[krex1985]

Hey guys, i need some help in replacing my fuse panel. All my wiring is in average condition. just dirty and old I guess. Reason for replacement is:

With head light switch on turn blinkers dont work. With head lights off turn blinker to the left works. With head lights off turn blinker to the right not so fast. It blinks the right front, right back, left back, and left back side light. I think the source is the fuse panel. (turn signal, headlight switch, dimmer switch is all brand new from o'reilly's or online)

Could you give me some options for repair:

1) I was thinking painless wiring harness, but don't want/have the money for a kit. If I was to go this route which painless kit should i get the more expensive that is pre terminal. or the one with no terminals.

2) Fuse Panel Replacement only, for less cost, but I can not just find a fuse panel. Any help Here? (also i prefer not used, so i don't return in the same spot months down the line does not have to be factory either)

3) Repair the original fuse panel, but where do i find the internal connectors, parts and pieces there to basically make the fuse panel brand new.

Thank you for the help!

 

[Matt1981CJ7]

4) Hunt down the problem and fix it (probably a bad ground(s)).

Matt

 

[texasdave]

http://www.texasindustrialelectric.com/ they pretty much have everything you will need to repair it.

 

[krex1985]

Ok i tested the fuse block last night with a multimeter. I tested both sides on the fuses, most of the fuses only give me a reading on one side of the fuse. After that i removed the fuses and tested the connections inside the fuse blocks. The same side of the connections for that fuse gave my a reading. I repeated both exercises with the key in off and on position. Multimeter was used as follows black wire to ground bolt and red side to fuse block

My question is this the correct operation? Also is there any videos out there for testing the jeep cj fuse block? Last question on the multimeter operation was a suppose to switch and use the black wire on the other side on the fuse connection that i received no voltage and the red wire to the battery lead?

I think once i get the basics down i should be able to figure out the issue. Thanks.

 

[JeepHammer]

Hey guys, i need some help in replacing my fuse panel. All my wiring is in average condition. just dirty and old I guess. Reason for replacement is:

With head light switch on turn blinkers dont work.

Headlights are separated from the fuse block, they have nothing to do with each other on the fuse block/switching side.

The only thing they have in common is the 'Ground' at the grill shell.
Check your 'Grounds' at the grill shell, add a dedicated 'Ground' wire to the front, make sure your 'Ground' wires from the lights connect to it with CLEAN connectors.

With head lights off turn blinker to the left works. With head lights off turn blinker to the right not so fast. It blinks the right front, right back, left back, and left back side light. I think the source is the fuse panel. (turn signal, headlight switch, dimmer switch is all brand new from o'reilly's or online)

You are indicating two different 'Ground' issues here,
One for the front, One for the back.

The back is the same way, there is a 'Common' 'Ground' for all the rear lights, fuel gauge, ect.
You are having issues with this 'Ground' to body or frame.

Again, a dedicated 'Ground' wire from battery negative to rear of vehicle, clean up the terminals for the 'Grounds' in the rear, and this issue should vanish.

Could you give me some options for repair:

Dedicated 'Grounds' for front and rear lights, roll of black 12 Ga. wire about $12.
Package of heat shrink terminals, about $5.

Much cheaper and faster than a new wiring harness.

-----------------

1) I was thinking painless wiring harness, but don't want/have the money for a kit. If I was to go this route which painless kit should i get the more expensive that is pre terminal. or the one with no terminals.

'Painless' is NOT painless, it's a huge pain in the butt!
The wiring is a 'One Size Fits All', and you will find you still have the 'Ground' issues since the kits DO NOT come with lighting sockets or common 'Grounds'.

You will also have problems with ignition, starting, charging and gauges since AMC/Jeep used an odd way to do things you will have to adapt the harness to work with your vehicle.

2) Fuse Panel Replacement only, for less cost, but I can not just find a fuse panel. Any help Here? (also i prefer not used, so i don't return in the same spot months down the line does not have to be factory either)

The fuse block itself probably doesn't need to be replaced unless it's cracked.
The fuse block is rebuildable, replacing terminals is cheap, and they are available.
You will need a good crimping tool, a clean wire cutter stripper, and a tool or two to take the old terminals out of the fuse block.

3) Repair the original fuse panel, but where do i find the internal connectors, parts and pieces there to basically make the fuse panel brand new.

Thank you for the help!

Several places sell the terminals you need,
Check basic wiring link in my signature line, there are several sources and tool recommendations with some ideas on how to do the very thing you want to do...

 

[krex1985]

Thanks jeep hammer for the detailed information. I am still having the same/similar problem as before.

Left turn signal with headlights off - left front, left front side, left back blinks. Left back side does not blink

Left turn signal with headlights on - left front, left front side, left back blinks. Left back side steady on

Right turn signal with headlights off - left front, right front, left front side, right back, left back, right back side, Left back side blinks. All dash lights blink too. Right front side does not blink

Right turn signal with headlights on - nothing works.

Hazard lights headlights off - fronts blink, front sides no blink, backs blink, back sides blink, dash lights blink.

Hazard lights headlights on - nothing works.

Headlights on all lights work.

Please let me know what you think? Need all the help I can get!!

 

[BagusJeep]

If you want to test the fuse box the easiest and best tool is a 12V test lamp and some leads. This will help you find voltage pretty quickly.

If you are testing both sides of a fuse insitu (i.e. the fuse is in) you should get exactly the same voltage unless the fuse is blown or the holder is not gripping it. This diagram may help you visualise it a bit better, it is for a 1984 but yours will be very similair. If you are getting power to turn signals and hazard flashers at the fuse box it is not the fuse box. CLK HAZ STOP and TURN fuses are the ones to look at.

The issue with turn signals are various but they seem to revolve around the cheapo ground system. I guess we all have them but for me it is a quick tap to the offending one and it starts to work again as it grounds.

 

[Mike Romain]

As mentioned you have ground issues. Fuse panel doesn't control headlights.

The rear fixtures need clean bolts for the ground to the body tub connection. There also is a wire to the inside fender back there for the running lights.
The front signal fixtures also need a special shoulder screw in them to provide their ground as well as a wire ground for the running lights.

My CJ is glass so I just soldered wires right to the fixture for dedicated grounds.

 

[krex1985]

I guess I still have some work to do. I am going to replace rusted bolts on ground connections completely. Use use terminals on each ground. I guess before i thought i could be a little lazy on cleaning up the connections and re-using them.

Ill keep you updated thanks guys.

 

[BagusJeep]

If you read JH's Wiring 101 thread you will see how those grounds are supposed to be installed, with star washers. An useful upgrade is to install a ground wire harness throughout the Jeep back to the negative terminal on the battery which is the same size as the positive wire harness.

 

[krex1985]

Ok guys after doing pretty much everything I could think of..., I found out that someone put a couple of the bulbs inverted. I figured it out after buying new replacement bulbs for the whole jeep except headlights...

The fix I created was


Electric connecter cleaner from oriellys spray every light bulb connection, ground, and inside each pig tail. Don't forget the turn switch pigtail

Add washers to rear brake light bolts for more contact surface did this for headlight grill grounds too.

Replace bulbs with new bulbs and bulb grease. Also add bulb grease inside each pig tails. When replacing the brake light bulb if the blinker still doesn't work turn the bulb 180 degrees and try again.

Thanks for all the help!