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Tail Light Issue - 2008 Grand Cherokee

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59K views 32 replies 21 participants last post by  Beekean  
#1 ·
My 2008 Grand Cherokee has a strange problem: the right side rear tail light does not illuminate when you turn on the headlights.

The brake light and turn signal both work - just the running light does not work.

Tried new bulbs, did not work

Swapped sockets from side to side, did not work

All 3 other lights work as intended.

All help appreciated.
 
#2 ·
My 2008 Grand Cherokee has a strange problem: the right side rear tail light does not illuminate when you turn on the headlights.
The brake light and turn signal both work - just the running light does not work.
Tried new bulbs, did not work
Swapped sockets from side to side, did not work
All 3 other lights work as intended.
All help appreciated.
Please try the following:
- test to see if the RHS lamp fails to illuminate in the parking light, low beam, and high beam switch positions.
- verify that the RHS assembly ground is intact

I'll look in the '08 WK FSM for clues.
 
#3 ·
Spoke to the service department at the dealer this morning. The service manager says "Is it the RH tail light?".

I say yes, and explain the issue.

He told me that the harness to the RH light is between the body and the spare tire. Sometimes the harness rubs the body, and gets a short.

I will drop the spare tire tomorrow and see if that is the issue.

The fuse is fine, and the socket and bulb have been verified to be OK.

Thanks for the offer to check the service manual.
 
#5 ·
My RH taillight goes out on me randomly. Will blink fast like the bulb is out then will work fine in a couple hours. Sounds like I might have the short described.
 
#6 ·
#9 ·
AND the problem was ??? It would be.appreciated if you let us know what it was just in case someone else develops the same issue. Thanks, Jack
 
#13 ·
rustyjig said:
i have the EXACT SAME PROBLEM but with the left side! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE post what you found to fix it! it doesnt do any good for you to come on here and ask for help if your not willing to give it! it would only take 30 seconds for you to type what fixed it!!!!!!!
After a year I doubt he is going to share his secret lol. Did you check the wiring harness with a meter?
 
#17 ·
I have a 06 Jeep Grand. The drivers side tail light is out. Backup and blinkers work. I changed the bulb (twice) and cleaned the connectors. Still no good. Anyone have a suggestion? I do have a trailer harness and have removed to test several times. Just to mention the trailer blinkers and brake light do work. Both rear light do not work.
 
#19 ·
Anyone who posted have a fix? I'm running into the same issue. I start my vehicle, keeping the turn singal on. Turn signal functions propertly until about one minute after I start it. The blinker signal then speeds up like the bulb is out. I removed the exterior casing/housing of the break light and verifed all wires in tact and undamaged as well as all bulbe being in good condition. This issue casues me some stress as marking right turns can be very dangerous. The only thing I havent checked was the fuse which I will check on my lunch break today.
 
#21 ·
I have worked on Jeeps as a Mechanic for years, I friend of mine came to me with this same problem of the tail lights (brake lights) intermittently or stop working all together when the headlights are on. Also the blinkers on his did not work. Sometimes it was on the left side sometimes it was on the right. His jeep was an 08 WK limited with the HEMI. There is a few things you need to check before you replace ANYTHING. This does take a certain level of skill and electrical understanding to preform.
1st - check all of your connections as well as the bulbs and the socket that it plugs into, make sure they are making contact.
2nd- Check your wires running from the tail lights, underneath the jeep ( they will run above the spare tire) and on through to the other side. Sometimes they will brake and cause a short.
3rd - This was the last step, I checked the multifunction switch on the steering column and found that it was shorting out. The problem is within the actual switch its self so you will need to replace this in order to correct the problem. This is also a very common problem on WK jeeps, and I have had to replace a lot of them over the years. You must be very careful when replacing these as you do not want to cause any issues with your airbag. Dissconnect the battery for at least 15min before you proceed. The part its self IS VERY SPECIFIC TO YOUR JEEP! so get the part from the dealer or at least get the part number from the dealer. The Part will run between 50-150 depending on year make and model.

If you dont have any brake lights at all or any current flowing to the rear, then check your brake light switch.

I hope that this helps anyone who is having a problem with this! Good Luck!
 
#26 ·
Same Problem

Hey all,

I have the same issue described above. The Right Rear signal works in every setting except when the headlights are on. It has been suggested to me to check for rusty connects, but it seems that there must be a wire rubbing somewhere. Has anyone (that responds) solved this issue? Does anyone know where the wired come in contact with the body as described above?

Thanks!