My son's Jeep is a 1996 Cherokee Sport, 4.0L, all stock except oversize tires, towing package and aftermarket stereo system.. A couple weeks ago the lights started acting crazy and I can't find the problem.

When you turn on either turn signal they work fine, but dash lights blink along with it. Turn the headlights on and the right turn signal quits working, left seems to work fine. I believe there is a short but cannot find it.

Using a test light I hooked straight to battery POS and get a complete circuit going to each bulb socket on the ground (outside part of socket. However the light also comes on if I test from battery POS to either post inside the socket, should this happen?

Things flash so I'm guessing both relays are good. Signals seems to work fine except for dashlights flashing with them when headlights are off. Main problem is when headlights are on the right side quits working.

Any suggestions on where to look next? Turn signal switch? Headlight switch, stereo wiring? I say stereo cuz that is the only dash lights on when headlights are off and it flashes in sync with turn signals.

 

I'd make sure the illuminator wire behind the stereo is hooked up correctly. If its an aftermarket radio. Pull the radio out and disconnect the illuminator wire and see if the problem persists

 

You have ground issues

 

I would agree on the ground issues, but where would you look for the problem? Would it be under the hood, somewhere on the fuse panel or in one of the light sockets? I'm fair on mechanical stuff, but wiring is a very poor subject for me. I have a test light/pencil, could I find it with that?

 

Look at the grounds for each light and look at the ground wire from the battery to the fender.

 

Just got done doing several things with no success. First insured ground from battery to fender was tight and clean. There is a connection under the hood right behind the computer that had some corrosion on it, cleaned it thoroughly. Pulled the stereo completely out. Also pulled the turn signal switch apart and it looked great.

When the headlights are off left turn signal works great, right turn signal works but dash lights flash with it and I just noticed that the left turn signals have a very dim flash to them when the right is flashing. Turn headlights on and right quits flashing.

Do you think it's still a ground issue? Could one of the bulb sockets be bad?

Thanks much.

 

Yes, bad grounds, could be in the socket.

 

That was the problem. The converter (for trailer lights) is located in-line next to the left rear hidden down behind rear molding, actually inside the body panel next the the filler tube. Never showed as a short or anything, only faulted when each flash of the right turn signal hit.

I had tested the trailer light hookup for shorts and all was good, dang converter would never show a fault, but was actually to blame. Removed it from the circuit and all is good, I'll just go without pulling anything until I get it replaced.