So I just recently picked up a 88 jeep Cherokee. Didn’t notice till recently that non of my running lights are working nor is my gauge lights. I was reading a lot of comments semi relating it does have a new head unit and speakers that were put into it from the previous owner am checking there wiring job but have checked all my fuses replaced dry rotted ones and replaced the switch and still nothing did find one blown penny bulb on the driver side rear light replaced it and still nothing a little lost at this cause I’m not the best with electrical any suggestions to what I can look into?

 

My advice is start by cleaning every single electrical connection and ground connection.
This is something that should be done with every used vehicle.
It solves most electrical problems before they happen and we get to know our jeeps in the process.


Do you have or can you borrow a 12 volt circuit test light and multimeter ?

 

So I did fix it not the correct way I did use a test light and some leads to test what was hot and what could not be working I came to the conclusion that one of the blue wires that should be running hot (with the switch on) would not put power to the running lights I traced it for awhile pulled some bulbs only thing that got me a little change was pulling the rear dome bulb that then when I put some leads to the headlight prong on the switch to the running light prong on the light switch they’d finally come on but couldn’t find a solution to have it operate normally so for now I’ve connected a wire with a fuse to those two prongs in the switch and it runs and functions fine and doesn’t overheat or anything or blow any fuzes but I do know that that rear dome light was causing a issue

 

Glad it's working.

Too help you out with your shiny new to you Cherokee, PDFs of the Factory Service Manuals and Parts Books HERE