I tried looking through other threads but they didnt seem to help much.

When i got my XJ, just about everything worked except the headlights. I had a guy put a new switch in, and when i got it back, the Radio wouldnt come on. If i switched on the running lights and/or headlights, it glowed in the background, but there was no clock readout or any other kind of functionality.

I took it back to the guy and he said somthing about the Constant power to the radio being a problem. he had one of his workers rip my dash apart and run a new wire from the radio down to the fuse box under the steering wheel. After he was done, i had my radio again, but now no dome lights or power locks.

Does this make sense to anyone? i checked my fuses but they looked okay. I thought the radio, domes and power locks were all on the same fuse, so maybe them fixing the radio is only covering up the true problem?

Power windows work fine, btw.

 

From what I understand, there are different variations of the headlight switch.
That is all I know about it, but it could be the issue.
The radio has a dimmer that is tied into the headlight switch also.

Someone will come along with insight..

 

I had issues similar to what you're experiencing when I first bought my xj a couple years ago. I had problems with the dash lights and dome lights not working when the headlights were on, and lots of other electrical issues that would come and go. What it was was a broken ground wire under the passenger seat. As soon as I repaired the broken ground everything worked perfectly. So my opinion is that there is a broken ground somewhere in your electrical system. Including under the passenger seat, there are a couple other ground points I think. One being in the engine bay grounding to the firewall and another in the back by one of the tail lights. I hope this helps, as I was pulling my hair out for weeks trying to figure out my electrical issues.

 

urgh... did i mention i hate electrical issues?
Ill need to trace the whole wire and check for a break, wont I?

 

Well, it may be obvious at the ground point if you're lucky...but, I do feel your frustration. From the problems you described my money is on a broken ground. My jeep was a retired CalTrans rig and had wiring for radio, signals and lights coming from the roof and along the pillar and ending under the passenger seat. The place I bought it from must have taken the seat out to remove some of the wires and sheared the ground when putting the seat back. I can tell you I squealed with joy when I saw that stupid little broken black wire. I wish you luck.

 

well, considering at the time, the repairs were the switch, a total brake job, and a u-joint, id guess its under the dash... since the passenger seat and taillight areas weren't molested that i know of

 

Did you check the mini fuses in the PDC? I think one of them is the Ignition Off Draw (IOD) fuse.

 

Alright! CCKen is here, now we will make progress.
Here are the headlight grounds https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/hea...3/#post1953272

 

LOL

I don't own a '96 FSM, just a '95 and '97 so its hard to figure out wiring issues concerning the '96. The '96 is an odd duck to begin with.

 

the 96 is the odd year? how so?
I thought the 97 had like three different ways of being wired up.

 

1996 is the bastard or change-over year. There is a mix of 95 and 97 parts/harnesses in it and the mix is inconsistent. But not interior or exterior panels/parts.
And the 96 has a fuel pump that is only for that year and is hard to find.

 

Whelp, thats good to know

See, i thought the 97 was the one that was a mess, working out the kinks of a refresh after so long. Guess it fell to my year instead.

Mine has to be one of the last ones made, in July of 96. My last car, a '97 Avenger, was made in August of '96, so i guess it was only a month newer.

At least i might find that my 8.25" rearend is the 29 spline one day.

 

well, i took a picture for you. Does this look familiar?
if all i need to do is re-ground this wire, then hot dog... if it is even a ground.

 

If it's a ground wire issue, it's probably up underneath a little further. just look for a wire that's bolted down to a metal surface. some may be different, but most are a braided looking wire.

 

not really sure what the bundle looking thing is thats sticking out of the front though.