Help with a little troubleshooting ..turn signal & 3rd brake light

Lineleader · 11-26-2005, 11:54 AM

Did a quick search..to no avail.

1st..third brake light doesn't work (ever since I extended it to accomodate larger spare?). Bulb may be culprit here. As I do not have an owner's manual available, please tell me the size so I can try a bulb replacement.

2nd..Left turn signal does nothing front or back. Checked fuse, looks good.
Now what?

Many thanks.

Lineleader · 11-26-2005, 12:53 PM

uPDATE..changed out third brake light bulb (921) still no workie..

SmokyMtnJeep · 11-26-2005, 04:00 PM

Same issue here with the 3rd brake light. I changed the bulb too...still not working. Maybe someone will come by and help us out!

r_w · 11-26-2005, 07:47 PM

Check fuse #2 in the fuse block. The 3rd brake and regular brakes are fused independant.

If the fuse is good, then it gets harder. You'll have to get a multimeter or test light and start tracing back to where you don't have a good 12V.

M1Shooter · 11-26-2005, 09:00 PM

Try this:
Open tailgate.
Take some sandpaper and clean up the contacts on the bootm RH side of the tailgate and in the tub. (they look like nipples) The TJ isn't hardwired all the way to the light. The connection is broken everytime you open the gate via those contacts. Also, it is possible that you pulled the wirse out of the contacts when you moved the light up.

As for the Turn Signals, check the flasher. They go bad on one side. Or you have a dead ground in either of the lights. this will prevent the whole side from working.

SmokyMtnJeep · 11-28-2005, 02:46 PM

Ok, I tried the suggested method of cleaning the connections with sand paper. That didn't solve the problem, but did shed light onto what the problem is. I can press the tailgate, with my hands, towards the interior of the Jeep and the 3rd brake light will work. It seams as if there is a "gap" between the connectors. Is there a way to extend these, maybe with a washer or something similar to close the gap so that the connectors are touching??? Anyone else run into this problem?

SmokyMtnJeep · 11-28-2005, 04:14 PM

Just got home from work and added 2 washers to the posts on the tailgate itself, and....the third brake light works!!!!

M1Shooter · 11-28-2005, 05:38 PM

Glad I could point you in the right direction.

SmokyMtnJeep · 11-28-2005, 05:40 PM

I appreciate all the help Shooter