[Insertion]

Need to either replace my switch, or perhaps clean the contacts.

I have a Haynes manual somewhere around here, but the woman got a wild hair up her arse, and decided to clean the house. Needless to say now I can't find the manual. If memory serves me right, I know that there is some type of spring lever or locking mechanism keeping it in place. Can't remember if this is something that can be pushed in, pryed off, or what. Anyone know?

Going to Autozone to pick up a new one, so hopefully someone will refresh me by the time I get back.

...Although I guess once I have the new switch in hand, I'll be able to figure it out anyways. Oh well, I sat here and typed this much, so I may as well hit the submit button

[SimpleXJ]

These switches go bad all the time. I got tired of buying new ones and made mine run off of $5 toggle switches. ANyway, the bottom panel on the dash (the one with the ashtray) needs to come off. That gains you access to the switch a little better. Reach behind the dash and find the little release button on the bottom of the switch housing. Push it while pulling on the knob that turns your lights on. It will pull out when you have pressed the release. Once the knob is out, all you need is a screwdriver to unscrew the cap which retains the switch. The retaining cap is what you pulled the knob out of. Once the cap is out the switch will fall out behind the dash. Reach back there and unhook the connector, then install the new one.

If your XJ is a 97+:

remove the bottom plastic panel on the drivers side. Remove the metal panel behind it. The knob release button and the rest is the same as above. In 97+ XJ's jeep made it a little easier to get to the switch, but the switch for those years can only be purchased at a dealer and is more expensive than the older type switch. That's why I just went to toggles.

Good Luck

SimpleXJ

[Insertion]

Originally Posted by SimpleXJ

These switches go bad all the time. I got tired of buying new ones and made mine run off of $5 toggle switches. ANyway, the bottom panel on the dash (the one with the ashtray) needs to come off. That gains you access to the switch a little better. Reach behind the dash and find the little release button on the bottom of the switch housing. Push it while pulling on the knob that turns your lights on. It will pull out when you have pressed the release. Once the knob is out, all you need is a screwdriver to unscrew the cap which retains the switch. The retaining cap is what you pulled the knob out of. Once the cap is out the switch will fall out behind the dash. Reach back there and unhook the connector, then install the new one.

Thanx Simple. I found my Haynes manual, a few minutes ago, and your directions were spot on with it.

Just curious about your toggle setup, how did you compensate for the dimmer, or do you just have your instruments lights at full?

[SimpleXJ]

I don't have a dimmer switch, they are full blast always - thats how I like 'em. It would be easy to set up a potentiometer from radio shack as a dimmer though. And it would work better than the stock one because it would be separate from the rest of the switch. Thats why the stock switch burns out all the time - potentiometers (or variable resistors) create heat, being part of a larger switch with more circuits all bunched up in the same plastic connector leads to burnt wires, melted plastic and sometimes even fires.
The switches I'm using are the metal 50 amp toggles, the chrome kind most people use on hydrolics. They work pretty good and stand up to heat well. One switch controls the headlights and another does the tail, dash and parking lights. My interior light is on a ceiling switch.

Regards,

SimpleXJ