WolfeMan

Found out the other day that my license plate light is out. I guess I bought it that way. I don't do a lot of night driving so I never noticed unill now. So how do I reconnect it?

Here's some pics:

There's the License Plate Light wires.

No speakers. Great.



No idea what's supposed to be connected here.

Or here.

I thought it would be simple to reconnect it, but I'm clueless.

winston427

This connector in the center is for the license plate light.



This one on the drivers side is also for the license plate, but only if you have the factory tire carrier and the plate mounts on the drivers side of the hatch. DO NOT and I repeat DO NOT connect this one at the same time as the center connector. It will create a ground fault circuit in the system and will blow the fuse for the tail lights, gauge lights, and brake lights every time you pull the headlight switch.



There is a similar connector on the passenger side in your pics that I believe is for the rear window defroster, if so equipped.

It appears that your factory speaker connections have been cut off the allow for the installation of aftermarket speakers. Which the previous owner apperantly took with them.

RICZR2

winston427...sound like your talking from experience with the "ground fault circuit" issue LOL

winston427

Umm, yeah you could say that. I found that connector loose and wondered why. So I hooked it up and did not think about it. Since I don't drive mine daily, it was about 2 weeks before I got back in it. Turned on the headlights and "pop", I heard the fuse fry. Took me 3 days to figure out the problem after reading every thread on this forum about fuses blowing until I found a thread with the same issue and how they solved the problem. Of course not before I disassembled the entire dash, front wiring harness, and half of the rear harness looking for cut wires or shorts.

WolfeMan

Thanks Winston for the reply, but if you could clarify a little bit more where the license plate light connector should go I would appriciate it. I'm a little dense sometimes. You're saying that I shouldn't connect it to the one on the driver's side?

Also I don't have a rear window defroster. Wonder why that's there then?
And I guess I'll be getting some new speakers in the near future.

winston427

Off the top of my head I can not point out exactly what plugs into what. I am out of town until tommorrow evening but will pull my hatch cover off and take pics for you. My 91 connections will most likely be different than your 94, so for comparison purposes I will go over to bigomudders house and pull the hatch cover off of his 95 as well.

prerunner1982

The XJ is wired for most all available options. This is pretty standard. My 93 is the same way, though it is a base model it still has the connections for the rear wiper and defrost.. it is also wired for 6 speakers though only came with 2. Also under your dask you will find alot of loose connectors. These are for the switches for the various options (rear wiper, defrost, etc). This makes it easier if you decide to upgrade.

The rear speakers should be 4.25", which are the same as the doors.

WolfeMan

Take your time, I'm not in a hurry. And I appreciate the amount of effort you're willing to give for someone you don't even know. Thanks again.

WolfeMan

Is putting in new speakers as easy as just plugging them in or is there more work involved?

prerunner1982

Yeah should be. I would imagine they are already wired into the back of the stereo. If not that could cause some extra work but mine were already wired up. I had to change the speaker connection (appears you are already halfway there since you have just wires) and used wood screws to install speakers.

WolfeMan

Good. Thanks for the input.

WolfeMan

I went to the jy today and got a new wire harness. So I'm good now. Turns out the connectors for my lisence plate light were for a different wire harness. I have no idea what somebody was trying to do back there.

Thanks winston427, for your help and I won't be needing any pictures, but thanks again for offering.





Future Plans...

Rear speakers from the jy. Will they work? We shall see.


Rear windsheild wiper. This one might be hard.


It was a good day at the jy. I was suprised to find two 2 door xjs. I may get some more things from them later.