wallenator

Hi,
not an owner, know nothing about cherokees. friend was pulled over for no brake lights.
Rear lens from top to bottom: red, white, yellow, red. (or yellow, white).
start car, lights on.
top red lights only are on.
hit brakes, same top red lights flash brighter.
do the bottom red lenses come on with the brake lights, or am I seeing proper operation?
also, when should the yellow lenses be on?

Help a poor dumb Ford owner out here?

dave1123

Welcome to CF!

There are only 3 bulbs in each side; Combination brake and tail, turn signal, and reverse lights. The bottom lens is only a reflector. Each function uses the same bulb, they're just wired for their function and all the sockets are the same. I would suspect the brake light switch. The yellow lens is the turn signal.

Another problem with jeeps is the plastic of the sockets tend to melt and loose connection. This is the part the bulb presses into. Simple fix is to use JY replacements. If you sit in traffic a lot, the bulbs get real hot and soften the plastic enough for the brass contacts to relax into the plastic. Try putting the reverse sockets into the brake/tail location. The most common symptom is lose of ground, where the brake lights work with the headlights off, but don't with the headlights on. In most cases, the high stop light still works, but won't if it's the brake switch.

Sorry, but I'm a Mopar and GM man. I really don't like Fords, but it may have something to do with my dad who was a diehard Ford man! Their wiring systems are like Greek to me. Don't take offense, to each his own!

wallenator

Dave,
Thanks. What you just described is what she has. Everything is working correctly. Cop just likes pretty young blondes, I guess...
cheers,
wallenator

dave1123

It's entirely possible they weren't working when the cop saw her. After the sockets cooled they could have made contact again, but this would be the first time I've heard of this.

Wolverine93

my daughter had a similar prob with her 04 rear lights..i replaced a few bulbs but they seemed to work when they felt like it. i ended up buying new sockets...they are not to pricey...and replaced all the old dried up bulb sockets. they all work fine now..might be worthwhile for your friend to pull them out and look at them...if they appear all dried up and brittle they are easy to replace. just be careful the bulb socket(its a 2 piece assmb.) doesnt fall inside. there is still one rattling around in my kids light. no way to get it out as its a sealed unit.

dave1123

If you dismount the tail light assembly, you can reach inside with a pair of cutters and cut it up to get it out. Been there, done that!

Wolverine93

lol...yep tried that but patience is one thing i dont have to spare....its the one for the turn signal so just left it there. figured the odds of it hitting the other bulb were pretty low so it can stay. its the bulb and the socket both doesnt show through so close enough repair for me

wallenator

Hey, thanks, all of you. My recommendation at this point is to back up to a garage door or fence and check them regularly. Good practice for all of us to follow.

Happy New Year

dave1123

Oh! Another thing. I switched my reverse lights to LED. They made quite a difference!