Hi. It's a while since I've been here but I'd appreciate help with this question. I have a 1996 Cherokee XJ. Having read repeatedly - here and elsewhere - that it's a good idea to install a headlight harness I went ahead and did it. But now I've hit a snag. My headlights do not work on lo-beam. Pulling the push/pull switch one click switches on the parking lights. Second click does nothing. Switching on main beam with the multi-function switch works fine, - so it's just lo-beam that is a problem.

I checked the relays by swopping them over and they're fine. checked the fuses and the bulbs and they're fine too.

So where do I go now? Am I right in assuming it's not another fuse? According to the Cherokee manual there is only one headlight fuse (not one each for lo and hi) so that fuse must be good. It can't be the headlight push/pull switch can it? because that sends 12v to the lo/hi selector which does work. I'm thinking maybe it's the multifunction switch? Bit of a coincidence, though, that it would fail just when I install the harness, so I wonder if I might have caused some other problem along the way?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

Can you swap the relays in the upgrade harness? That's what I'd try first after checking all my grounds have good contact.

Edit - I just re-read the orig post and it sounds like you might have already done that.
If you unplug the harness and plug the headlight back in (as it was previously) is everything working?

Maybe the wire or contact point came loose in the old plug and it's not making contact for the low beam signal.

 

Thanks for your suggestion. Yes I have already tried swopping the relays but without effect. I hadn't thought of going back to the old wiring, though, to establish when the problem was introduced - so I'll try that next.

 

If the above suggestion of trying a bulb directly works correctly, get someone to switch between the lo/hi while you touch/hold each relay. Both should click when operated as one turns on and the other off. If the lo relay is not clicking, it will have an issue with it's feed or its ground in which case you may need to trace the fault to its source, a multimeter should suffice. If the relay seems to be operating, the fault will be past the relay and on the line to the bulbs. Check all connections to make sure that as above, the contacts haven't been pushed back out of one of the connectors. I've had a headlight relay not work on a vehicle before and it was just down to one of the contacts no longer gripping the connector and being pushed back.

 

I hadn't thought of listening to both relays to check one is switching off as the other switches on. Thanks for that idea. I'll try it in the morning since here in the UK it is dark, raining and a gale force wind!

 

I have to think that the 23 year old original connector did exactly as you describe.

I had a 00 TJ and the high beams (both) didn't work. I never use them so it was only when I was getting ready for the yearly inspection that I even checked them, so who knows how long they were inoperable. It turns out the wire on the driver's side to the connector had come apart. I fixed that one spot and both the high beams started working again.

If the connector is really hosed, you can always extend the other side connector since you only need one to operate the upgrade harness.

 

If it makes you feel any better, here in NEW England, the temperature was in the teens (F) and pretty windy as well.

 

I'm glad I'm not in the same part of the UK as you, it's dark for sure but no wind or rain currently.

 

I think the main problem is the connection between the old harness and the new harness since your using that old headlight connector that's still in the system. My upgrade harness uses the passenger's headlight plug as the connection point and I had to clean it to get it to work, and mine is a 2000!

 

Great input as always, thank you!

Since this is a fresh thread, I need to install the headlight harness upgrade in my '01 XJ. Is everybody still on board with this model available from Amazon?

Putco 230004HW Premium Automotive Lighting H4 100W Heavy Duty Wiring Harness and Relay

I read through some of the comments on Amazon, and frankly trust the advice here much more!

Thanks in advance.

 

Is the vehicle in question equipped with factory fog lights?

 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CERAMIC-H4-H...-/330997592807

 

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread - especially Dave1123 who's idea was absolutely right, and I now have working headlights!

To Cruiser54 - yes my XJ is equipped with factory fog lights. I'll look at your website to see the significance of that!

I'm grateful to have a solution to my problem, but also to have gained an insight into how experienced Jeep people approach these kind of electrical things.

Thanks again.

 

Good old Dave....emphasis on OLD!!!! LOL

If all is working, the foglights might not make a difference at this point.

 

Thanks for the heads up, Cruiser!