New member here!

Just recently got a 1988 Jeep Cherokee Pioneer, seen here:



Got it for free, so can't complain there. Mechanically, it works great. Just changed out some freeze plugs and fixed some other overheating issues and had to free up the rotors and calipers and all, it had been sitting a while.

Only issue now is electrical, and boy do I hate electrical. But it's necessary if I want to be road legal. The issue mainly concerns lighting. All is operational except reverse lights. And although the turn signals and hazard lights do work, they do not blink/flash. Just as well, when the headlights are turned on, both turn signal indicators turn on.

I've done a bit of lurking around the forum, seen related articles pinpointing to possible ground/short issues (which I believe to be a problem, since it seems the previous owner did a bit of rigged grounding to the front turn signals lamps), turn signal switch/multifunction switch issues, or various other electrical/mechanical problems. What I have done is tested the fuses, modules/relays, as well as the flasher unit itself and all seem to be operational, as they were tested in another XJ.

That's about all the information I can share at the moment, so if anyone has any information they could give me, or if someone has had a similar problem, please do share a solution. Any resource material such as wiring diagrams and such would be greatly appreciated and helpful as well. I've found a few, but some weren't so legible.

Thank you in advance Cherokee Community!
-Ballysto

 

That's quite a bargain you got there!
Non-functioning reverse lights is a symptom of a failing Neutral Safety Switch. Before replacing yours, you may want to consider cleaning it, as detailed here:
http://bc4x4.com/tech/2010/jeep-neut...ty-switch-nss/

...and welcome to the forum

 

Thanks for the warm welcome! I will definitely have to look into the NSS. Seems like a good job for a day off. Hopefully that will be one more problem solved. Another issue I forgot to mention is the Full-Time 4X4 light being constantly on. From what I've searched around here about that, seems it could be a bad transfer case switch? Any tips about that or figuring if that is the problem? Have yet to test whether the 4WD is always engaged or not yet.

 

X2 on NSS. The other issues seem like insufficient grounding, especially if the lights are on but dim, and the lights have battery voltage to the connector with a good ground. All this rests on the assumption the PO didn't "modify" the wiring.

 

LOL redo all of the wiring and start fresh if you got the time, patience, know-how, and $$$.

 

Alright, so here's an update. Changed the rear running lights out, and apparently the reverse lights and four way flashers now work properly. The front running lights don't have new bulbs yet, but will soon. Perhaps that could be the problem with non blinking turn signals? The four ways blink properly, unless I turn the headlights on. Then they still blink, but much much slower. Turn signals still don't blink either way. Might just need the new bulbs in the front two corner running lights to complete some sort of circuit to make it all work properly, or maybe there is another solution? I've read a few things about four ways blinking and turn signals not, but not sure if that pertains here. But we're getting closer, thanks for all the help so far!

 

Good luck man

 

Turns out it was a bad grounding issue inside the socket assemblies for the front turn signals and running lights. Just cut the old ones off and wired some others on from a new jeep and worked just fine. So all electrical problems solved! NSS and reverse lights are fine but I might just give it a cleaning anyway. Full Time light is still on, but once after giggling the lever it went out while in 2WD so I might take it apart and clean the contacts and such if there are some somewhere. Or maybe the transfer case switch is sticking or something. Thanks for all the help though, persistence was definitely key! Now just to sand, prime, paint, undercoat, and eventually lift and add some other auxiliary peripherals. Couldn't do it all without this community though! Case closed for now.

 

Funny, I live in Ashland and bought my 1988 Cherokee Pioneer in Mansfield. Perhaps yours is now mine.

Anyway, when you hit the turning signal, do you get clicking or beeping like a back-up warning signal?

Mine makes a god-awful beeping noise with the turning signal and I don't know if that is how it was by design or unique to mine.

Am most interested in finding it and disabling it at this point.

Morph