Help...my lights went out!!!

Need a little advice here...tonight, I had to run an errand to a local store. While waiting in line at a driveup window, my lights went out. That's all, just the lights, the engine continued to run just fine. Well, since I was about two miles from home, I took back streets. About half way home, the lights came back on and stayed on til I got home. Any thoughts as to where I should start looking? This is first time this has happened. My Jeep has the original wiring and light switch. Thanks! KCJ

 

light switch has a circuit breaker on it. you have a short, it's going to be a pain to find, but has to be done. would start by checking the harness for bare spots in the covering.

 

Will do, thanks! Any suggestions as to a common place for a rub that would result in a bare wire?

 

BTDT!!!

On the surface it sounds like a connection is loose enough to be affected by the loping vibration of an idle 225. Just go through your light circuits' diagram, remove any corrosion from the terminals involved, and ensure tightness & corrosion-free, effective grounds. Do you have a good color wiring diagram?

You'll be ok.

 

the same thing happened to me. i chased all wires up to my lights, checked all grounds and i could not find a thing. it ended up being the switch was going bad. replaced it for 5 bucks and never had the problem again

 

:iagree: It might be a good idea to go ahead and change this before going throught the headace of chasing the bad wires or connections down. However, was it just the headlights, or was it all of the lighting???

 

Many thanks for the thoughts!! MCSCOTT, all my lights went out, not just the headlights...the only wiring diagram I have is in the original owners manual...know of a good source of a light switch? Thanks, KCJ

 

:iagree: x2 Since this episode, my philosophy has come to be check the moving parts first. That's the switch.

Try Krage for a replacement.

 

If everything went out, there is a good possibility that it is the switch or the connections at the switch. Not sure who is the best to get the switch from, but if it is cheap enough you would be just as well off to replace it first, then work from there.

 

I had this happen as well. It was actually my grill that was loose. Sounds weird but I have a fiberglass tub and fenders and that was the only ground. Tightened it down, no more problems.

High5

 

I've had this happen with a bad floor mounted dimmer. As suggested it could also be the headlight on/off switch.

 

Oooo, I didn't even think of this, but I have also had it happen on more than one occasion. Could be the culprit.

 

I have a spare old light switch I picked up from Boyink about 1 year ago. It was on Dutch I think. He can vouch for it better than I can, but send me a PM if you are interested. I gave him $10 for it, and would sell it to you for the same. I wanted it as a backup in case mine ever went, but mine hasn't gone and yours has.

 

Same thing happened to me and it was the switch.

 

Mine was the dimmer switch.

Used to keep a 5 D cell Mag light with me to drive by. R)

 

i forgot about hte dimmer, if i remember correctly everything rund through that switch as well

 

With me it has been the dimmer switch more times than it has been the main switch. You might want to replace the dimmer switch first because I know they are cheap and easy to find.