birdnerd

I'm on a cross country trip from Seattle to Baltimore. I stopped in Denver to see family and my headlights died. I figured out the switch is dead but the connector boot has melted. I have to be in Baltimore by Thursday and I don't know were to get the connector. Any help would be appreciated. It's a 90 4 liter 5spd.

Jmb94

If you actually know what part you need, most of the national parts chains can have almost any part in next-day (NAPA, Autozone, O'reilley's, Advance).

BTW, this is more of an OEM Tech question...

birdnerd

I have a post going in the OEM Tech Question section as well. As I said Im in the middle of a cross country trip that is on a tight schedule. I don't know what the connector is technically called so I'm having issues finding it online at the part stores.

xjheep92

can you take a picture of what you are talking about. might have more luck if we can see it

birdnerd

I can get the photo in the morning. It is the 7 post plastic connector that goes into the headlight switch that has melted. It melted around the central post.

wahoo

If you cant find a stock one most parts stores carry a generic switch, at least this will get you back on the road.

birdnerd

i found the switch, the problem is that the connector that is on the wiring harness has melted a bit, around the center post, and i can't find the replacement socket. Would it be okay to reuse the old connector socket or would it just fry the new switch.

jp92cherokee

Junk yard will be your best option ! Sure its under 10 bucks for it

yellaheep

Yep. Junkyards. You didn't say where in Denver you are, but there's lots of yards around. I was just in both the Denver and Aurora U-Pull-And-Pay lots last week and they have numerous early XJ's. Go in there with a pair of side cutters, cut out a harness connector and headlight switch, do some splicing and get back on the road.

This melting of the harness connector is pretty common so you may get a little frustrated in seeing a few other melted ones in the yards, but there's plenty to pick from.

http://www.upullandpay.com/locations/locations.aspx

77olds

Look up a simple wiring diagram and grab a few toggle switches. All you need is your running lights and head lights, dimmer is unimportant, just to get you by.