YJ: Dash Lights will not work

[Drewminator]

After taking the dash apart and trying to narrow down WTF is going on here because the headlights and tail lights all work fine except the dash lights. By all means I am no electrical engineer but I think I narrowed it down to the dimmer switch. I took the dimmer switch apart and the circuit board part of it was broken. Hoping this could be the issue.

[RAT]

After taking the dash apart and trying to narrow down WTF is going on here because the headlights and tail lights all work fine except the dash lights. By all means I am no electrical engineer but I think I narrowed it down to the dimmer switch. I took the dimmer switch apart and the circuit board part of it was broken. Hoping this could be the issue.

Switch+broken= lights no worky. I wish the switch I have would work for ya but it's for a 2002 TJ. Thats kinda wierd (I guess) cuz I just worked on my lead tech's daughter's old LTD tonight. Same thing; broken LS.

[Drewminator]

Thanks Kurt my brotha! If this could be part of the problem and it still doesnt work, Im thinking of maybe by passing the dimmer switch and putting my own lights in the dash with a separate switch for them. I will cross my fingers when i buy the switch from the dealer.

Switch+broken= lights no worky. I wish the switch I have would work for ya but it's for a 2002 TJ. Thats kinda wierd (I guess) cuz I just worked on my lead tech's daughter's old LTD tonight. Same thing; broken LS.

[avjeepfreek]

Mine did the same thing so, I by passed the dimmer switch and they work just fine now. I can't use the dimmer but..... at least I have dash lights!

[Drewminator]

Hey Scott,

How did you do it? I think I would rather do the by pass then replace the switch. I just want to make sure i do it right.

Thanks-

Mine did the same thing so, I by passed the dimmer switch and they work just fine now. I can't use the dimmer but..... at least I have dash lights!

[aw12345]

Just snip the 2 wires that connect to the rheostat/ dimmer on the light switch and connect them together if you look at it you can figure it out works like a charm

[Drewminator]

I cut the wrong F'n wires and lost my tail lights. I put it back together and the tail lights are back to normal. I think your TJ is a little diff from the YJ.

Just snip the 2 wires that connect to the rheostat/ dimmer on the light switch and connect them together if you look at it you can figure it out works like a charm

[aw12345]

If you know which wire feeds the dash lights, then just hook them to the wire that gets hot for the tail lights and be done with it use one of those blue scotch locks the little square plastic thing. That way it will work just fine

[Drewminator]

Will do. I'll give it a shot.

If you know which wire feeds the dash lights, then just hook them to the wire that gets hot for the tail lights and be done with it use one of those blue scotch locks the little square plastic thing. That way it will work just fine

[Drewminator]

Thanks a bunch Art. I googled how to bypass a rheostat switch and i found a forum to where it gave a wiring diagram and to jumper the two outer wires. It worked out like a champ. :cocktail:

If you know which wire feeds the dash lights, then just hook them to the wire that gets hot for the tail lights and be done with it use one of those blue scotch locks the little square plastic thing. That way it will work just fine

[Roger]

Why not just replace the dimmer switch? They are cheap enough

[dr.dirty]

Thanks a bunch Art. I googled how to bypass a rheostat switch and i found a forum to where it gave a wiring diagram and to jumper the two outer wires. It worked out like a champ. :cocktail:

how about hooking anothe yj brother up

share what you did

my gauges dont work along with the dash lights

[aw12345]

Mr Dirty its easy to fix do you have power to the gauges, if none of them work check for starters the fuse for the gauges and trace from there to the instrument cluster

[2blk2drs]

how about hooking anothe yj brother up

share what you did

my gauges dont work along with the dash lights

If anyone has a good schematic for the gauges plese share. We have had OU812's dash apart a few times, but with no real tech literature, it mostly amounted to poking around in the dark with a test light.

[Drewminator]

I called every Jeep dealer and they said no one had it in stock in the whole country (hard to believe) and that it’s back ordered. He also said that it will cost about $135 bucks. I checked a couple of wreaking yards and it was a no go. The bypass worked out better then I thought.

Why not just replace the dimmer switch? They are cheap enough