I'm going to start this off saying that I did a fair amount if research on this, only to find threads about the dome light defeat fuse. (aka #4 behind glove box) My jeep has never had the door switch, and #4 fuse isn't even there. The kicker is that the dome lights worked initially, until I pulled the plug under the hood (on firewall) that prevents brights and fogs being on together, driving lights when light switch isn't pulled, etc. The domes stopped working after I pulled that plug. I decided I wanted my domes back and that I could have pulled something crucial anyways, so I put the plug back into the socket(for lack of better term), and everything BUT the domes work.
I say all of that to ask this: which fuse is for the dome light itself? Not the door defeat, but the dome light itself?
Thanks for your help on this minute question! Maybe your help will help someone else who is looking for the same advice!
Lets clarify your post. The dome light is the light above your head that turns on and off with the doors. Do you mean your dash lights, which would be the lights in your instrument cluster, lighting up your speedometer/tachometer etc.?
Cluster lights are fine. All dash lights are working. The ones that don't work are the hardtop light, soundbar light, and the lights under the dash. My bad for not clarifying! In short, the lights Im talking about are the lights that would come on if you rotated the light switch all the way counter-clockwise.
Doesn't the light switch/wheel control the dash cluster brightness ?
In either case I am watching this thread as well as my dome lights do not come on when the doors open, but do come on when I press them. Albeit only when they want too, must be some loose wiring in there.
I also noticed that when I turn my headlamps on the interior dash lights / radio lights go dim, even with the cluster wheel turned high. Is there a logical reason for this?
I had a similar issue and traced it to be the switch that tells if the door is open or not. I would put a volt meter in fuse number 4 slot to check for power there and work my way into engine bay if now power and my way out if there is power.
Thanks a lot, Water Dog. That is definitely above and beyond what info I requested. That actually answers a lot of questions! I've got class at the moment, but I'll pull out the voltage tester at home and get back to everyone.
This is going to be a tough one. Checked all fuses with a tester and they are fine. Bulbs all look good. #4 is good. Now to try the connectors I guess!
Really doubt that it's the headlight switch due to the fact that opening the doors (with fuse #4 in) doesn't energize the dome light either. Both the headlight switch and the door switches ground the circuit using different wires, so if one is out, the other should still work. I'm pretty sure the problem is on the supply side somewhere (maybe a broken wire or corroded connector contact). To verify that, he could pull the dome light out and ground the side with the yellow wire. If that turns on the light, then it is a problem on the switch side.
I'm walking out there right now to do some more research. I don't have door switches, nor do I have and sort of pin or anything. I guess it came factory with a closed circuit there or something. I don't know how that switch works. All I know is that it has been working before I pulled/reattached that connector at the firewall. I'll get back in a little bit and state what I found at the connector.
Alright. At this point, I'm kind of confused on the "giving" side. I traced it from the batt, to the computer/fuse box, through the wire cluster running along top, where it branches and goes to connector I'm holding in my hand, which plugs into the black box.
Since I'm 99.99% positive I've got the flow mapped out, I've got bad news. Only 1 out of 6 colored wires running into that connector I'm holding have a 12 volt supply running through them. It was the Green w/ white stripe wire. I'm assuming the black wire is some form of ground (it's in the picture below, but hidden kind of in the center of those wires.)
I tested first the connection points, finding only green/white wire to have power. So I'm thinking, "ok, just a bad connector". Then I cut a couple of wires themselves only to find that there was STILL no power in any of the wires.
I'm starting to think this problem is bigger, affecting more than just interior lighting.
According to the wiring diagram in the fsm, it doesn't show any connectors is the engine compartment for that circuit. It leaves the PDC, and goes directly in a harness to the large connector inside the cab at the drivers kick panel. If you can find that, there should be some pink/white wires in that connector. If you have a probe type test light, just ground the alligator clip and see if the pink/white lights the test light....Isn't this fun??
Oh yeah... LOADS of fun. It's hot out here too. Whatever. It's all for the enjoyment of the jeep!
Oh, and there have been a lot of acronyms tossed around that I'm not completely sure of their meanings! What is the FSM/PDC? I just know the pdc as the big box under the hood with all the fuses lol
This is the darnest thing! Electronics is obviously not my forte.
This is within the bowels of the dash. Right there inside te kick panel where the multiple connectors are. THIS section of pink/white wire has the 12 volts running through it. I guess the black firewall box I was dealing with wasn't making a difference. I'm not even sure what it's for now.
Anyways. Now to the switch! And ladies and gentleman, I believe that is where the problem lies
This is within the bowels of the dash. Right there inside te kick panel where the multiple connectors are. THIS section of pink/white wire has the 12 volts running through it. I guess the black firewall box I was dealing with wasn't making a difference. I'm not even sure what it's for now.
Anyways. Now to the switch! And ladies and gentleman, I believe that is where the problem lies
I was having the same issue with the dome lights not working. Thanks to all the tips in this thread, I started looking for fuse #20 in the pdc. I have no fuse there, so that wasn’t my problem. I started checking all the fuses in the pdc and found the fuse in spot #25 was blown. Changed it and the dome light now works. The diagram on the cover of the pdc says that spot #25 is for “IOD”.
Ok. The wire that closest resembles pink/white is more red than anything. And it has power when the switch is on or off? What am I missing here? I'm assuming the wires go somewhere after the switch, right?
Ok. The wire that closest resembles pink/white is more red than anything. And it has power when the switch is on or off? What am I missing here? I'm assuming the wires go somewhere after the switch, right?
Water Dog, man I can't think you enough for the insight. The Jeep is so much more complexly wired when you really start to look under the dash and at all the wires. I couldn't imagine trying to fix a BMW now. lol I'm going to wait on mi padre to get home before try anything else. He'll help me out with all the tips you just posted. I totally understand the purpose of the switch now.
Water Dog, man I can't think you enough for the insight. The Jeep is so much more complexly wired when you really start to look under the dash and at all the wires. I couldn't imagine trying to fix a BMW now. lol I'm going to wait on mi padre to get home before try anything else. He'll help me out with all the tips you just posted. I totally understand the purpose of the switch now.
You're welcome, the FSM is the factory service manual. If you haven't got one for your Jeep, you should get one. They are very complete and show every circuit, connector, splice, and location. I also have a "99" and bought my fsm on ebay for around $40. you can also go through it on line here: Jeep Knowledge Base
That pink/white wire feeds the dome lights, both in the hard top and sound bar. You should take a look at one of those lights and see if you have power at the light fixture in the pink/white wire. If you do, ground the yellow wire from the light fixture and the light should work. If it doesn't, it's a bad lamp holder or bulb.
If there is no power in the pink/white, there is a break in the wire between the connector in the picture and the lights. Do you have speakers in your sound bar, and do thy work? They use the same harness/connectors as the lights.
The confusing part is, that you said your courtesy lights aren't working as well. The courtesy lights come off a different connector higher up on your picture, and a break in one section wouldn't take out another section unless it blew a fuse. Did you check the bulbs?
I have the issue with the lights not coming on as the door opens, yet have a good fuse in slot #4. The lights will come on if I press them.
I'm thinking one of two things is up with it. Its an aftermarket soundbar and perhaps not wired up to that set up. In which case I'll need to figure out how to do that
Or, the PO wired up a door defeat somewhere and I just haven't found it yet.
I'm not offering as technical opinions as others here. I'm reading along to learn how to diagnoses mine as well but thought I'd chime in .
Bullethead, I'm clueless lol I still haven't found the cause of mine. I got pissed off and moved on to the next project, cutting my flares. I'll be out of town for the weekend, but I guess I'll get back to diagnosing my int. light problem when I get back!
Sorry, maybe I'm dense, but I still don't know what "them" is. If you are talking about the door switches, and pushing them in causes the lights to come on (they would be on all the time the doors were closed), then they are the wrong switches (or they are wired to a NO trerminal on the back instead of the NC terminal). The switches should make contact (close) when they are in their popped out position.
Check to see if you have the fused marked rear wiper, I have a soft top and pulled mine and the dome light stopped working. I finally figured what it was and popped the fuse back in and it switched back on. I don't recall what number it is but it is in the second column from the left and 3rd row down, or at least it was for my '98.
Alright so I have a similar issue.. all my lights work but when I want to turn my dome light on by twisted the headlight knob, it doesn't come on. The dome light works when I open my doors though. Any help would be great!
Most likely a defective headlamp switch or a bad ground from the headlight switch. What year is your Jeep? If it's 97-2001 and you can access the yellow wire at the back of the headlight switch, ground it, and the dome light should come on. If it does, the problem is either the switch, or a bad ground from the switch. The switch is grounded through the black wire, and is attached to the metal framing right below the left front speaker. pull the speaker grill off and you will see the ground point.
Here's a little home made drawing of that circuit.
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Related Threads
?
?
?
?
?
Ask a question
Ask a question
Jeep Wrangler Forum
9M posts
468K members
Since 2005
A forum community dedicated to Jeep Wrangler owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about reviews, performance, trail riding, gear, suspension, tires, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, for all JL, JT, JK, TJ, YJ, and CJ models!