wiring frustrations!

99% certainty it's a grounding issue. Most likely the ground return back at the tail lamp on the left side. Check every bulb and check the ground wire for rot. Just because it has some continuity doesn't mean it has enough. One way to see is if you put a volt meter between the ground wire by the bulb and the chassis and run the blinker, the meter will twitch.

Also check the sockets for any melt damage. Usually when the bulb wears it causes a melty spot.

Lemme know when you get that.

Thanks, Doug!

I checked front and rear grounds when I swapped bulbs, but I might have missed something.

One concern is I've found a bunch of nest materials in the driver's door ... yep, she's been sittin' and the creatures made nests, so I'm still going to pull covers, panels, etc and go thru the wiring looking for gnawed spots.

Thanks again,

Budd

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I've been doing this stuff for over 40 years, and I agree with Doug

100%, this is classic symptoms of a bad ground. Bad grounds cause the voltage to seek other paths to ground, which is what causes odd lights to come one. For example, the turn signal ground is open, so it 'back feeds' through the stop light, and the tail lights. This puts a voltage on the tail lights, which then causes things like the dash lights to come on dimly, the back feed to the stop light can cause the cruise control to cut out (or just not work) and all kinds of really odd things...

Another thing to always check, (I don't think it is your problem) is the trailer connectors. Excessive corrosion can lead to leakage between stop/turn/tail lights which creates odd problems... Don't ask how many times I've learned this!

LED bulbs are much worse in this respect, they can light up surprisingly bright with a few volts, which is worse.

No LED's and I removed a poorly installed set of U-Haul trailer lighting adaptors and taped the nicks in the insulation.

After I sort out the light probs, I'll install a trailer adaptor from the parts XJ which I had been driving until a couple rods decided to let go. It's a J.C. Whitney unit but it works great.

Thanks!

Budd

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Well ... gettin' closer to the prob ... I think.

Ran three new grounds: right rear, left rear, left front (all over 1 ohm from sockets to ground, now reads meter zero, 0.05 ohm, with new grounds) and found a no power situation on the right front park light socket but the turn signal works.

Now the fun part: while jiggling and pulling on wires to trace the park light power prob, the left turn light started flashing correctly.

So, I've got to pull the grille surround, headlights, turn/park lights and the battery so I can dig into the harness.

Good thing tomorrow's weather is supposed to be warmer (Canon City CO).

Budd

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If you trap a cat in there, it helps keep the critters out. Not that many cats like the taste of wiring, but keep it well fed anyway.

Judging by the condition of the XJ when I got it, the critters had been in residence for a few years. There were probably cats already around it.

After I get the wiring fixed then it's time to look at pulling the head and fixing / replacing lifters or pushrods ... it's got some valetrain noise.

(mantra) I love my Jeep, I love my Jeep, I love my (J)ust (E)mpty (E)very (P)ocket.

Budd

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I'd bet it's the ground circuit in the bulb socket it's self. I've replaced tons of them for problems like this. Many times the turn indicator on the dash will glow when the headlights are on too.

Nope, it wasn't a bad ground. It was damage from rodents.

Budd

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