2018 cherokee. Dashboard message says the license plate light is out. I have no power at the sockets. All other lights are operating. Any ideas before I tear out the panels?

 

Check the fuses?

 

Fuses are good

 

My understanding is that the wires into the lift gate break on the later years, have you checked the harness there?

 

I have pulled the rubber from the opening on the hatch door. All of the wires are encased in a wrap. I'm reluctant to cut it open just yet hoping it was something simple that I'm missing.

 

Does your wiper work? How about the speakers?

 

Everything works except for the license plate lights. I pulled back the rubber boot and I don't see any breaks or frayed wires. So I'm wondering if it's somewhere in the engine compartment. Otherwise I guess I'll have to pull the plastic panels off off the liftgate and do some jump wires from the tail lights.

 

On my '92, iirc there's a panel on the drivers side behind the spare which has a plug for the lift gate harness. If yours is similar, you may be able to check for continuity there for the lamp, if you find it then you know your problem is further forward

 

I get that periodically. I walk back there and thump the tailgate above the lights and they magically start working for a few more months. I've been too lazy to dig further into it.

 

I've played with the wires in the harness at the rubber boot to see if there is a connection issue but no light.

 

What's that mean?

 

It means there doesn't appear to be an issue with the wiring in the area of the rubber boot at the liftgate to body area.

 

you determined that there's continuity from the lamp plug through the boot and into the internal wiring harness?

 

No, I've determined that there is no broken or frayed wires in the boot area. There is no power at the bulb terminal so I'm guessing that the issue may in the engine compartment.

 

I would be surprised if the wire runs back further than the tail light harness