Hot Ignition switch
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 24
From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
You will find that the wires are "stuck" in the multy plug. They have a little spring loaded "catch" that holds them in the plug. It's on the flat side, and it's a hassle, but not imposable to slip something in there to hold it in flat so the female blade connector can be removed from the plug.
This one doesn't have that catch, but maybe the photo will help.
This one doesn't have that catch, but maybe the photo will help.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: New Cumberland, PA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
OK big update sorta. replaced the this
with

replaced the melted connector with individual spade connectors that fit very snug on the blades and hooked up correctly and crimped and all that fun junk
then we inspected this:


got hot enough to make the red insert black.
we found that the red and purple ones that look burned actually got hot enough that i guess they melted the litttle nub that clips down and holds the connector in there so when it was pushed on they would slide out and not actually slide on the connector. so to test it we pushed them on by hand. thinking we solved the problem we started her up and ran the a/c....sadly still getting HOT
. so our next step is to check/replace the two wires that are probably damaged. but if thats not it what else could it be?? i just thought what if the two are switched? would that cause problems? if not whats next?
with

replaced the melted connector with individual spade connectors that fit very snug on the blades and hooked up correctly and crimped and all that fun junk
then we inspected this:


got hot enough to make the red insert black.

we found that the red and purple ones that look burned actually got hot enough that i guess they melted the litttle nub that clips down and holds the connector in there so when it was pushed on they would slide out and not actually slide on the connector. so to test it we pushed them on by hand. thinking we solved the problem we started her up and ran the a/c....sadly still getting HOT
. so our next step is to check/replace the two wires that are probably damaged. but if thats not it what else could it be?? i just thought what if the two are switched? would that cause problems? if not whats next?
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Excellent job of fixing it. You do know they make insulated female spades, right?
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: New Cumberland, PA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
i am aware they make insulated spade connectors we just went with what we had. whats the best way to test this over charging theory? and how to fix if it is?
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,489
Likes: 24
From: Nor-Cal Coast
Year: 90,84
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0,2.5
Krimenney what fun! Over charging might be voltage above 14.8, (in my opinion). 14-1/4 is what i see on mine.
Besides a bad connection, too much current (for whatever size wire), will make heat. Does it only get hot with the AC on? If so I believe the wire to the AC clutch has an connector there somewhere. I might measure the amperage going through there, or just see if the business still gets hot with that un-plugged. Just a thought.
Just a bad switch? (over current might make the whole wire hot, where as contacts in the switch, or connections will be more local.) Maybe later I'll look for a diagram for your 96, and/or look at the one for my 90.
Besides a bad connection, too much current (for whatever size wire), will make heat. Does it only get hot with the AC on? If so I believe the wire to the AC clutch has an connector there somewhere. I might measure the amperage going through there, or just see if the business still gets hot with that un-plugged. Just a thought.
Just a bad switch? (over current might make the whole wire hot, where as contacts in the switch, or connections will be more local.) Maybe later I'll look for a diagram for your 96, and/or look at the one for my 90.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: New Cumberland, PA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Krimenney what fun! Over charging might be voltage above 14.8, (in my opinion). 14-1/4 is what i see on mine.
Besides a bad connection, too much current (for whatever size wire), will make heat. Does it only get hot with the AC on? If so I believe the wire to the AC clutch has an connector there somewhere. I might measure the amperage going through there, or just see if the business still gets hot with that un-plugged. Just a thought.
Just a bad switch? (over current might make the whole wire hot, where as contacts in the switch, or connections will be more local.) Maybe later I'll look for a diagram for your 96, and/or look at the one for my 90.
Besides a bad connection, too much current (for whatever size wire), will make heat. Does it only get hot with the AC on? If so I believe the wire to the AC clutch has an connector there somewhere. I might measure the amperage going through there, or just see if the business still gets hot with that un-plugged. Just a thought.
Just a bad switch? (over current might make the whole wire hot, where as contacts in the switch, or connections will be more local.) Maybe later I'll look for a diagram for your 96, and/or look at the one for my 90.
it can get to the point where it would burn your fingers. depends how long i run the fan.
side note. the back-light fuse is supposed to be a 5 amp fuse. and it had 7.5 so i replaced it with a 5 and just last night it blew put the 7.5 back in. don't know if this has anything to do with the hot switch. just putting up all variables and such.
CF Veteran
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 47,923
Likes: 38
From: Broward County Fl.
Year: 1989 xj sport 2dr
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 12 hole bosch Injectors
why not get another switch that picture you posted switch looks pretty nasty could bexsame inside around contacts which will cause warmth
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: New Cumberland, PA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
in continuation of the blown 5 amp fuse. the 7.5 amp blew tonight. its been replaced with a new one. hopefully this isn't an omen of complete electrical failure. lol still not sure if theyre connected at all.
Thread Starter
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 516
Likes: 0
From: New Cumberland, PA
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
the ignition switch. now if i replace this whats the best part to use, reason i ask is it was replaced before and there were all kinds of problems. for example if you turned on the wipers the radio would come on instead. is there any brand or should i get one from the dealer.



