Help? No lights no signals no clue

[amber.hodge]

Last night, Ben had an issue with the Jeep's lights and turn signals not coming on or the brakes. I believe he tried fuses but not sure and I'm kinda incompetent with fuse issues.

This morning, he overslept so had to take my crown victoria (much faster). I have the jeep, don't know exactly what needs to be done to fix it (wiring/fuse/heck if i know??!!), and I will be driving home from work after dark tonight.

Ben is somewhere between here and Yuma or the Gila Bend missile ranges driving a convoy today or I'd have him come get the jeep and fix it.


Can I meet someone somewhere over my lunch break or can someone meet me here and I'll buy lunch? I'm also without my cellular today, so shoot me a pm or post up. I can start lunch anytime between 11:00 and 14:00 hours

[sms1688]

What part of the valley are you located? The gremilins are back from the little water problem you guys had.

[amber.hodge]

I am in the 10 story University of Phoenix building that overlooks the I10 at the University/32nd street exit.
I dunno about gremlins - We used PAC/Jeff's trailer to bring some trees home from the nursery and then after he disconnected the trailer nothing worked. A fuse may have blown, wiring could have gotten jacked....I will FREELY admit that if it has to do with wiring/fuses/electrical issues I am USELESS. :(

[sms1688]

Probably arced the wiring when removing the plug I would guess a fuse is bad. If the trailer lights worked until you disconected them that is probably the problem. I am way over by ray and power and I dont get off till 1600. Was hopeing I could run over during lunch but thats too far.

Just look and see if there is a fuse for lights yank it out and look at it. If it isnt a continous piece of metal it is a blown fuse. Replace it a you are money

[amber.hodge]

Okay.....I'll check that on my next break. Thanks for the description. I rely on Ben to do all of this stuff way too much...but then again I HATE electrical stuff.

Now I just have to hope he has a manual in the jeep!

[Curly]

Brake lights and turn signals run through the turn signal switch. As suggested, check for blown fuses, don't forget the fuse panel under the dash, behind the glove box.

[amber.hodge]

Will do at lunch. hopefully that is what the problem is.

[Cave Gimp]

Check both the inside fuse panel behind the glove box, and also the fuse block in the engine. Both should have labels nearby. Look for the fuse labeled lights. If you don't find the blown one, just check them all.

[My Green Jeep]

Let us know Amber...

[amber.hodge]

Going to lunch in about 15 minutes. I'll post up if I find the problem.

[sms1688]

OK so I have been looking at some schematics and it looks like it coiuld be fuse 10, 9 or 6. Under the hood fuse box. Then again that only depends on what isnt working.
Does the instrument cluster work?
Does the backlighting work?
Do the headlights work?
Do the turn signals work?
If you turn on the hazards does the turn signals come on?
Does the brake light work?
Do the reverse lights work?
If you have fog lights do they work?
What type of tires do you have?

I know some of these you already answered but I wanted to clarify cause some of these run on the same circuit and some do not.

[amber.hodge]

I am trying to get a coworker who has no lunch plans to run out to the parking lot with me and test this stuff out. So far the instrument cluster does not light up but the turn signals on the instrument cluster do even though the actual turn signals do not. Headlights do not work.
I couldn't check the rest because I need a second person or to have an out of body experience to do so....

Oh and we have 33" wrangler MTR's (33-15-10.5 I believe) - what would that have to do with it????? :confused:


Have list from above, have pen, will go check fuses and perform a better PMCS on diagnosing (and hopefully fixing) problem and then report back in an hour or less.

[sms1688]

I couldn't check the rest because I need a second person or to have an out of body experience to do so....

Oh and we have 33" wrangler MTR's (33-15-10.5 I believe) - what would that have to do with it????? :confused:


I am sure you are talented and can figure out wether it is working or not. I have a couple out of body experiences.

I was just curious about the tires I was asking so many questions. I amuse myself:D:):jester::jester:
:jester:

:worthless:

[amber.hodge]

Fuses look good from what I could tell.

Results of pmcs:

Headlights - check
fog lights - check
rear turn signals - check
dome light - check
backup lights - check
brake lights - check

front turn signals - no-go
instrument/guage cluster - no-go
rear lights that come on when headlights turn on - no-go

Since the headlights are now seemingly operational, I can make it home, but will not have the rear running tail lights....not sure if that is legal, but at least I can see to get home.

pictures of what? 2 women in business dress clothes crawling around all over a jeep? Sorry don't bring the camera to work!

If Rox comes up to look at the heap with me later then I will post pictures of my magnificent and Gila-haunted Jeep!

[sms1688]

Um it is a power issue of some sort because the grounding of these items are un completely different areas so it isnt that. It is something simple. It would be alot easier if I was playing with it.

did you check if your hazards worked?

[amber.hodge]

Oh - hazards - check

Also, whenever I accelerate I hear feedback through the stereo speakers....an odd sound surges and dwindles as I accelerate or decelerate. I assumed that was something with the grounding of the actual stereo but throwing that in there in case it is a symptom that helps.....Poor ben will be wrenching in the garage for another night it looks like....

[Silvacon]

Check the relay that is on the turn signal module to see if there is corrosion. Take the panels off the steering column and it is right in the top.

[amber.hodge]

would that cause front not to work while rear still work with signals? I will check. there is no doubt the need for some lubrication of the steerin column anyway, as it sounds like a dying donkey when you turn the wheel.

[sms1688]

Amber my email went tits up at work so I cant send you that info. I will try later.

It sounds like corrosion of some sort. The buzz in the stereo is a sign of a bad ground which could be associated with the other issues.

Head lights? ok
Front turn signals?
Rear turn signals?
Do all four hazards come on (same lights as turn signals)?
Did you check the bulbs?(hey they could all blow at once)

Power comes from different place if it is the hazards or the turn signals. This will verify most of the wiring.

[amber.hodge]

rear sig and haz - okay

front sig and haz - not okay

dash/instrument cluster lights - not okay

rear running lights (ones that come on automatically with the headlights) - not okay

weird combo Paul.

I'd be shocked if the LEDs and the dash light as well as the rear running lights all went out at same time but yet left the other lights in tact....Ben stated when I spoke to him earlier he had checked fuses, and I assume that the first thing he would have checked was for blown bulbs? :confused:

lights are LED mounted on the grill above the bumper in the front. Are only a month old and haven't had any issues at all since install.

If your email improves let me know...I think I have a copy of that at home on Ben's email though now that I think of it. Just not one here.

[amber.hodge]

I wish I wasn't chained to my cubicle right now.

[KennethS]

rear turn signals - check
brake lights - check


rear lights that come on when headlights turn on - no-go



Interesting. Those are the same bulbs, using most of the same wires, but activated by different switches - turn signal lever and brake pedal mounted switch vs. headlight switch. The only thing that doesn't add up is the front running lights/turn signals not working. I'm starting to lean towards that bad ground theory.

[sms1688]

The only common denominator between all these items is the instrument cluster all the signals go through there at some point. It might be corrosion on that main plug which is causeing thing to wig out in odd places

[amber.hodge]

hmmmm so it is more involved than a simple fuse...

does anyone have practical experience in this area who likes to go to queen creek on tuesday evenings to be served beer and eat cheeseburgers while sharing this practical experience???

Ben needs to get this fixed soon because he just found out he has to have complete reconstructive surgery to his shoulder in a couple weeks and will be immobilized for a while w/me driving the jeep.... :eek:

[amber.hodge]

The only common denominator between all these items is the instrument cluster all the signals go through there at some point. It might be corrosion on that main plug which is causeing thing to wig out in odd places

and since it sounds like a dying donkey in labor whenever you make full rotations of the steering wheel this may be the culprit.....another new thing to take apart on the jeep that neither one of us has ever messed with :1eye::!blank:

[sms1688]

It might be something simple I would have to ring for power in certain places and see where it is getting to and where it isnt. It might be as simple as reseating a connector. Since you towed something it is possible the extra load caused something to fail. there are a ton of things it could be.

[amber.hodge]

Well, our signals usually blink super fast in the jeep and while towing the signals went super slow indicating a lot of power was being sucked, but we used the exact same trailer 10 days ago with absolutely no issues with a bigger load.

[sms1688]

The speed of the lights just means there was more lights in the system. The resistance causes the timer/blinker device to change its time cycle. A lot of trailers do that. Ok this is making me irritated. I am convinced it is a dirty connector or switch. hmmm If I had it here at my work I wold have had it fixed as you can tell I dont have any real work to be doing

[amber.hodge]

If I wasn't chained to a cube I'd be down there trying to figure out how to get to those parts which may be corroded and cleaning them up

[amber.hodge]

Well, I have a co-worker following me home as he lives in our same housing development so that I'm safe, and then we can try to figure this out with the suggestions that are posted above.

Thanks for all of the input will post up as we go.

[Curly]

Amber,
The "Dying Donkey" sound may be the steering column seal where the column passes through the firewall on its way to the steering box. My 97 gets to making noise when it is cold outside, a little spray lube quiets it down again.

The radio noise cold be a alternator with a bad diode, esp.if the noise is more of a whine than a buzz. This would not affect the lights.

Some one mentioned the rear bulbs being the same as the front but activated by different switches. Not quite correct, the bulbs are dual filament. The tail light is a different filament than the Turn/brake. One filament serves both of those.
Since you have front parking lights, but not rear and no dash lights I would be looking at 1) Fuse 2) Headlight switch 3) Rear light ground


Curly

[amber.hodge]

Hey honey - see You lurking. Just to let you know - the coworker flaked and I'm heading out right now by my lonesome! LOL No cell phone at work so commo done over VJC...

[KennethS]

Some one mentioned the rear bulbs being the same as the front but activated by different switches. Not quite correct, the bulbs are dual filament. The tail light is a different filament than the Turn/brake. One filament serves both of those.

I think you're referring to my post. She said the rear turn signals and brake lights both work, but the rear running lights do not, so my point was that the headlight switch was the difference on how those those lights are activated. Later she said the front turn signals/hazards did not work either, so that does not follow my supposition that the headlight switch was the problem.

[amber.hodge]

Okay so far we have determined that the fuse numbers I was given were to an airbag, a rear wiper that doesn't exist and the guage cluster. The guage cluster works but the lighting does not.

All bulbs in the rear have good filiments and are not burned out. The Led bulbs in the front are good and we have been running them less than a month.

Still progressing through the suggestions and are checking all fuses with a multimeter

[amber.hodge]

Fuse number 3 for the panel lamps: Has a brand new 10 amp fuse in it and with the multimeter there is only .03-.05 amps going to it and we are under the impression that it should be getting between 12 and 13 amps......:confused:

[TRLR8TDTJ]

Fuse number 3 for the panel lamps: Has a brand new 10 amp fuse in it and with the multimeter there is only 3.05 amps going to it and we are under the impression that it should be getting between 12 and 13 amps......:confused:

Dont worry about amps look for voltage. Whan you look at fuses with glovebox out, the end of the fuse you see has 2 little medal pieces. Put your voltmeter red one on those. Put the black one on ground. Turn the key on and touch every one of those little medal things on the fuse, and replace the one that does not have 12v on both sides.

Kyle

PS if you didnt live in bfe I could fix it. Sounds like a fuse to me.

[amber.hodge]

Kyle...have a 12 pack of fat tire with your name on it.... :D or anyone's that can swing by the QC ...

Now the turn signals in the rear are not working. we are cleaning the terminals to the battery hoping that this will fix the issue....also brake lights not working

[sms1688]

The fuse numbers I gave you were for the ones in the engine bay not the ones in the glove box. If you are still having problems I will see if I can skip class and head out there to help you two just let me know. It might be multiple smal problems and not one big problem.

[Cave Gimp]

Well as I was found myself behind Ben this morning, it looks like the rear break lights work, as well as the turn signals, but they do flash very fast, may because of the LEDs. Hopefully they all stay working.

[sms1688]

Well as I was found myself behind Ben this morning, it looks like the rear break lights work, as well as the turn signals, but they do flash very fast, may because of the LEDs. Hopefully they all stay working.


Yes the leds is why it flashes fast usually you have to change your flasher out to get it to go a normal speed. Less resistance casue them to go faster

[yellow_X]

Amber did you guys get it fixed?

[OlneyJeeps]

when I had probs with my lights, found that rear harness connector is left side of dash/body.... use tester light to test for power when you turn lights on
harness proceeds along inside of body
my problem was when I put crusher corners on drill for hole went right through wire pack (follows inside of tub)
pull pack apart and test for power there / look for break

good luck