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Rear tail light socket replacement
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Anyone have experience with this? Mine of course is a 1990 and has the kind of tail light sockets that twist out of the housing and pop out. The brake lights have two-post bulbs and the rest look like one post bulbs.
What happened is: on the right side, someone cut the wires and took out the original tail light socket and tried putting the running light socket with a bigger bulb in there, so needless to say I don't have a working brake light on that side currently.
What I want to do: get a proper replacement for the tail light socket and re-wire it using the cut wires so it's working properly, and also replace the turn signal socket on the left side due to the ground wide ripping off that one when I was replacing some bulbs. If I get that done I have most of my lights working. Is there anything I need to know? Do I need to disconnect my battery so I don't kill myself rewiring these? I'm having trouble finding the stock parts, is pick-n-pull my best bet?
What happened is: on the right side, someone cut the wires and took out the original tail light socket and tried putting the running light socket with a bigger bulb in there, so needless to say I don't have a working brake light on that side currently.
What I want to do: get a proper replacement for the tail light socket and re-wire it using the cut wires so it's working properly, and also replace the turn signal socket on the left side due to the ground wide ripping off that one when I was replacing some bulbs. If I get that done I have most of my lights working. Is there anything I need to know? Do I need to disconnect my battery so I don't kill myself rewiring these? I'm having trouble finding the stock parts, is pick-n-pull my best bet?
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
I found replacement sockets for the brake lights at Oriely Auto Parts. And as far as getting shocked....LMAO!...it will not hurt you.
Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 407
Likes: 3
From: Murrieta, California
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Anyone have experience with this? Mine of course is a 1990 and has the kind of tail light sockets that twist out of the housing and pop out. The brake lights have two-post bulbs and the rest look like one post bulbs.
What happened is: on the right side, someone cut the wires and took out the original tail light socket and tried putting the running light socket with a bigger bulb in there, so needless to say I don't have a working brake light on that side currently.
What I want to do: get a proper replacement for the tail light socket and re-wire it using the cut wires so it's working properly, and also replace the turn signal socket on the left side due to the ground wide ripping off that one when I was replacing some bulbs. If I get that done I have most of my lights working. Is there anything I need to know? Do I need to disconnect my battery so I don't kill myself rewiring these? I'm having trouble finding the stock parts, is pick-n-pull my best bet?
What happened is: on the right side, someone cut the wires and took out the original tail light socket and tried putting the running light socket with a bigger bulb in there, so needless to say I don't have a working brake light on that side currently.
What I want to do: get a proper replacement for the tail light socket and re-wire it using the cut wires so it's working properly, and also replace the turn signal socket on the left side due to the ground wide ripping off that one when I was replacing some bulbs. If I get that done I have most of my lights working. Is there anything I need to know? Do I need to disconnect my battery so I don't kill myself rewiring these? I'm having trouble finding the stock parts, is pick-n-pull my best bet?

Cameron
Last edited by ck1; Feb 19, 2012 at 10:34 AM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Fair enough then, glad you said that because after coming up short at Auto Zone, NAPA and Rock Auto I was about to post a reply asking where I can BUY those things! I need two, one tail light and one turn signal. I was going to ask Jeep next.Yeah my PO was a bit of a dumb *** eh? BTW check my pics soon, going to post pictures of the rig AFTER I pulled off my rubber door strips. LOTS of old dirt under there.
BTW I have a 3 row radiator coming to me, plus I got those two old hoses we looked at, new clamps for those, as well as a fan flade, a fan shroud and a brand new water pump coming in from NAPA soon. Gonna be ready soon!
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Seasoned Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 407
Likes: 3
From: Murrieta, California
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
wheeling tomorrow, honey doos today
..all auto parts should have them...you are looking for an oem and that aint gonna happen..I have a couple generics we can wire in..you will need to buy a single though.
Cameron
p.s. pick up a fan clutch also..
..all auto parts should have them...you are looking for an oem and that aint gonna happen..I have a couple generics we can wire in..you will need to buy a single though.Cameron
p.s. pick up a fan clutch also..
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
A single? Also I thought my fan clutch was OK?
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 897
Likes: 12
From: Sioux Falls, SD
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Just hope you never need to replace the TOP light (Brake/Running) sockets. They are hard to find. All of the books at the local parts places only list (Chrysler) socket. The socket is the wrong type. The "ears" dont line up correctly with the light housing.
I ended up running to a junkyard and pulling 2 complete rear light harnesses just so I could have extras.
I ended up running to a junkyard and pulling 2 complete rear light harnesses just so I could have extras.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 84
Likes: 0
From: San Diego, CA
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Heh mine is too old, doesn't have a "top" light! 
I may end up pulling a set out of a junkyard one day myself, who knows. For spares, of course.
I may end up pulling a set out of a junkyard one day myself, who knows. For spares, of course.
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