So I put new speakers in my jeep in January and right after I put in my 5.25" sony xplods in the doors my dimmer and tail lights were out that night when i started it up. After that I put in all new 6.5" kenwood speakers in the sound bar and hatch. My dad got a new light switch and I tried new fuses but that didn't help. Now I guess as he was trying to find the short and then my headlights went out and now I don't have any lights! My dad started to blame the speakers but I didn't touch any wires then the speakers. Does anyone have an idea or experience where this has happened? He's about to drop it off at someones house but just would like some info so he might not have to spend any money. I have an 88' 2 door 4.0 laredo

 

Sounds like a wire did get FUBARed somewhere. However, if it started with the back lights, I doubt the speakers had anything to do with it. IIRC, the wire loom for the rear lights runs along the roof, or at least that what it seems like on my '91 XJ. You said fuses were checked and the switch is good? And after your old man worked with it, ALL lights died? Have him go back with you and trace where he worked. If he made it worse, then he likely got near the initial problem. Sorry I can't offer more detail or help. Hopefully someone with a little more insight can chime in here. Good luck!

Btw, is the whole jeep 'dead' or just the lights?

 

I appreciate it thank you, well it started with the dimmer and tail lights. I checked the fuse and it just kept blowing new fuses left after right so after my 4th fuse I gave up on it. My dad was more than confident that it was the switch. So he bought a new one and installed it while I'm here down at college. He said that now I have no head lights either. Can this be from the switch installation and that he might not of grounded it well?

 

BUMP

 

Is your switch ok?

You may have boogered the switch up when you took it out.

I would look around that switch for something being messed up.

Do your brake lights and turn signals work?

 

My dad bought a brand new switch so it can't be that unless he just didn't ground it right or what ever. All my turn signals should work he hasn't told me about them

 

Got my lights back! turns out that the past owner had for some reason connected the ground and power wires to the back license plate light and it may have gotten connected from me taking the hatch panel off for the speakers

 

There are 2 connections for the license plate light inside the hatch. One for the standard plate location and a second to hang the plates on the drivers side of the hatch. The second was for XJs equipped with the factory rear tire carrier because it covered up the original plate location. If both connections are connected it will create a ground fault circuit and blow the fuse every time you turn on the headlights.

I had the same issue a while back, https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/dre...-sizzle-17743/