Ok, I pulled apart my dash to try to figure this out, and couldn't. Now it's your turn.

'89 Cherokee. Dash lights only illuminate when lights are on and when the headlight **** is rotated all the way counter clockwise, as though to turn on the dome light. Otherwise in the regular dash light dimming position, the dash lights are not on at all.

I can't see any obvious wiring where someone may have rigged the dash lights to the dome light. Normally, when the dome light is turned on do the dash lights come on as well? Also, how does one remove the headlight switch?

Thanks

 

Update, I was fiddling with the headlight switch after installing a headlight relay harness upgrade, and noticed that the dash lights will illuminate now in the full-bright position of the dimmer range. Any clockwise movement of the headlight **** and the dash lights go out. Still not sure if this indicates a bad headlight switch.

 

It's more than likely a failing headlight switch. However it's common for them to burn up and melt the connection, double check that is good before anything

 

I just put in a relay headlight harness, so there's hardly any current going through the switch.

I'm willing to put in a new one, but I'll be damned if I know how to remove it. You happen to know how?

 

It's kind of a bear. Especially if you have hands larger than an 8 year old girl.

From under the dash, you push up on a spring to release the **** and shaft so they'll pull out. They coulda used a ball point pen spring in this application, but chose to use one from the front suspension of a small car.

Once that's outta the way, you loosen a nut with 2 slots and pull the switch down from behind the dash. Leave the plug on there if you can.

Assembly is reverse except you don't have to push on the spring to get the **** assembly back in.

 

The older XJs used a GM light switch. This short vid shows about the **** removal. The hard part (as Cruiser said) is getting your hand up in behind the dash to push the button.

 

Great info guys, thanks.

Also found this thread:

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/dim...removal-12665/

 

I pulled the headlight switch, with a small amount of difficulty. It would be much easier if the wires for the plug were longer, I had to work by braille to unplug it and the ground. Upon inspection I discovered a break in the spring part of the dimmer, right at the anchoring rivet, which explains why the majority of the dimmer range didn't work. No power after the break. After an unsuccessful attempt at soldering the break together, I simply removed the smaller part of the spring and bent the end of the remainder in a manner that allowed me to reattach it around the rivet. All works great now.

If you zoom in you can see the broken spring, just after the rivet:

 

Way to go MacGyver!!

 

Funny, not the first time I've been called that

 

Whenever I'm called that, I consider it a compliment...LOL.