Today I've been trying to fix my rear left tail light. Does not light up. Pulled it out, replaced the bulb. Still no go. Got out my multimeter, pulled panels ... looking for shorts.
Then on a hunch, looked at the FRONT. It was out too. The light began to shine in my dim brain. "Hmmm... Gee, wonder if there's a fuse for this?"..

(98 XJ)

Guess what? There is! Number 7 , "left parking light" (or something like that) ... put a fuse in. No go???!!!! I put a burned out fuse in!!
Put in another one (after verifying it was good)

Now it works. Check the simplest stuff first!

 

Best to determine why the fuse blew, else it will just pop again...
High resistance in the circuit, water intrusion cooked a socket, etc.

 

True. However, part of my point was that I had not checked the FRONT parking light. And the time spent looking for shorts was not wasted , in the long run.
I do still think that checking the simplest things first is a good idea. If it pops another fuse, then yep, I still have work to do.

Thanks,
Pat

 

well, thats diagnosis 101 haha. But it's good you got it, but i agree to check what caused it in the first place

 

Doh!

 

Lol the parking light fuses drove me crazy for the longest time and the fuse was good but corroded.