HCCAFan

99 Cherokee Sport 5 Speed

My headlights have been getting buggy and are now at the point of never working. When I pull out the headlight switch, the high beam and the turn signal indicators illuminate in the cluster. No lights come on out front but the tail lights work as normal.

The signals don't work in the front, ever. If I have the headlight switch pulled out, the tail light turn signals will stay lit in whatever direction I hold the turn signal switch, but they will not flash on their own. If I push the headlight switch in, they do not work at all.

A couple of times screwing with the turn signal/high beam switch made the lights come on and go off. I assumed that switch was bad so I replaced it. The headlights still don't work. Same symptoms.

I replaced the headlight switch. Same symptoms.

Any ideas?

Muaddib420

Check your mini fuses in the power distribution center under the hood.

HCCAFan

Interestingly, I had a blown 15 amp mini under the hood. Not sure what it did but I replaced it and still have the same issues.

XJRed96

just commented on another thread.... check the gang connector to the front lighting... they corrode like hell. its by the airbox on driver side... will cause all those problems...

HCCAFan

I was going to mess with that connector today but it rained and was windy as hell. Ain't nobody got time fo that.

belvedere

Corroded connections in the headlight sockets and/or grounds.

HCCAFan

You have seen this effect the turn signals?

MoparNJeep

Just had this problem on my moms neon. It was the turn/bright switch on the column. Was melted internally. This is where I would look.

HCCAFan

Me too, except I already replaced that.

BearMBD

I had the exact same problem as you. I found the wire corroded near the connector under air box. Just as red said. That would be my first check.

HCCAFan

I'll go tear the air box out and look under there. I don't remember any wires under it.

HCCAFan

My gang connector was all good. I pulled the headlights and and turn signals, cleaned everything and put dielectric grease on everything. Problem remained. Pulled and cleaned all fuses in the Jeep and under the hood. Traced all the wires to and from the front lights.

Then I found the problem. I unscrewed the two grounds that are in between the ECU and the airbox, sanded the body and sanded the four ring terminals bolted down there, and screwed the bolts back in. Lights and signals now work fine. I decided to run a ground straight from the negative on the battery to these two grounds, just to be sure it remains a good ground.

XJRed96

Kudos

HandyRacing

I have just developed this exact same problem with my 96 Cherokee.

When I turn on the turn signals either right or left, both turn signal indicators light up along with the high bean indicator on the instrument cluster, no headlights when I pull the headlights switch, but rear turn signals (or marker lights) seem to flash. Coincidentally I just had the air filter box out Sunday to work on the power steering pump. This thread leads me to believe I may have disturbed either a wiring harness connector or one of those ground wires mentioned above. Silly me while I had the air filter box out, I also wiped down / cleaned all the area around the inner fender-wall "moving" the wiring harness around a little as I got in and around with the rag. Will investigate further to see what I can find . My first thought was the turn signal lever assembly "multi function switch lever" was the only place the two systems met up (head lights and turn signals), thanks maybe I will get lucky and find a loose wire or bad connector.

HandyRacing

Checked out the lighting connector behind the air filter box. The pink looking wire (with no matching colored one coming out the other side of the connector is same position) corroded right out of its pin. Also, busted a second one (purple w/ white stripe) poking around. Polar Vortex coming for a couple days too... BUGGER