im having alot of problems with the lights in my TJ. its a 97... it has a pull knob type headlight switch.


1. the turn signals worked when i brought it home.. but they werent working right. they only worked if i pulled the lever, but not enough for it to click into position. once it clicked into position, the blinker light on the dash would come on and stay on without flashing.

2. the tail lights do not come on when the headlights are on, and the parking lights do not come on

3. the dash lights and hvac lights do not come on.

4. if i pull on the headlight knob.. very slowly... right before it clicks into place for the parking lights, the dash lights, hvac lights, and parking lights come on.. but as soon as i pull it any more than that, they go off.

i did notice with the headlight knob trick that when the lights do come on, the drivers side front parking light is burned out. i will replace it tomorrow, but i dont think thats whats making it do all this.



anyone experienced any of these problems?

speed i had the same thing with the left turn signal when i got my 99.. if i pulled it all the way down it would just stay on steady... if i pulled and held it before it clicked it would work fine....I didnt do anything to fix it... the only thing i did was to ajust my steering wheel tilt.. and its worked ever since... not sure if it helps or not.... but i did have the same prob...lol

how do you adjust tilt? i dont think mine has tilt

Not all 97 to 2000 TJ had tilt. But if it has it will be on the lift side.

yep. no tilt.

this sucks because it needs an inspection

I would have to say its the headlight switch itself.It is not to bad to change the hardest part is getting the knob and shaft out of the switch.There is a trick to removing the shaft like pulling while twisting or something I can not remember what it is though.You can remove the cover and switch without removing the knob then remove the knob once the switch is out,that is the easiest way.BTW I checked around and I did find it here for $30.Headlight Replacement Switches for your Jeep Wrangler TJ

i was thinking switches as well. theres definately something going on with the way this pull switch grounds itself when you pull it out.

im thinking about taking the dash off and messing with it. anyone have a link to a good how to on dash removal?

if i seem a little frustrated, i am.. but deep inside im loving it. ive had this jeep for a week, and ive already learned the vacuum lines for the hvac system, and im gonna be doing dash removal soon...

i love doing stuff that isnt the basic... oil change, air filter change, etc.

The Headlight switch in my 97TJ did the same thing. I replaced it and didn't have any more issues.

here is a short video i uploaded to show the problem. you can see theres a sweet spot where i can get the dash lights on, but when i move it in or out from this spot they go out. the sweet spot is in the middle between fully in, and the first click for the parking lights.

also, the signal lights seem to be stuck on the left blinker.. or at least its showing that on the dash. i ordered a new signal switch that i should be picking up today.

this is gonna be quite the adventure.

i got the dash panel off, (easy enough with just two screws) but it looks like the headlight knob is gonna be a beotch to get out.

based on what its doing i really think its the switch.. but i have no idea how to get it out.

you dont remember how you got it out do you?

Make sure you disconnect the battery before you do this.

First you have to remove the knob... There is a push button pin on the switch itself. Reach up under the dash and push it in while pulling the knob out at the same time. It will take a little force, but it WILL come out.

Under the plastic dash panel (the one you take off below the steering wheel) you will see a nut that holds the switch into the dash. Unscrew it, remove the switch, unplug it, plug in the new one and do all above steps in reverse. No sweat!

Hope this helps also!

well, $36 bucks later the headlight switch is on the way. ill update when i get it and get it installed.

thanks

I knew I could remember being a trick to it but just could not think of what it was.I have changed a hand full of them with the same type retainer on the shaft/knob but had a brain fart.speep did you get yours through the link I gave ya??

yep, got it from the same link.

so is this a common problem?

what are the usual symptoms? same as mine?

Just seen this post. Yes it's been common on the earlier year TJ's. I've replaced several for some other jeepers. Along with turn signal switches too.

yeah i bought a turn signal switch today at napa. would have gotten the headlight switch there too but they dont carry them.

how hard is the turn signal switch to replace?

thanks!

good to know this is a common problem.

Real simple. Just take the 2 torx screws out of the column cover "located from the bottom of the cover". And then pop the covers off. If I remember right There is just one little bolt holding the switch on. Disco the connector going to the switch pop the stitch up and off and go in reverse from there.

One note, if there are aftermarket lights on the vehicle make sure they are powered through relays or else it may burn out the new headlight switch.

nope. not even fogs on this bad boy

question...

is the prob with the headlight switch likely to short out or mess up this signal switch?

i got the new signal switch today, but havent recieved the headlight switch in the mail yet.

was wanting to throw the signal switch on.... just making sure..


also, 31s get put on tomorrow.

Just wait.

wilco

It's not likely to damage the multi function switch and the old one was probably not the fault or bad either but since you did get it I would just hold off and put the new headlight switch in first.

im tracking the headlight switch on fedex.com. should be here within 48 hours.

i have the dash off working on a check engine bulb issue, so im going to pull the headlight switch while im there.

i found the button to release the knob. its a tiny little spring loaded button on the top of the headlight switch housing.

i didnt see the bolt your talking about.

im gonna have to get in there tomorrow and get a good look at it from underneath.

ok got the new switches installed... wasnt the problem.

there was a bad ground connection at the headlight switch i found thanks to a buddy with a multimeter.

wish i would have troubleshot it with him first, but hey even he said he would have assumed it was the switch lol.

so the dash and running lights work now.

turn signals are another issue but i started another thread for the sake of keeping the new problem seperated.

consider it case closed on this one.

CHECK YOUR GROUNDS!

lol.