So here we go. I'll try and keep this short and sweet. 94 xj county 4.0 4dr 5spd

I have no radio, dome light, power door locks, power mirrors or power windows. I checked and replaced every fuse i found that was blown. After replacing fuses I now have everything minus the power mirrors. I don't rem if the key was on or off but after replacing the fuses the d/s mirror was going all exorcist on me and it was tryin to position itself all the way to one side so it was just click, click, click as there was no more adjustment in the mirror. I quick unplugged the switch which is located by the ebrake and center console and it still was goin nuts until it blew a fuse. I think it was the iod fuse under the hood. After replacing again everything was fine. Still no mirrors but at least they don't have a mind of their own. I went to check more stuff and I thought I smelled burnt wires like that rubber/plastic smell. So I turned the key on ACC and saw smoke coming out from behind the headlight ****. So I ripped the panel off by your knees and turned the key. Nothing. Hmm. Did it again and we got smoke. There is about 5-6 wires going into an INT WIPER box which is velcro'd to the knee panel. There is a black wire that looks like 2 black wires that are kind of stuck together but it looks like they are supposed to be like that. ( I thought they were melted together). Both black wires go into the same pin on the INT WIPER box. That black wire is the one that smokes. Plugged in or unplugged still smokes. It's only smoking right in that little area. What is that black wire and why could it be smoking? Previously before all of this. I had power windows but radio, locks and dome wouldn't work. When I would drive I could sometimes here the door locks doing something as if the doors were unlocked and you pressed the unlock button and it just makes a click noise. Only when it was running would it do this. It would lock the doors on its own when it wanted to.
Now another question.
Last night I went to go somewhere and I had just replaced all fuses and now the dome light stays lit with doors closed or open. It wouldn't turn off so i pulled the fuse for dome light and some other non important stuff so it wouldn't kill the battery. At 9oclock when I was leaving to go home I started the jeep and the dome light came on but was only at 1/4 of how bright it usually would be. It stayed on for 30 sec then shut off. I already have a fuse pulled so where is that getting power from?
Finally last but not least. I can start the jeep and the windows work for 10-15 sec then the breaker gets hot to the touch and it trips. If I pull it out for a minute and let it cool and put it back in the windows will work for another 10-15 before the breaker heats up and then trips.

What do I do now guys? Ugh. I hate wires. Anything will be appreciated.

 

Wow, you've got some issues alright. I'm not great with electronics, but sure sounds, to me, like you've got some grounding issues, as well as some crossed circuits. How does your fuse block look? I know in my 96 it was corroded to hell and back when I got it.

Since you've got so many different issues, after refreshing all the grounds, I would start looking at where they all come together, and that would be the fuse block. Check for corrosion and condition of the wiring. Wouldn't surprise me if you've got some wires with questionable insulation that are drawing power from other circuits.

But again, I'm not great with this stuff, so take my advice with a grain of salt.

 

Update

My windows work!!! Got in the jeep this afternoon and about 1/2 way through my trip I tried my window and it worked. I played with it for about 3 min and no prob. I'm sure they won't work tonight when I leave but the windows are back for now. Yesterday was the day I was changing fuses and everything. This is how often and random this is happening.

Also no smoke since the windows are working.


It's raining today so next time it's nice I'll be out checking grounds. Are there grounds inside as well as the engine bay?

 

Not all that familiar with the 94, but there should be at least one ground behind under the dash, attached to the firewall.

Your windows might be the wiring between the frame and door. I know I had to patch the wires on my 96 because the windows only worked at times. But again, I'd still start at the point where are your problem areas meet, and work your way out from there. First things first, though, is to check the grounds. I haven't had any issues with mine, but there are a lot of horror stories on the forums that were solved by refreshing bad grounds.

 

Ive had my oem headlight **** go thru a major meltdown, the dimmer coil failed and shorted.
I have a new oem ****, can't bring myself to use it. but rather chose to install dedicated switches operating solenoids. One for headlites, one for running lites. Don't trust the stock **** system as I was very close to fire.(ripping it out by hand in the dark in the snow). Dam the stock electrical. definately keep looking for the source your wire problem if you have smoke!

 

Did some research and found that the wires that run from the drivers side by the fuse block under the floor over to the center console hump rub through due to the drivers feet. I ripped up the carpet to find a complete rats nest of burnt wires and plastic and padding. What a mess. Every wire was burnt and arcing off of other wires and grounding to the floor. Nightmare. Cut out all the bad and spliced in all new wires. TADAA! Windows, radio and dome lights. Forgot to check the door locks and mirrors. Is had the jeep for 3 years and none of the window switches on the doors worked just the drivers master opened and closed all windows. Now everyone can put their own windows up or down.

Still have one issue.

The dome light stays on no matter what. I have to pull the #9 fuse so it won't kill the battery. But if I pull the #9 I lose radio also.
I can't win but I'm still pumped that there is no more smoke.

Thanks everyone for all your input.

 

Great job tracking it down, and thanks for the update. For your dome light, I would start with the switches at the doors and tailgate. I haven't had a problem on my 96 but on my daughter's 90, she had that issue if she didn't close the tailgate hard enough. Even though it latched like it was fully closed, the switch was finicky to the point where we just disabled it.

 

I don't know if this is a dumb question or not but could I pull all the bulbs associated with the dome light and would that not kill my battery?