89 cherokee H-lights,radio,horn intermittent

Hi Guys,

My 89 Jeep with 240K has problems.. The high beams always work , but the problems are with the low beams. They will work immediately after engaging the headlight switch but other times only the park lights will work. Also, at different times, the after market radio will quite playing and then immediately power up to play right away. If I hit the horn the battery meter will drop until I release the horn and of course the horns sound will deminish as the battery meter drops. All of these instances are unique to themselves, but then again....are they?

Some say its a bad steering column and others a bad alternator.
I dont have a clue. But I love my jeep..

Any suggestions?

I would check for proper ground. The one headlight models have the ground for the instrument panel, light switch, etc under the dash on the left side of the steering column. The two headlight models have it on the left hand shock tower.
The after market radio could be wired any-which-way unless who ever installed it used a wiring harness adapter. What happens if you turn these problem items on while your engine is running and then turn the key slightly back and forth with out enough movement to turn off the engine or engage the starter? If they go on and off, the electric portion of the ignition switch (not the lock part) is probably bad. Get a wiring diagram such as the one in the Haynes Manual for your year Jeep and with a multi-meter you can probably figure this out. I wouldn't think the alternator is bad or your battery would be going dead. The steering column wouldn't be bad either.

I dropped the steering column and installed the ignition switch today. I will let you know the results.

Your advice is appreciated.
Thanks.

Ignition switch shouldn't affect the low beam lights.

Aa bad dimmer switch would. The grounds would. Ign sw could affect the radio, but so can the crappy crimp connectors most people use to install them. I'd get the wiring diagrams and start with one thing at a time. If they are connected, you'll soon find it.

The place that I purchased the stereo from installed it with the wiring harness and wouldn't warranty it without.

Since installing the new ignition switch, the radio, horn dont effect each other and both are operating perfectly.
As far as the headlights ie;lowbeams, so far so good. They too were operating intermittently, so we will keep fingers crossed.

I will keep you guys posted. Thanks a million for all of the advice.