New to the Cherokee world. 89 XJ 4.0. Tail light, Instrument Cluster, Rear dome light, and license plate light not coming on. Brake lights, turn signals, and headlights work. Replaced bulbs and fuse. My next course of action before chasing wires and grounds is replacing the multifunction light switch. Am I on the right path? Any known Issues or gremlins I should check that would cause this? Any help that can be given would be very much appreciated. TIA.

 

Someone like a PO hacked install of a radio?
What fuse?

 

my money is on the light switch you are absolutely on the right path lol

 

Well the rear dome has a button on it. Push it with it the liftgate open and see if it lights. Then close the doors and gate and it should go off. The button is basically an "override" so you don't kill the battery when you leave the liftgate open for extended periods. If your front dome light and other courtesy lights work and the rear still does not, check the bulb.

 

I bought the switch last night. I’m going to install it when I get the Jeep to the house next week. He’s sitting in my father in laws backyard right now. Once i get him up here it’s game on. If the switch doesn’t fix it, that leaves the radio wiring.

 

I believe it is Fuse 7. Currently away from Jeep but can get back to you when I get back to him in a couple of weeks. There is an aftermarket radio installed. What wires do I need to be looking for back there? Which ones connect to rear tail lights, off the top of the dome. If you aren’t sure then I’ll dive into system schematics over the next couple of nights. Once I get the chance.

 

All the other lights come on in the interior. Just that one. And the license plate light. But that could be in the switch.

 

my suggestion to you is if those wires are damaged or melted on the harness side like mine was when you cut up those wires consider putting pop connections in there so next time if it goes bad all you got to do is put the male connecter on those suckers and pop that bad boy right in .. just a suggestion.

 

Definitely solid advice. Thanks brother. Do you happen to remember the gauge that the wire is? I wanna make sure I have it on hand. If not, I’m making a trip to the store.

 

ITS BEEN A WHILE MY BEST GUESS WOULD BE LIKE A 14 GAUGE AND ONE WIRE THE RED IF I REMEMBER RIGHT IS LIKE A 12.. SO YOU FIGURE ALL 14 ONE 12 OR ALL 12 ONE 10 Gauge. there's a ground right on the switch too make sure you check that while you got it off

 

when i bough this 90 cherokee the old man gave me the original service manual book from Chrysler back in the day it has a **** ton of wiring diagrams for the 2.5, 4.2 and 4.0.

cause you never know what the previous man did in there my 2001 was full of treasure smh. if you get jammed up

 

I appreciate the offer and will definitely consider if can't figure it out. I have the Haynes Manual, because I buy one for every vehicle, so I've been chasing it via that. I will definitely PM you if I get in a pickle though.

 

Thanks definitely will do. Trying to work a plan around my work schedule to get the beast up here quicker so I can start the troubleshooting quicker.

 

Thanks... this helps a lot. I'll just buy some spares of sizes 14-10 before I get in there. Id rather have the extra wire anyways.

 

i couldn't agree with you more the offers there i just have to find it in there its like 200+ pages of everything you ever need to know. let me know how you make out