Well after getting pulled over today, I figured it was time to fix my lights. My rear running lights stopped working awhile ago. My brake lights and signals all work just not the ones that need to be constantly on. I checked bulbs and they were fine. I'll note when I pulled the fuse it was blown, I replaced it, but no cigar. All other lights work. It's an 89 xj.

 

Any suggestions?

 

get out the meter, bulbs can look fine but be bad

 

I tested, and they have no power until I tap the brakes

 

So the fuse keeps blowing? Do you have some jury-rigged trailer harness on your Jeep? If so, start there looking for shorted wires.

 

No, the fuse hasn't blown since I replaced it. My xj never came with the row pac

 

The taillights should not have power when you tap the brakes. The brake lights should.

 

Lol I'm an idiot, I re tested and there is no power for the tail lights.

 

Rear tail/marker/licence plate lights are fed from a dark blue wire up to the headlight switch.
The front running lights connect to the same headlight switch terminal, so if they DO work the switch itself is OK. The problem is somewhere in the wiring from the switch on back. Blown fuse would make sense if the wiring is broken or shorted.

 

so would that mean if the license plate lighhts work than power is coming from the switch at least and he can focus on looking towards the rear somewhere? possibly a bad ground somewhere?

 

Well, I 'm pretty sure the tail and license lights are on the same circuit and use the same ground.
Let's see what his response is after checking it out further.

 

As has been pointed out the tail, marker and license light are on the same circuit. They are powered by the blue wire coming off the light switch. The license lights have a separate ground. The tail and stop light share the ground.

So turn on the lights and check the license light. If they turn on, the circuit is getting power. The fault then would be from the tail light, blue wire, back to the point where it connects to the blue wire coming from the light switch. The tail and stop light share a common ground. Since the stop lights work, the ground is good. The fault is in the blue wire feeding the tail light.

If the license light do not turn on, you need to trace back, blue wire, to the light switch.

Do a continuity test from the tail light back to the switch. You should have continuity. If not, then work you way back to the tail light until you have continuity. The break would then be between that point and you last test.

A broken wire will not cause the fuse to blow. If the powered wire touches ground then it would blow the fuse. Since the fuse is not blowing, you just have a break in the circuit somewhere.

 

Well the Liscense light doesn't work,but it never worked in the first place. I checked the wiring by the lights there fine. I'll have to check the switch.

 

Do you have power to the socket?
ET Jeep nailed it perfectly- follow his guide based on what lights have power and which do not.

 

No power to the socket, fuse is blown again, trace wires have up until the switch. Trying to find the best way to get a look at the switch.