One if the things that has bugged me about my XJ from day one is the 4wd light doesnt come on, today I replaced the transfer case switch which didnt fix the problem. So I removed the cluster and switched the bulb for the shift indicator bulb, which I know is good. That didnt fix the issue and my shift indicator still works so the 4wd bulb was good anyway.
So that leads me to wiring between the dash and switch. Is there anywhere else I should be looking?

 

What year XJ are we talking about?

 

apologies, 98 4.0 5 speed np231

 

Check for power at the connector going to the switch on the transfer case. To the best of my knowledge it's as simple as +12V to bulb, bulb earth to 4WD switch, switch to ground. If there's power there, grab some wire and ground the connector and check if the light comes on, probably best to have someone else check the light. If that works, you probably have a bad switch, or it isn't the correct one.

If there is no power there, there's a fault up stream. Double check where the bulb screws in that the copper contact isn't bad and failing to give power. Last thing would be to follow the wiring back up from the transfer case and check any connectors for corrosion. The wire should be a Black and Yellow one which if you find at a connector, you could check for voltage.

 

power is supplied by fuse 9 (10amp in the junction block) at the passenger kick panel. is connector c4 (biggest one) on junction block pin s13 (white wire with black stripe) goes from junction block to c201 drivers dash (big main connector). from there goes to a splice to feed other stuff you may or may not have (probably not) to connector C1 pin 8 on back of the instrument cluster. Here it goes through the indicators and out of the cluster. Your problem is likely not anything above if your other indicators are working (ie airbag, washer fluid, seatbelt, abs, brake indicator). it goes out of the cluster on connector c2 pin 5 (black wire with red stripe). then goes to connector c107 pin 8. C107 is under the hood at the back of the firewall near the back passenger side of the valve cover area. then to the transfer case switch. From switch back out via the black wire to ground 101. Ground 101 is on the right side of the engine block behind the alternator.

You need to test power at the switch (the black wire with read stripe) and make sure you have 12 volts dc. if you do, check the ground and make sure it actually has continuity to ground.

This is out of a 2000 FSM, so it should be the same or similar

 

Very informative thank you

 

Its usually not the switch but the connector or wiring at switch....small 20ga wires break/corrode easily...goes up about 2 or 3 feet to another connector