All Lights But Headlights work?
Seasoned Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: East Texas
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Ok, you need to start at the headlights and work back to the switch. At the headlight you will have 3 wires, Black is the ground. Both the high and low beams ground thru that black wire. Do a continuity test on the black wire for both left and right headlights. You must have continuity.
Then check for voltage at the power wires. RED/ORG wire is for high beam. VIO/WHT wire is for low beam. You must have battery voltage at these 2 wires. Note the left headlight has an RED/ORG and a VIO/WHT that feeds the right headlight. Start at the right headlight and work to the left light.
If you have no voltage at the power wires you need to work back to the switch. Next in order is the dimmer switch.
Does you high beam blue indicator light work when you switch to high beams?
In order to find the problem you will have to do some electrical testing. If you do not have one, get a multimeter. You will be checking voltage and continuity for these tests. Learning to use a multimeter will serve you well in the future.
Then check for voltage at the power wires. RED/ORG wire is for high beam. VIO/WHT wire is for low beam. You must have battery voltage at these 2 wires. Note the left headlight has an RED/ORG and a VIO/WHT that feeds the right headlight. Start at the right headlight and work to the left light.
If you have no voltage at the power wires you need to work back to the switch. Next in order is the dimmer switch.
Does you high beam blue indicator light work when you switch to high beams?
In order to find the problem you will have to do some electrical testing. If you do not have one, get a multimeter. You will be checking voltage and continuity for these tests. Learning to use a multimeter will serve you well in the future.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
From: Bettendorf, Iowa= Quad Cities
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
The responses have been right on.. It could be one or more than one problem
I have had more than one problem with my headlights in the 4 years I've owned my 98 Cherokee
I have replaced 5 multifunction switches in my 98 Cherokee, ... no headlights, brights would sometimes come on and go off if you kept flicking the switch. I also had a strange problem one day. backing out of garage by headlights worked at the end of driveway no lights. Replaced the multifunction then switch headlight switch still nothing... strangely found out that both headlights went out at the same time. Perhaps try leads off the battery to a headlight to make sure the headlight bulbs are ok. Or just buy a couple of new headlights and replace them should be able to replace both for around $25.00
I have had more than one problem with my headlights in the 4 years I've owned my 98 Cherokee
I have replaced 5 multifunction switches in my 98 Cherokee, ... no headlights, brights would sometimes come on and go off if you kept flicking the switch. I also had a strange problem one day. backing out of garage by headlights worked at the end of driveway no lights. Replaced the multifunction then switch headlight switch still nothing... strangely found out that both headlights went out at the same time. Perhaps try leads off the battery to a headlight to make sure the headlight bulbs are ok. Or just buy a couple of new headlights and replace them should be able to replace both for around $25.00
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 677
Likes: 0
From: Green Bay Wisconsin
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L High Output
The responses have been right on.. It could be one or more than one problem
I have had more than one problem with my headlights in the 4 years I've owned my 98 Cherokee
I have replaced 5 multifunction switches in my 98 Cherokee, ... no headlights, brights would sometimes come on and go off if you kept flicking the switch. I also had a strange problem one day. backing out of garage by headlights worked at the end of driveway no lights. Replaced the multifunction then switch headlight switch still nothing... strangely found out that both headlights went out at the same time. Perhaps try leads off the battery to a headlight to make sure the headlight bulbs are ok. Or just buy a couple of new headlights and replace them should be able to replace both for around $25.00
I have had more than one problem with my headlights in the 4 years I've owned my 98 Cherokee
I have replaced 5 multifunction switches in my 98 Cherokee, ... no headlights, brights would sometimes come on and go off if you kept flicking the switch. I also had a strange problem one day. backing out of garage by headlights worked at the end of driveway no lights. Replaced the multifunction then switch headlight switch still nothing... strangely found out that both headlights went out at the same time. Perhaps try leads off the battery to a headlight to make sure the headlight bulbs are ok. Or just buy a couple of new headlights and replace them should be able to replace both for around $25.00

I was moving it around and boom headlights. Drove home (bumps galore) and no headlights again. Tried moving it around me, still no headlights.

So. whats the best solution here? Wiring harness upgrade or what? Because I would love to have high and low beams again.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
From: East Texas
Year: 1997
Model: Grand Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Is there a way to isolate the 2 power wires that I id. Preferably on the switch side of your glue mess. You can then splice in wire and run to and connect at the drivers headlight. You have a fault in the wires somewhere. See if you can move the wire harness to see if you can find out where it is. You want to start your splice on the switch side of where the fault is located.
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