blowing fuse for dash lights- need help
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4L
blowing fuse for dash lights- need help
The fuse for the lighting in my dash blows instantaniously when I put in a new one. I obviously have a short somewhere. Any ideas where to start?
#3
CF Veteran
Have a after market radio? There might be a exposed wire for the dimmer that was in the factory radio grounding out.
Happened to me once. because somebody didint tape it off.
Happened to me once. because somebody didint tape it off.
#6
also check to see if your running lights are going out when you turn them on, assuming that this is when the fuse pops as one of your lights may have water or another type of short causing this. This is what happened to a car of mine. Payed like 150 for it to be fixed at a shop to realize that it was my side marker light that was filling up every couple of rains.
#7
To anyone having this issue, does the fuse blow as soon as you turn on the headlights? Have you recently been inside the rear hatch replacing speakers? Did you happen to find a small round connector on the drivers side of the hatch that was disconnected? Did you reconnect it thinking it was for something else? If yes, pull the hatch cover back off and disconnect that wire. It is for the license plate light on vehicles equipped with factory rear tire carriers. The stock plate location is cover by a tire carrier so the plate gets moved over to keep it visible. When both connectors are plugged up it creates a ground fault circuit that blows the fuse controlling the gauge light and tail lights.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
Trending Topics
#9
Seasoned Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Walkersville, Md. 21793
Posts: 332
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 87
Engine: 4.0
When it comes to a wiring problem , it could be anywhere . My XJ kept blowing a 15 amp fuse under the hood constantly . Closing any of the doors or the trunk , hitting a pot hole or just driving down the road . A good friend of mine , an ACE mechanic , looked at it . After checking the obvious places , hood and dash areas . He focused on the inside of the Jeep . It ended up being the wires that goes to the brake lights . The wire bundle was ran around , not through the hole in the body it was supposed to . It rubbed the rubber coating and the paint off to where it would short out and blow the fuse . It took about 3 hours to find it . Like I said . When it comes to a wiring problem , it could be anywhere . Don't just focus in one spot .
#10
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Murrieta, CA
Posts: 275
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1993
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4L
I spent the weekend tearing the dash apart. Previous owners have spliced the crap out of the wiring in the dash for who knows what. I've removed the loose ends in the dash, but no help. The fuse blows immediately. The headlights stay on, when the fuse goes, but the dash lights and taillights go out. I'll have to check in the rear hatch for that wire. My son was messing around in there to see the speakers inside.
#12
My saving grace!!!!!!!!!!!
To anyone having this issue, does the fuse blow as soon as you turn on the headlights? Have you recently been inside the rear hatch replacing speakers? Did you happen to find a small round connector on the drivers side of the hatch that was disconnected? Did you reconnect it thinking it was for something else? If yes, pull the hatch cover back off and disconnect that wire. It is for the license plate light on vehicles equipped with factory rear tire carriers. The stock plate location is cover by a tire carrier so the plate gets moved over to keep it visible. When both connectors are plugged up it creates a ground fault circuit that blows the fuse controlling the gauge light and tail lights.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
#13
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Priest Lake, Idaho
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
To anyone having this issue, does the fuse blow as soon as you turn on the headlights? Have you recently been inside the rear hatch replacing speakers? Did you happen to find a small round connector on the drivers side of the hatch that was disconnected? Did you reconnect it thinking it was for something else? If yes, pull the hatch cover back off and disconnect that wire. It is for the license plate light on vehicles equipped with factory rear tire carriers. The stock plate location is cover by a tire carrier so the plate gets moved over to keep it visible. When both connectors are plugged up it creates a ground fault circuit that blows the fuse controlling the gauge light and tail lights.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
#14
Newbie
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Calgary
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0 I6
To anyone having this issue, does the fuse blow as soon as you turn on the headlights? Have you recently been inside the rear hatch replacing speakers? Did you happen to find a small round connector on the drivers side of the hatch that was disconnected? Did you reconnect it thinking it was for something else? If yes, pull the hatch cover back off and disconnect that wire. It is for the license plate light on vehicles equipped with factory rear tire carriers. The stock plate location is cover by a tire carrier so the plate gets moved over to keep it visible. When both connectors are plugged up it creates a ground fault circuit that blows the fuse controlling the gauge light and tail lights.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
I found this out after tearing apart half of my XJs wiring trying to find a short.
#15
Question
Bumping an old thread but I definitely attached that rear stereo connector the other day and was going nuts trying to find out why my 10a fuse was popping non stop and why i had no tail lights or brake lights... came on here and in 2 mins, had the solution. Thank you SO much.
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
extrashaky
Other Vehicles. Other Jeep models & cars and trucks of other makes
17
06-17-2023 03:57 PM
jmsummers2012
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
53
04-30-2021 02:35 PM
ZJBeachRunnerGC
Stock Grand Cherokee Tech. All ZJ/WJ/WK Non-modified/stock questions go here!
18
03-10-2021 05:52 PM
Cherokee_of_Tennessee
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
4
09-30-2015 12:10 PM
CJG
Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here
2
09-28-2015 03:46 PM
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)