Hello! My name is Amy and I have a 98 jeep Cherokee sport and my left rear running light isn't working. I changed the bulb and still nothing. If anyone has any suggestions or tips please let me know, I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks guys!

 

If a new incandescent bulb didn't fix it, I'd try checking for current along that circuit starting at the bulb socket and working forward. I've had a few wires go bad on my various circuits due to rubbing, age, corrosion, etc. Good luck!

 

Thanks potato walker for responding. I have checked the current for that specific wire and there is no current. Any other thoughts or suggestions? Starving college student can't afford to take it to a shop : ( Thanks again!

 

Hey cupcake! (sorry couldn't help myself).....

you have an open in the wire....

usually, not always, up underneath the bumper area there is the harness which runs to the front of the jeep, once in a while something may have hit the wire or rubbed or something which caused it to "break it open" so to speak.

the same harness usually has that corrugated wire plastic protector over it (usually very thin, as there is only a couple wires in it), but.....you may have to do some crawling around under there with a strong light and using a meter check any connectors (pull apart etc) and measure resistance....
if you don know how, maybe ask a friend to do it...any chance you have wiring diagram for the lighting system for your jeep? study it if you do and then systematically check any point with the meter where you can pull apart a connector until you find an open....

best I can do from here.....wish you very much luck!!!!

cpnwrench

 

I had a very similar problem. What happened was I accidentally kicked the wire up against something sharp and I frayed it. It was a simple fix though

 

The other lights work and you got no voltage at the center of the socket for the left rear. Sometimes when trailer wiring gets hooked up the wires down there behind the rear bumper get messed with. Weather you have a trailer plug or not you might want to take a look under there and see if something really looks weird.
When you check for current use a good known ground, like maybe the do-hicky the hatch latches to. Also see that that has a good connection to the socket. Good luck! Don.

 

Thanks guys for the tips and suggestions. I will be trying this later today and I am sure into tomorrow. Eeeeekkkk

 

Wow that's fairly confusing. I hope you can read wiring diagrams... here it is sorry it was late.

 

ever check the fuse??????