Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

Please, anyone can help me?
Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
(high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
problem.
If anyone has any idea please help.
Thanks
Davey

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?

If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.

The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
firewall.

If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
ground.

The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
column.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Davey wrote:
>
> Please, anyone can help me?
> Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> problem.
> If anyone has any idea please help.
> Thanks
> Davey

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?

If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.

The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
firewall.

If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
ground.

The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
column.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Davey wrote:
>
> Please, anyone can help me?
> Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> problem.
> If anyone has any idea please help.
> Thanks
> Davey

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?

If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.

The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
firewall.

If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
ground.

The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
column.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Davey wrote:
>
> Please, anyone can help me?
> Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> problem.
> If anyone has any idea please help.
> Thanks
> Davey

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?

If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.

The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
firewall.

If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
ground.

The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
column.

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Davey wrote:
>
> Please, anyone can help me?
> Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> problem.
> If anyone has any idea please help.
> Thanks
> Davey

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

I've mentioned before about the problems I had with that breaker in an
old Ford due to corroded contacts getting hot enough to pop it. If
that is the problem, the headlight switch was about $10 at Advanced
Auto when I bought one last summer.

On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:49:40 UTC Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

> Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?
>
> If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
> circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
> popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.
>
> The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
> firewall.
>
> If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
> find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
> ground.
>
> The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
> column.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Davey wrote:
> >
> > Please, anyone can help me?
> > Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> > beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> > After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> > till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> > (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> > headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> > jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> > I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> > problem.
> > If anyone has any idea please help.
> > Thanks
> > Davey


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

I've mentioned before about the problems I had with that breaker in an
old Ford due to corroded contacts getting hot enough to pop it. If
that is the problem, the headlight switch was about $10 at Advanced
Auto when I bought one last summer.

On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:49:40 UTC Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

> Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?
>
> If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
> circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
> popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.
>
> The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
> firewall.
>
> If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
> find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
> ground.
>
> The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
> column.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Davey wrote:
> >
> > Please, anyone can help me?
> > Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> > beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> > After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> > till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> > (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> > headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> > jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> > I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> > problem.
> > If anyone has any idea please help.
> > Thanks
> > Davey


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

I've mentioned before about the problems I had with that breaker in an
old Ford due to corroded contacts getting hot enough to pop it. If
that is the problem, the headlight switch was about $10 at Advanced
Auto when I bought one last summer.

On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:49:40 UTC Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

> Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?
>
> If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
> circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
> popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.
>
> The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
> firewall.
>
> If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
> find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
> ground.
>
> The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
> column.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Davey wrote:
> >
> > Please, anyone can help me?
> > Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> > beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> > After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> > till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> > (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> > headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> > jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> > I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> > problem.
> > If anyone has any idea please help.
> > Thanks
> > Davey


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

I've mentioned before about the problems I had with that breaker in an
old Ford due to corroded contacts getting hot enough to pop it. If
that is the problem, the headlight switch was about $10 at Advanced
Auto when I bought one last summer.

On Thu, 1 Apr 2004 20:49:40 UTC Mike Romain <romainm@sympatico.ca>
wrote:

> Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?
>
> If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
> circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
> popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.
>
> The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
> firewall.
>
> If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
> find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
> ground.
>
> The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
> column.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Davey wrote:
> >
> > Please, anyone can help me?
> > Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> > beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> > After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> > till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> > (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> > headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> > jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> > I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> > problem.
> > If anyone has any idea please help.
> > Thanks
> > Davey


--
Will Honea <whonea@codenet.net>

Re: Headlights problem on XJ 1992
 

The clue that I twigged on was "connection on headlamp switch (tan colour
wire) was a little bit melted". Something made that connection hot,
either over-load or corrosion. He says that he's replaced both the light
switch and the headlamp dimmer switch, it would be good to know if this
problem was the reason he changed out the switches or if there was
something else going on. Either way it sounds like he's tripping the
breaker, it doesn't seem likely that a bad ground is going to cause that.


On Thu, 1 Apr 2004, Mike Romain wrote:

> Do you have aftermarket bulbs in the lights?
>
> If the lights draw too many amps without a relay, they will blow a
> circuit breaker inside the headlight switch. Once this breaker has been
> popped, it doesn't ever hold full power after.
>
> The main ground is a wire mesh strap from the engine head to the
> firewall.
>
> If you follow the headlight wiring, at the end near one light you will
> find a black wire bolted to the fender or grill. This is the main
> ground.
>
> The headlight switch has a ground wire under the dash near the steering
> column.
>
> Mike
> 86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
> 88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's
>
> Davey wrote:
> >
> > Please, anyone can help me?
> > Every time after about 30 minutes of driving with headlights on (even low
> > beam only) they start flickering and then off, only parking lights stay.
> > After one minute of waiting , i pull the switch again and lights are back
> > till... this is driving me nuts. Headlamp switch is new, ''dimmer switch''
> > (high-low beam) is new, nothing wrong in lamps. Connection for headlights on
> > headlamp switch (Tan colour wire) was little bit melted so I remove this
> > jack and connected everything directly on place but problem is still there.
> > I don't know where is ground connection for headlamps, maybe there is a
> > problem.
> > If anyone has any idea please help.
> > Thanks
> > Davey
>