98 JGC LT. - Electrical Problems

[baddflopp]

Hi, please help.

Have a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ltd. that has crazy electrical problems.

Everything works fine for about 15 - 20 min. Only happens at night, when headlights are on. Driving down the road, all of a sudden, lights begin to go off and on, off and on. Very regular, like hazards. Includes headlights and all lights in vehicle.

Can stop and wait a little and then go again, works fine usually. In both in Auto and regular lights mode.

I am told they did replace battery and run all the tests, but it won't do it when they are looking at it, only at night?

Any thoughts? Thanks!

[gtmud]

If you have the headlights in Manuel mode does it do it? Sounds like you have a bad sensor that works in AUTO to turn the lights on and off. Especially when it only happens at night. Look at the control circuit for the lights and might look into replacing the sensor that turns them on/off. in the Auto mode.

[baddflopp]

Originally Posted by gtmud

If you have the headlights in Manuel mode does it do it? Sounds like you have a bad sensor that works in AUTO to turn the lights on and off. Especially when it only happens at night. Look at the control circuit for the lights and might look into replacing the sensor that turns them on/off. in the Auto mode.

Hi, thanks for answering, I do believe it does it in Manual mode as well. Sometimes when it's bumpy it does it as well, thinking loose ground maybe......

[Cam7]

Sounds like you might have a short in the wirring. Had a XJ that had some of the symptoms. Had corrision in the wirring harness under the air box. Check the wirring back from the headlights and see if you fund any breaks. Makes me think that way because of the lights going out when you hit a bump.

[baddflopp]

Originally Posted by Cam7

Sounds like you might have a short in the wirring. Had a XJ that had some of the symptoms. Had corrision in the wirring harness under the air box. Check the wirring back from the headlights and see if you fund any breaks. Makes me think that way because of the lights going out when you hit a bump.

Thanks for answering

Will do, have a friend that is electrician (home normally, not so much cars) but I will let him know as well to look for those. Shop tests apparantly don't do shorts, bad grounds or fuses, just like drain test and alt test. Alt is fine (they say) so is battery (they say) and they did replace the starter (which I think needed it as seperate problem.

[baddflopp]

Does anyone think it could be the switch? When it happens, I can turn it off, wait a min, then switch back to which ever option is not doing it (auto/manual) and then it's normally fine?

[baddflopp]

New info, sometimes when I just touch the switch, light switch inside, it re-creates the problem somewhat. What I mean is by pressing switch, I can get the lights in the Jeep to dim and go in and out. So obviously I am going to change the switch, but would this drain the battery and/or make it not start?

[sal111865]

I Have a 98 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9.
Its doing the same thing, The interior lights go off and on.
Did the inside light switch fix the problem??

[hisnher gjc's]

Possibly the headlight switch. Common problem on Ford products. The switch heats up and the lights go on and off

[JDPascal]

On some headlite switches there is a circuit breaker built into the switch. If the bimetal strip is over heated it shuts off the lites. the more it is used the easier it shuts down the circuit.

If you install extra lites or more powerful bulbs, the extra draw will pop the breaker too. Best to install a relay if extra lites are added to the circuit.

JD

[memphisAudio]

I have a 96 Grand Cherokee and it has a similar problem. My Interior lights blink on and off along with my power locks locking back and forth while I'm driving down the road. Especially when I'm driving on a rough bumpy, It goes nuts!! It is extremly annoying!! I took the 5amp interior lamp fuse out so the lights wont blink, but of course my door locks still act up. 'I just turn up the radio to drown out the problem'
The dealer is going to charge me $90 per hr. just to look at it!! Anyone have any idea what the problem could be???

[sal111865]

Removed and replaced headlight switch. Cost me $80. from the Dealer. Everything works fine.

[mx52nv]

where is the headlight switch located? I might change mine out.