running lights not working on driver's side only?

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 1:11 am

OK I did update this post to once again ask for help, but minutes later I got out my Haynes manual and took a look at the wiring diagrams in the back. It had to be a fuse problem I figured, since each tail light housing uses one ground for the whole housing and it was unlikely that the wiring to both my drivers side driving lights were damaged at the same time (since they splice from the fuse block). I ultimately found I wasn't looking for the right fuse. When I found the one I needed to check, BINGO it was blown so problem solved hopefully. I know what grounded it out too, I removed my rear bumper and so I cut my license plate light off and the wires touch while my lights were on.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:05 am

Hook up a trailer lately?

The running lights are on a seperate fuse than the brake lights / blinkers (for good reason.) I have blown that fuse 2 times in recent history when hooking up a trailer that had bum wiring.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:25 pm

My dad used the Jeep to tow a trailer recently, but how could just my driver's side lights not work? Relay? My license plate light also does not work, but it runs off the same wiring as my driver's side rear running light housing.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:34 pm

The vehicle is designed on two seperate circuits. Half of the running lights on the trailer circuit (right side lights, insturment panel lights, interior lights? and the feed for the trailer lights) and then the other half has the brake lights, blinker and left side running lights. They were seperated so that a bum trailer harness wouldn't take out the brake lights... Which, when you are pulling a trailer can be hard to see, but might be your only notice to the guy following too close to you. This also adds some redundency into the system in case there is a short or bad wire internal to the KJ.

Did your insturment cluster lights go out as well? (Forgot to add this in earlier - this is how I always tell that the running light fuse is blown) The trailer hookup really makes me think that this is the problem.

Park in a garage. Turn on the lights. If you can't see the speedo - than the 10Amp fuse is bum.

It's one on the front most edge of the fuse box IIRC. If you need, I can snap a picture of my fuse box today after work. Mine has a pink fuse in it now so that I can spot it very quickly.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:32 pm

The parking lights are seperate left and right. It's the German contribition to the electical system. I ran into the same problem after I installed my ARB bumper. The fuse is located in the fuse box on the driver side dash.
Before you replace the fuse, you might want to investigate what made it blow in the first place.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:47 pm

Do you know which number, JLRockies?

Thanks for all the help guys.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:28 pm

Sorry I forgot to get the picture man. I was doing yard work all afternoon. I'll post something up tomorrow morning first thing for you.

sleeve84028 · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:03 am

As promised:

It's the pinkish red fuse. First row / Fourth from the bottom. Check that fuse.

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Sat Jun 07, 2008 4:46 pm

The factory trailer harness and the one you order from the dealer has a relay in the right rear quarter panel that uses voltage directly from the battery to run the trailer tail lights. It's fuse it in the power distribution box up by the battery :wink:

There's also a fuse in the drivers side fuse panel to power the relay

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:06 pm

OK I checked the fuses in the dash's side and the "trailer/tow" one in the fuse box under the hood , they're both good. I double-checked and all my blickers and reverse lights work, but running lights (same as blicker up front) are still out on JUST the driver's side. I'm starting to think this may be a wiring problem? I took a multimeter to the rear driver's side lights and everything was getting power, but some of the numbers looked weird (but I'm no electrician). I plugged the whole driver's side rear lights unit into the passenger side's plug in, and everything is fully functional, so its either wiring or fuses somewhere.
This car is still relatively new so I don't want to start ripping apart the electrical. Any ideas? I know I can take it into a shop, but diagnostics will be $$$. If I try fixing the wiring myself, it'll be huge PIA, assuming I can even do it.

Maybe I should just splice the running lights from the passenger side and run them over, replacing the wires for the driving lights currentlyt there. I'd have to do something similar for my license plate light, too. Does this sound like the most reasonably solution?

JRenfroe · **Joined:** Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:19 am **Posts:** 2

Have you been able to fix the problem with your running lights, I am having the same problem and can not figure it out.

RespectMyLibertay · **Posted:** Fri Dec 10, 2010 1:03 pm

It was a fuse. I can't remember if it was the fuse box in the dash (open driver's door, panel near door hinges), or the fuse box in the engine bay. One or the other, replaced fuse fixed problem.

JRenfroe · **Joined:** Fri Dec 10, 2010 10:19 am **Posts:** 2

Thanks, I never even thought to check the fuse. I only thought the running light was out so it did not make sense that it would be a fuse.
Thanks again,

Josh

running lights not working on driver's side only?

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