97 JGC electrical problem

[etesterman]

New here, I have a 97 Jeep Grand Cherokee Larado (125,000 miles). The dome lights started going on and off while I drive. Every time the lights go off the doors lock. I took fuse out of dome lights so I could drive but the door locks still continue to lock every few seconds. I have a problem with the fuel gauge dropping to "E" and the fuel light comes on but this does not happen every time the lights and locks go on the blink.
One morning the Jeep would not start and battery was dead. I opened the door and a clicking noise was coming from under the passengers side dash. I looked and a light (under the passenger dash) that comes on when the door is open was clicking and kinda flashing. i took the light out and charged the battery and it has run since. If anyone has any idea what my problem is I would appreciate your inpu and advice.
Thanks Much.

[noybs]

Mine is a 96 with the same problem. Just started a couple of months ago and has gone bonkers the last two days. (When I park it with the alarm set, the alarm goes off runs for 45 seconds shuts off and cycles like this every couple of minutes.

I noticed the display indicating the passenger door is ajar when the lights go on and the doors lock/unlock. I'm hoping it is a dirty or bad door sensor.

I've seen several threads along this line, sounds like it is either this or a random short somewhere in the electrical system.

I'll let you know what works.

[etesterman]

Originally Posted by noybs

Mine is a 96 with the same problem. Just started a couple of months ago and has gone bonkers the last two days. (When I park it with the alarm set, the alarm goes off runs for 45 seconds shuts off and cycles like this every couple of minutes.

I noticed the display indicating the passenger door is ajar when the lights go on and the doors lock/unlock. I'm hoping it is a dirty or bad door sensor.

I've seen several threads along this line, sounds like it is either this or a random short somewhere in the electrical system.

I'll let you know what works.

I think my problem may be one of the back door switches. It seems to act up more now when I mess with the passenger back door. I will let ya know if it works.

[AZFlyingDiver]

Check the wiring bundle from the door - it's not unusual for a broken wire or short to happen after a while (I have 96 ZJ with 144K miles). Break out a tester because the wiring breaks are usually hard to spot visually (although sometimes you can).

Good luck!

[bschlamb88]

i've had this problem with my 97 Grand, and I've found an easy $4 fix. Go to an auto parts store and buy a spray can of Electrical Parts Cleaner. On each door, there is a little button/sensor that gets pushed in when the doors are closed. after awahile, the sensor needs to be re-lubed, and just spraying them with Electrical Parts Cleaner and pushing the sensors in and out to work the cleaner in will solve this problem.
This is a common problem with all Jeep/Chrisler cars, i've used the same fix on my mom's minivan when its lights flashed/locks went bonkers.

[joseg31039]

I have the same problem with my fuel gauge - which is part of the original thread. Mine will go to "E" then back to the normal reading while I am driving, idling. sometimes it will do it 20 times and then there are days it never does it. I haven't found and answer yet.