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Interior lights stay on

Old 01-21-2011, 08:49 PM
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Default Interior lights stay on

In my Cherokee, all my interior lights stay on 24/7. I checked all the door jamb switches. I checked the headlight switch. I even went through some of the wiring looking for a short. I ended up just disconnecting the lights completely. Any idea on what could be causing the lights to stay on?
Old 01-21-2011, 10:18 PM
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You have something in the circuit grounded out.
Old 01-21-2011, 10:56 PM
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I just had that happen to me yesterday. Mine ended up being a wire for the under dash light on the drivers side that the insulation had been rubbed through and the wire was grounding against the metal bracket that runs along the bottom of the lower dash panel.

When it first happened I was thinking the worst, because I had just finished fixing some elect. problems in the overhead console as well as reinstalling the complete interior in my Jeep.

Old 01-21-2011, 10:56 PM
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Um, this may be a stupid suggestion but rotate the *** you use to turn on the headlights, clockwise.
Old 01-21-2011, 11:04 PM
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Originally Posted by ivantheigor
Um, this may be a stupid suggestion but rotate the *** you use to turn on the headlights, clockwise.
He said that he checked the headlight switch.
Old 01-22-2011, 12:29 AM
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Another stupid suggestion: I'm assuming you checked the switch & it works when you manually press it? I had that problem with my XJ after twisting the ddiver front door on the hinges (long story). When closed, the door jamb didn't contact the switch to turn the lights off. Seems there was a small gap between the door & the switch due to a dent. So I got 2 small button-sized magnets, about the size of ... well ... a button. I stuck them to the door jamb & filled the gap, hitting the switch when the door closes. One magnet could be enough, but I used 2. It has been this way for about 4 years, never fell off, & still works. YMMV.

Try it.
Old 01-22-2011, 12:55 AM
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Originally Posted by _StationWagon_
Another stupid suggestion: I'm assuming you checked the switch & it works when you manually press it? I had that problem with my XJ after twisting the ddiver front door on the hinges (long story). When closed, the door jamb didn't contact the switch to turn the lights off. Seems there was a small gap between the door & the switch due to a dent. So I got 2 small button-sized magnets, about the size of ... well ... a button. I stuck them to the door jamb & filled the gap, hitting the switch when the door closes. One magnet could be enough, but I used 2. It has been this way for about 4 years, never fell off, & still works. YMMV.

Try it.
x2 the jam switches operated fine when i pressed them manually.., but I pushed them ALL THE WAY IN by hand. your door is not going to do that. if it did you would crush the darn thing, so theres a sweet spot that isnt so sweet any more. ...,ergo, new jam switch. IMO and experience. good luck
Old 01-22-2011, 07:50 AM
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Originally Posted by black_police_xj
x2 the jam switches operated fine when i pressed them manually.., but I pushed them ALL THE WAY IN by hand. your door is not going to do that. if it did you would crush the darn thing, so theres a sweet spot that isnt so sweet any more. ...,ergo, new jam switch. IMO and experience. good luck
rear hactch switch stuck?
Old 01-22-2011, 08:01 AM
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I had the same problem in our old '88 Cherokee. That turned out to be the wiring harness in the roof shorted to ground when the previous owner reinstalled the roof rack. I had to drop the headliner and repair the wires from the passenger side "A" pillar to the forward dome light. It took me weeks to find it.
Old 01-23-2011, 01:23 PM
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In my 88, it was the rear hatch switch. I just unplugged ie and threw away the cantact.
Old 01-23-2011, 01:32 PM
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check the door itself , I hah to tape a nickle to the door for now . the pin pushed the door , that now has a divid on it . try that .
Old 01-23-2011, 02:18 PM
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similar to me sticking the magnets on there.
Old 01-23-2011, 02:26 PM
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