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CMG

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
Leave work this morning, flip the lights on and the high beam indicator comes on. Dimmer switch does nothing. Get home turn the headlight switch off. Everything else turns off except the headlights. Swapped the auto headlight relay and no change. Only way to get them to turn off is to pull the 30amp fuse under the hood in the pdc.

So I am thinking it is the dimmer switch on the column. Anything else I should check, double check to make sure?

The FSM I have is missing the lamps section. But under the wiring it shows the headlight wiring. According to that it seems like it is just the switch. The BCM controls the auto headlight relay so pulling that with no help mean they are getting there power elsewhere. Meaning the BCM is good, and the multifunction switch is suspect. Right?

Its a 98 Limited with the auto headlights.
 
#2 ·
if your dimmer switch is not functional you may have it stuck in "flash to pass" mode. Its where you have the head lights off and pull the high beam lever up they light up. Might have to pull the column apart to see if thats it. Also may have dislodged the rod and its hanging up that switch.
 
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Discussion starter · #3 ·
Mark05059 said:
if your dimmer switch is not functional you may have it stuck in "flash to pass" mode. Its where you have the head lights off and pull the high beam lever up they light up. Might have to pull the column apart to see if thats it. Also may have dislodged the rod and its hanging up that switch.
Click to expand...
No rod on this switch all intergrated. It is exactly like the flash to pass is activated. Got part of the column apart. It has the security torx screws in it. Not sure how I will get those out yet. Maybe try to pry those nubs off or see if I can buy those special torx bits.
 
#4 ·
the little "nubs" are pretty hard to knock off.. just go get some security torx to remove them. I agree now that there is no rod. My yj is early enough to have the rod and I have had both apart.. sorry about the bad case of CRS :)
 
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#5 ·
pulling the MFS lever back like you are flashing your brights does nothing?



You may have a stuck relay, check the headlamp relay in the PDC.
 
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Discussion starter · #6 ·
Pulling the MFS does nothing.
Relay seems fine, went to the junkyard looking for a headlight switch, no luck they were all gone, just the headlight switches. Bright side scored an additional tranny cooler and found a headlight switch on ebay for less than I expected. Once it gets here I'll swap it in and see whats up.

I am an electronic tech by work so I do know how to check relays and what not so I am confidant saying it is not the relay. Just an FYI
 
#9 ·
possibly 2 wires are shorted, thus grounding the switch causing the lights to stay on. im not 100% if the head lights are power or ground switched, but if they are ground side switched id check the wires
 
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#10 ·
You can take apart the dimmer switch and fix it. Mine refused to turn on the low beams. I cleaned the contacts from oxidation and put new dielectric grease on them, works as new. I'm planning on installing relays for the headlight to prevent this from reoccurring.
 
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#11 ·
RedneckZJ said:
possibly 2 wires are shorted, thus grounding the switch causing the lights to stay on. im not 100% if the head lights are power or ground switched, but if they are ground side switched id check the wires
Click to expand...
power (12V) switched
 
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#12 ·
nevermind then
 
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#14 ·
KoreaZJ said:
Dielectric grease is nonconductive (an insulator).
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what's your point? Yes, it's an insulator so it won't short anything. But since it's a grease, it does not prevent electrical contact between two metals pressed against each other. It is squeezed away easily at the contact area.
 
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Discussion starter · #15 ·
Dug around some more and appears to be more than one issue. The instant I put the 30 amp fuse in the PDF in the headlights and high beam indicator came on. Ended up being the drl module. That issue is fixed. Well unplugging the drl I lost the highbeam indicator on the dash.

Another issue maybe is today I noticed sometimes the auto headlights come on after I shut the jeep off. They do turn off after about 2 mins like normal. I can't always get them to do this either. Not sure on this issue but now at least the headlights do turn off. Just need a drl module now. It is a Canadian model and has an import sticker on he door. The drl didn't not operate when I bought it either.
 
#16 ·
CMG said:
Dug around some more and appears to be more than one issue. The instant I put the 30 amp fuse in the PDF in the headlights and high beam indicator came on. Ended up being the drl module. That issue is fixed. Well unplugging the drl I lost the highbeam indicator on the dash.

Another issue maybe is today I noticed sometimes the auto headlights come on after I shut the jeep off. They do turn off after about 2 mins like normal. I can't always get them to do this either. Not sure on this issue but now at least the headlights do turn off. Just need a drl module now. It is a Canadian model and has an import sticker on he door. The drl didn't not operate when I bought it either.
Click to expand...
Mine does the 2 min thing too. It will only do it if you shut the ignition off with the headlight on, and then turn the headlights off. Try it. I guess this is how the BCM is programmed. Never thought about the DRL as you are in the states. Check rockauto for the drl or an online mopar dealer, eg. wholesalemopar.com
 
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Discussion starter · #17 ·
4Slow9erHybrid said:
Mine does the 2 min thing too. It will only do it if you shut the ignition off with the headlight on, and then turn the headlights off. Try it. I guess this is how the BCM is programmed. Never thought about the DRL as you are in the states. Check rockauto for the drl or an online mopar dealer, eg. wholesalemopar.com
Click to expand...
That is when it happened. caught me off guard as I never have the headlights on when I turn the ignition off. Old habits from before headlight reminders. back when carbs were more then a way of eating. :laugh: I only thought the would stay on after igntion off at night and when the headlight switch was in auto.:confused:

Yea the DRL stumped me too. They dont work or arent activated on the jeep now so I thought the module was "inop"
 
#18 ·
CMG said:
That is when it happened. caught me off guard as I never have the headlights on when I turn the ignition off. Old habits from before headlight reminders. back when carbs were more then a way of eating. :laugh: I only thought the would stay on after igntion off at night and when the headlight switch was in auto.:confused:

Yea the DRL stumped me too. They dont work or arent activated on the jeep now so I thought the module was "inop"
Click to expand...
The DRL on these things is an "add-on" for Canadian models only, they can't be "deactivated" other then unplugging. If you don't want/need the DRL you can just unplug it and jump two terminals on the DRL harness and you'll get the high beam indicator back. I can check my FSM for the exact pins if you want to go this route.
 
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