98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

I came out of the office last night started 'er up.. and no headlights!
High and low, both out. then I noticed no signals either. I checked all
the fuses, including under the hood but nothing fixed 'em. ALL other
circuits worked fine, flashers too. So, I sat waiting for the wife to pick
me up. After about an hour they started working again. Sunuva....

The fact that they came on after it was all warmed up tells me there's a bad
connection somewhere that pulled apart once it got this cold(I'm in
minnesota). My signal switch has been broken for a long time, where it
won't turn off by turning the wheel.. other than that, this is a brand new
problem. I guestimating that it may be a problem with the signal/highbeam
switch in the steering column but how do I verify?

I've been googling up the wazoo today trying to find anyone with a similar
problem, but nothing. Have any of you experienced this problem?

Where should I begin looking? (oh, I should mention that I'm SO d*mn broke
right now that the dealer is not an option )

Thanks!

Tim

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

Do you have fog lights? Do they work?


Could be a bad ground. Clean the battery terminals and check the grounds to
body & engine. There should be a ground for the lights on the passenger
fender neat the grille. It'll be a wire with a round connector attched to
the top of the fender with a sheet metal screw.

What mart of Minnesota are you in? I'm SE.

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

Do you have fog lights? Do they work?


Could be a bad ground. Clean the battery terminals and check the grounds to
body & engine. There should be a ground for the lights on the passenger
fender neat the grille. It'll be a wire with a round connector attched to
the top of the fender with a sheet metal screw.

What mart of Minnesota are you in? I'm SE.

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

Do you have fog lights? Do they work?


Could be a bad ground. Clean the battery terminals and check the grounds to
body & engine. There should be a ground for the lights on the passenger
fender neat the grille. It'll be a wire with a round connector attched to
the top of the fender with a sheet metal screw.

What mart of Minnesota are you in? I'm SE.

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

Nope, no fog lights.. although I'm now thinking of installing some driving
lights, in case this happens again ;)

I'm guessing it's not the batt terminals because every single other
electrical item worked.. I tried everything I could think of, even the hood
light..

I'm in the eastern part of the cities.. freezing my ass off ;)

Tim

"Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:Xns988BB7F158CB9314568729@69.28.186.121...
>
>
> Do you have fog lights? Do they work?
>
>
> Could be a bad ground. Clean the battery terminals and check the grounds
to
> body & engine. There should be a ground for the lights on the passenger
> fender neat the grille. It'll be a wire with a round connector attched to
> the top of the fender with a sheet metal screw.
>
> What mart of Minnesota are you in? I'm SE.
>

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

Nope, no fog lights.. although I'm now thinking of installing some driving
lights, in case this happens again ;)

I'm guessing it's not the batt terminals because every single other
electrical item worked.. I tried everything I could think of, even the hood
light..

I'm in the eastern part of the cities.. freezing my ass off ;)

Tim

"Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:Xns988BB7F158CB9314568729@69.28.186.121...
>
>
> Do you have fog lights? Do they work?
>
>
> Could be a bad ground. Clean the battery terminals and check the grounds
to
> body & engine. There should be a ground for the lights on the passenger
> fender neat the grille. It'll be a wire with a round connector attched to
> the top of the fender with a sheet metal screw.
>
> What mart of Minnesota are you in? I'm SE.
>

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

Nope, no fog lights.. although I'm now thinking of installing some driving
lights, in case this happens again ;)

I'm guessing it's not the batt terminals because every single other
electrical item worked.. I tried everything I could think of, even the hood
light..

I'm in the eastern part of the cities.. freezing my ass off ;)

Tim

"Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:Xns988BB7F158CB9314568729@69.28.186.121...
>
>
> Do you have fog lights? Do they work?
>
>
> Could be a bad ground. Clean the battery terminals and check the grounds
to
> body & engine. There should be a ground for the lights on the passenger
> fender neat the grille. It'll be a wire with a round connector attched to
> the top of the fender with a sheet metal screw.
>
> What mart of Minnesota are you in? I'm SE.
>

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

The connection you 'might' be looking for is a fuse link. If you follow
the positive battery cable, you will likely come to a bolt on the power
distribution box. From this bolt, some 8" long fat wires are attached
with loop connectors on one end and fat rubber tube crimp connectors
where they joint the harness. These are the fuse links. Maybe the
connection at the bolt needs cleaning?

I am not sure on what vehicle it was, but someone posted that the fuse
links have been replaced with big fuses. If yours is like that, then I
would suspect a bad/corroded/green connection on the fuse leg.

Other than that, I would suspect the signal/dimmer switch...

I don't know how handy you are, but I have rewired a TJ's headlights
because they were too dim and no one could find out why. I made a
harness like they have for aftermarket driving lights with a relay for
high and low beams and put a dedicated rocker switch for a trigger
ground on the center console front for the headlights. They became
amazingly white.

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)

Diezmon wrote:
>
> I came out of the office last night started 'er up.. and no headlights!
> High and low, both out. then I noticed no signals either. I checked all
> the fuses, including under the hood but nothing fixed 'em. ALL other
> circuits worked fine, flashers too. So, I sat waiting for the wife to pick
> me up. After about an hour they started working again. Sunuva....
>
> The fact that they came on after it was all warmed up tells me there's a bad
> connection somewhere that pulled apart once it got this cold(I'm in
> minnesota). My signal switch has been broken for a long time, where it
> won't turn off by turning the wheel.. other than that, this is a brand new
> problem. I guestimating that it may be a problem with the signal/highbeam
> switch in the steering column but how do I verify?
>
> I've been googling up the wazoo today trying to find anyone with a similar
> problem, but nothing. Have any of you experienced this problem?
>
> Where should I begin looking? (oh, I should mention that I'm SO d*mn broke
> right now that the dealer is not an option )
>
> Thanks!
>
> Tim

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

The connection you 'might' be looking for is a fuse link. If you follow
the positive battery cable, you will likely come to a bolt on the power
distribution box. From this bolt, some 8" long fat wires are attached
with loop connectors on one end and fat rubber tube crimp connectors
where they joint the harness. These are the fuse links. Maybe the
connection at the bolt needs cleaning?

I am not sure on what vehicle it was, but someone posted that the fuse
links have been replaced with big fuses. If yours is like that, then I
would suspect a bad/corroded/green connection on the fuse leg.

Other than that, I would suspect the signal/dimmer switch...

I don't know how handy you are, but I have rewired a TJ's headlights
because they were too dim and no one could find out why. I made a
harness like they have for aftermarket driving lights with a relay for
high and low beams and put a dedicated rocker switch for a trigger
ground on the center console front for the headlights. They became
amazingly white.

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)

Diezmon wrote:
>
> I came out of the office last night started 'er up.. and no headlights!
> High and low, both out. then I noticed no signals either. I checked all
> the fuses, including under the hood but nothing fixed 'em. ALL other
> circuits worked fine, flashers too. So, I sat waiting for the wife to pick
> me up. After about an hour they started working again. Sunuva....
>
> The fact that they came on after it was all warmed up tells me there's a bad
> connection somewhere that pulled apart once it got this cold(I'm in
> minnesota). My signal switch has been broken for a long time, where it
> won't turn off by turning the wheel.. other than that, this is a brand new
> problem. I guestimating that it may be a problem with the signal/highbeam
> switch in the steering column but how do I verify?
>
> I've been googling up the wazoo today trying to find anyone with a similar
> problem, but nothing. Have any of you experienced this problem?
>
> Where should I begin looking? (oh, I should mention that I'm SO d*mn broke
> right now that the dealer is not an option )
>
> Thanks!
>
> Tim

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

The connection you 'might' be looking for is a fuse link. If you follow
the positive battery cable, you will likely come to a bolt on the power
distribution box. From this bolt, some 8" long fat wires are attached
with loop connectors on one end and fat rubber tube crimp connectors
where they joint the harness. These are the fuse links. Maybe the
connection at the bolt needs cleaning?

I am not sure on what vehicle it was, but someone posted that the fuse
links have been replaced with big fuses. If yours is like that, then I
would suspect a bad/corroded/green connection on the fuse leg.

Other than that, I would suspect the signal/dimmer switch...

I don't know how handy you are, but I have rewired a TJ's headlights
because they were too dim and no one could find out why. I made a
harness like they have for aftermarket driving lights with a relay for
high and low beams and put a dedicated rocker switch for a trigger
ground on the center console front for the headlights. They became
amazingly white.

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)

Diezmon wrote:
>
> I came out of the office last night started 'er up.. and no headlights!
> High and low, both out. then I noticed no signals either. I checked all
> the fuses, including under the hood but nothing fixed 'em. ALL other
> circuits worked fine, flashers too. So, I sat waiting for the wife to pick
> me up. After about an hour they started working again. Sunuva....
>
> The fact that they came on after it was all warmed up tells me there's a bad
> connection somewhere that pulled apart once it got this cold(I'm in
> minnesota). My signal switch has been broken for a long time, where it
> won't turn off by turning the wheel.. other than that, this is a brand new
> problem. I guestimating that it may be a problem with the signal/highbeam
> switch in the steering column but how do I verify?
>
> I've been googling up the wazoo today trying to find anyone with a similar
> problem, but nothing. Have any of you experienced this problem?
>
> Where should I begin looking? (oh, I should mention that I'm SO d*mn broke
> right now that the dealer is not an option )
>
> Thanks!
>
> Tim

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

> I'm in the eastern part of the cities.. freezing my ass off ;)
>
Southwestern part of the cities for me...

Have my own problem with getting my XJ started. At Bill's sugestion I
checked out the neutral switch- sure enough it started beautifully when I
tried to push the lever beyond park- and explains why my backup lights don't
work either. Probably leave working on it until spring or until it quits
totally- I'm no mechanic, but I'm pretty good with electrical stuff... Been
putting in a remote starter to lessen the freezing my ass off part of living
up here.

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

> I'm in the eastern part of the cities.. freezing my ass off ;)
>
Southwestern part of the cities for me...

Have my own problem with getting my XJ started. At Bill's sugestion I
checked out the neutral switch- sure enough it started beautifully when I
tried to push the lever beyond park- and explains why my backup lights don't
work either. Probably leave working on it until spring or until it quits
totally- I'm no mechanic, but I'm pretty good with electrical stuff... Been
putting in a remote starter to lessen the freezing my ass off part of living
up here.

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

> I'm in the eastern part of the cities.. freezing my ass off ;)
>
Southwestern part of the cities for me...

Have my own problem with getting my XJ started. At Bill's sugestion I
checked out the neutral switch- sure enough it started beautifully when I
tried to push the lever beyond park- and explains why my backup lights don't
work either. Probably leave working on it until spring or until it quits
totally- I'm no mechanic, but I'm pretty good with electrical stuff... Been
putting in a remote starter to lessen the freezing my ass off part of living
up here.

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.

I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
"banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
and keep us posted.

Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I can't
push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with it
for years...

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.

I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
"banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
and keep us posted.

Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I can't
push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with it
for years...

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.

I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
"banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
and keep us posted.

Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I can't
push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with it
for years...

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

I checked #10, along with all other fuses.. and all were good. I haven't
had time to check the fusable links yet, it's just to damn cold out right
now and I haven't hooked up my garage furnace yet :(

btw, same thing happened last night driving to the store(before the sun went
down). I left it running while I was inside, and came out to perfectly
working headlights..

sheesh... ;)

"Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:Xns988DA98866A2A314568729@69.28.186.121...
>
> According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
> is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
> 30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.
>
> I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
> "banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
> and keep us posted.
>
> Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I
can't
> push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
> until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with
it
> for years...
>
>

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

I checked #10, along with all other fuses.. and all were good. I haven't
had time to check the fusable links yet, it's just to damn cold out right
now and I haven't hooked up my garage furnace yet :(

btw, same thing happened last night driving to the store(before the sun went
down). I left it running while I was inside, and came out to perfectly
working headlights..

sheesh... ;)

"Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:Xns988DA98866A2A314568729@69.28.186.121...
>
> According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
> is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
> 30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.
>
> I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
> "banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
> and keep us posted.
>
> Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I
can't
> push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
> until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with
it
> for years...
>
>

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

I checked #10, along with all other fuses.. and all were good. I haven't
had time to check the fusable links yet, it's just to damn cold out right
now and I haven't hooked up my garage furnace yet :(

btw, same thing happened last night driving to the store(before the sun went
down). I left it running while I was inside, and came out to perfectly
working headlights..

sheesh... ;)

"Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
news:Xns988DA98866A2A314568729@69.28.186.121...
>
> According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
> is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
> 30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.
>
> I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
> "banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
> and keep us posted.
>
> Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I
can't
> push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
> until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with
it
> for years...
>
>

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

check for loose grounds at the lites u can't miss them on rad. support by
each lite

Diezmon wrote:

> I checked #10, along with all other fuses.. and all were good. I haven't
> had time to check the fusable links yet, it's just to damn cold out right
> now and I haven't hooked up my garage furnace yet :(
>
> btw, same thing happened last night driving to the store(before the sun went
> down). I left it running while I was inside, and came out to perfectly
> working headlights..
>
> sheesh... ;)
>
> "Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns988DA98866A2A314568729@69.28.186.121...
> >
> > According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
> > is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
> > 30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.
> >
> > I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
> > "banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
> > and keep us posted.
> >
> > Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I
> can't
> > push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
> > until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with
> it
> > for years...
> >
> >

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

check for loose grounds at the lites u can't miss them on rad. support by
each lite

Diezmon wrote:

> I checked #10, along with all other fuses.. and all were good. I haven't
> had time to check the fusable links yet, it's just to damn cold out right
> now and I haven't hooked up my garage furnace yet :(
>
> btw, same thing happened last night driving to the store(before the sun went
> down). I left it running while I was inside, and came out to perfectly
> working headlights..
>
> sheesh... ;)
>
> "Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns988DA98866A2A314568729@69.28.186.121...
> >
> > According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
> > is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
> > 30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.
> >
> > I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
> > "banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
> > and keep us posted.
> >
> > Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I
> can't
> > push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
> > until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with
> it
> > for years...
> >
> >

Re: 98 TJ: No headlights or turn signals!
 

check for loose grounds at the lites u can't miss them on rad. support by
each lite

Diezmon wrote:

> I checked #10, along with all other fuses.. and all were good. I haven't
> had time to check the fusable links yet, it's just to damn cold out right
> now and I haven't hooked up my garage furnace yet :(
>
> btw, same thing happened last night driving to the store(before the sun went
> down). I left it running while I was inside, and came out to perfectly
> working headlights..
>
> sheesh... ;)
>
> "Red Jeep" <no@way.com> wrote in message
> news:Xns988DA98866A2A314568729@69.28.186.121...
> >
> > According to the FSM for my '97, fuse #10 in the power distribution center
> > is for the headlights. It is one of the huge fuses and has a rating of
> > 30amps. Might not hurt to swap it just in case.
> >
> > I'd drop by to lend a hand, but I'm in Rochester. Here in Minnesota's
> > "banna belt" it is a balmy 19F (1F windchill). Good luck with your lights
> > and keep us posted.
> >
> > Monte, I have the same problem with my 1993 XJ's neutral switch. If I
> can't
> > push the shifter forwards far enough, I jostle the shifter around neutral
> > until it fires. I don't have backup lights either. I've been living with
> it
> > for years...
> >
> >