No night driving for me...

[JCagle24]

when it rains, it pours. I just hopped in my '98 jeep cherokee sport this morning and pulled my headlight knob right out of the switch! I'm wondering if i need a new switch or can fix the one i've got, but first I was looking for maybe a how-to website so I could get pics of how to pull my dash apart without busting the plastic all to hell. PLease me out with this, thanks

[Dale Aeppli]

Originally Posted by JCagle24

when it rains, it pours. I just hopped in my '98 jeep cherokee sport this morning and pulled my headlight knob right out of the switch! I'm wondering if i need a new switch or can fix the one i've got, but first I was looking for maybe a how-to website so I could get pics of how to pull my dash apart without busting the plastic all to hell. PLease me out with this, thanks

WHEN YOU SAY THE PULLED OUT YOU CAN TRY PUTTHE STEM AND KNOB ASSEMBLY BACK INTO SWITCH YOU MAY HAVE TO TURN IT TO GET TO SLIP BACK IN PLACE. IF IT GOES ,PUSH IT ALL THE WAY IN. THEN TRY PULLING IT BACK OUT. IT SHOULD GO BACK IN AND LOCK IN PLACE. IF IT GOES IN RIGHT YOU CAN FEEL IF THE SWITCH WORKS AS YOU PULL KNOB BACK OUT. QUESTIONS HOLLER DALE [email protected]

[tfburton]

If you do end up having to remove the dash. Just be aware that it is a bit involved. First you have to remove all of the coverings with just a screwdriver (you may need a jointed scredriver for the windshield defroster cover). Then to get the instrument panel off you will need to remover two large bolts on the bottom of the dash on either side of it, and loosen two more near the steering column. If at all possible I would advise trying to remove the dash just enough to get to the lights switch. If that proves impossible...mark where each plug goes in the dash so that you remember where to replace them in reinstallation. If it were mine I would try everything I could before starting on the dash.

[I6whitejeep]

The good news is that its really easy to replace this switch if you need to, and cheap too. Bad news is its a pain in the arse to remove the dash covering..

Pick up one of the Hanes manuals. It has pics and how to's for doing this type of stuff, even rebuilding your engine if need be.

[AlohaBra]

Originally Posted by Dale Aeppli

WHEN YOU SAY THE PULLED OUT YOU CAN TRY PUTTHE STEM AND KNOB ASSEMBLY BACK INTO SWITCH YOU MAY HAVE TO TURN IT TO GET TO SLIP BACK IN PLACE. IF IT GOES ,PUSH IT ALL THE WAY IN. THEN TRY PULLING IT BACK OUT. IT SHOULD GO BACK IN AND LOCK IN PLACE. IF IT GOES IN RIGHT YOU CAN FEEL IF THE SWITCH WORKS AS YOU PULL KNOB BACK OUT. QUESTIONS HOLLER DALE [email protected]

This guy is right....the knob is supposed to come off...you have to take it off to get the dash off. In back of the dash panel where the switch is....is the release button for this knob. Tap it a few times to see if it is sticking with your finger....then put the knob back in...if it is trully broken...get a new one first and look at it and you can see how it works.

With the knob off you need a socket with two prongs on it, kinda like for the nuts behind radio knobs. You might be able to grind one or use thin long noses. I just looked at mine, a 97 Sport, and I can probably get to it without taking the dash off, if you reach in from below by the pedals.