First post goes in the tech section, go figure.

I have done a lot of googling and a lot of forum searching on several forums researching this apparently common dash light issue for my 96 XJ. Almost everything I've read has included the fuse blowing and/or headlight switch being broken. One of those two things is always the issue. Now, I'm not sure which fuse is the correct one for these as I have no owner's manual but I have checked and all the fuses appear fine (there's only one 5 amp fuse under the dash and it's okay, i assume it's that one). The headlight switch correctly turns on headlights, and turning it all the way to the left turns on the interior lights just as it should. To me, this says that isn't the issue, so I'm at a loss right now as to where to go.

 

from a '96 owner's manual: under dash fuse panel

1 rear wiper & washer 25a
2 radio and cigar lighter 15a
3 empty
4 passing light 15a
5 blower motor 30a
6 power windows 30a circuit breaker
7 antilock brakes 2a
8 turnsignal flasher 20a
9 radio/clock & memory, courtesy lights, glove box, cargo dome lights, telltales(?) 10a
10 empty
11 headlamp delay module, horns 25a
12 empty
13 power door locks 20a
14 empty
15 I.P. lamps, clock,radio/clock & memory, headlamp switch parking lamps 15a
16 power seats, trailer tow(?) 30a circuit breaker
17 instrument cluster gauges, headlmp delay module, chime module, overhead console 7.5a
18 heated rear window 25a
19 instrument panel lamps, radio illumination 5a
20 windshield wiper & washer 5.5a circuit breaker

there are more fuses and relays in the power distribution box under the hood on the passenger side

 

Thanks. Looks like I assumed right, and number 19 is what I should have been checking. Is it possible that the **** could work correctly for everything but the dimmer? Any way I can check on it? I've got the dash taken apart right now, gonna be installing a new head unit, sub, tach, and repair the dash lights.

 

Think I'll go ahead and just change out the switch. There a how-to link on here for it?

 

take a look at #15

 

That one's also fine

 

alright, installed a new switch, still didn't solve my problem

 

So you installed a radio?

 

Previous owner had one installed. It was a '99 model stereo so I assume it's been in there forever. I've tried measuring current through the 5A fuse just to see what it reads (obviously less than 5 if it's not blowing) but i'm getting 0.0 A.

 

My 96 xj lights/dash worked perfectly. I then installed a new head unit and speakers and had a huge problem with the wiring and what not.
If I turned the headlights on then the power to the radio would go out...
If I turned the **** to anything inside the vehicle (dash lights an interior) they wouldn't work.

Eventually what I did was I just fooled around with the new wiring harness and the back of the head unit and eventually got a combination in which every light would work and the radio would stay on. The only thing that did not work was the dimmer. But it isn't that important to me, so i said it.

Help at all? If that is your case then I can help you with the wiring. there is another thread flying around here that I just replied too. I'll send the link to it, so just keep a close eye on it while you are working on yours. maybe you can find the answer in there.

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/ins...-blows-100424/

The picture I posted on there might help to explain what I was talking about.

 

I have already unplugged the harness for the old stereo and removed it. I would think that would eliminate any related issue. I am going through some of his wiring right now and checking things out, but everything looks good to me.

 

I noticed one of the spaced for a bulb is not filled. I would assume that all of the lights would be wired in parallel so that if one bulb went out then not all of them would go out, but would this cause an issue?

 

We can rule out the radio dimmer wire as the issue. Do you have tail lamps and no dash lights? If so, that two bus connector that links the dash harness to the gauge cluster is nortious for poor/intermitent connections.

 

Everything works 100% except the gauge lights (still have the dummy lights and turn signals and bright's indicator)