headlight switch got brittle, broke and therefore there was no contact
> and no juice going to the dash lights. I replaced the switch and
> everything began to work. Dan

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

In this case, a blown fuse is more likely because the running lights are
also out, but....

Your turn signals are also on a different fuse from the brake lights.
The hazard flashers are on the brake light fuse as well as the clock. I
would be checking the hazards out also.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:
>
> Thanks for the info. I think that the dash lights may not work because
> of a defective headlight switch for this reason. In the past I had
> such a problem (no tail light problem at that incident) where no dash
> lights work. The problem ended up being that the "rheostat" coil in the
> headlight switch got brittle, broke and therefore there was no contact
> and no juice going to the dash lights. I replaced the switch and
> everything began to work. Dan

Re: 85 Scrambler Problem-no tail/brake lights
 

In this case, a blown fuse is more likely because the running lights are
also out, but....

Your turn signals are also on a different fuse from the brake lights.
The hazard flashers are on the brake light fuse as well as the clock. I
would be checking the hazards out also.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
Canadian Off Road Trips Photos: Non members can still view!
Jan/06 http://www.imagestation.com/album/pi...?id=2115147590
(More Off Road album links at bottom of the view page)

dwgrulke@mindspring.com wrote:
>
> Thanks for the info. I think that the dash lights may not work because
> of a defective headlight switch for this reason. In the past I had
> such a problem (no tail light problem at that incident) where no dash
> lights work. The problem ended up being that the "rheostat" coil in the
> headlight switch got brittle, broke and therefore there was no contact
> and no juice going to the dash lights. I replaced the switch and
> everything began to work. Dan