Hello - I just bought a brand new 2005 KJ Limited and have already taken it back to the dealer. I have less than 50 miles on the vehicle. Problem is with the illumination on the Gear Selector and the Transfer Case Selector. The illumination on the Gear Selector only works intermittently when the headlights are on. The dealer has ordered a new Gear Selector Assembly to remedy that problem.

My real question is this: Is the Transfer Case Selector illuminated? When you turn the headlights on at night, is the 2WD, 4L, 4H, etc illuminated? Mine is not and I don't know if there is a problem or if none of them are supposed to be illuminated.

Thanks!
Brad

in 2WD, nothing is illuminated. In 4H, you'll see "Part-Time", in 4L you'll see "4LO". I think this is the case even without the headlights, as it's the only indicator of which gear you're in.

Note that the gears don't engage the second you pull the lever. Pulling the lever only sets a sping that means "i want to go into X gear". The jeep has to be moving and the gears mesh before it actually engages.

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Jeff 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade
4x4, 6spd, Leather, Sunroof, trak-loc, skids/rails, hitch+shackle, hooks, Alpine/iPod, Thule, GPS, CB, Frankenlifted w/ 31" MTRs
Photos Cardomain

i think he is talking about the handle itself, not the dash lights?

Correct. The transfer case handle is NOT illuminated. The gage cluster has both a "PART TIME" and "FULL TIME" light when so engaged.

At least in my KJ the transfer case handle does not illuminate.

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'05 KJ Renegade 3.7L
stuff
Lost Member Number: 051898

Welcome to LOST bradtopp! Sorry to hear your truck is already in the shop.

Nope, there are no lights on the T-case selector handle.

I hope you get your KJ back okay.

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Yeah, I was referring to the dash lights as well, I'm pretty sure on my t-case handle, the labels are just labels and don't even appear to be light-able any more than the 1-6 and R on the stick are illuminated.

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Jeff 2005 Jeep Liberty Renegade
4x4, 6spd, Leather, Sunroof, trak-loc, skids/rails, hitch+shackle, hooks, Alpine/iPod, Thule, GPS, CB, Frankenlifted w/ 31" MTRs
Photos Cardomain

Thanks everyone! I'll cross my fingers ... at least it's just a minor problem. Not very happy that I already have a problem, but I'll keep it positive until something bad happens (hopefully never). I traded my Chrysler 2006 300C and my 2000 Cherokee Sport for my liberty. The dealer actually gave me a check for many thousands of dollars since the 2 vehicles were worth more than the new Jeep. Plus the 2005 Libertys around here have $5000 off the sticker before you even start to wheel and deal!

Ohhh, I would of kept the cherokee for sure! I would not sell one of those if I had to right now!

Anyway, are you saying the gear lights only work when the headlights are on? If so thats normal, but if you are saying they go on and off when the headlights are on then there is a problem. Thats very minor though and I wouldnt worry about that.

The tcase handle does not light up, and I wish it did.

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LOST KJ'S
Where are you going???
Current Jeep: 2004 Jeep Liberty
-Atlantic Blue
-Air Ride Rear Suspension ; OME/Rustys Lift ; Powertrax Locker ; Moog Lower Ball-Joints ; 245/70/16 Yokohama Geolander A/T-S's on MOABS ; Flowmaster 50 SUV
Lost #007082
http://www.cardomain.com/id/jeepjeepster

Yeah, I know the gear lights only come on with the headlights but something strange is happening. The gear lights don't actually flicker off and on while I'm driving down the road. Here is what happens ... this morning when I went to work at 5:30 a.m. it was still dark, so I had the headlights on and the gear selector lights were off and wouldn't come on no matter what I did (switched headlights off and on, restarted the Jeep). However, when I drove home tonight with the headlights on, they were on and worked fine the entire way home. Could be a relay, a switch, etc. Who knows. I hate the thought of some mechanic tearing apart my Jeep with less than 100 miles on it. But it is brand new so I expect at least the interior lighting to work!

Hi Jeepjeepster - I forgot to tell you about the Cherokee. I bought it 4 months ago for $2800. It was a 2000 with 114,000 miles on the body, and 25,000 miles on a rebuilt 4.0L engine. The interior was in SAD shape and it ran pretty rough. During a 2 week vacation that I took from work I tuned it up (new coil pack, plugs, oil change, radiator flush, put new coils springs, leafs, and shocks on it, lifted it 2 inches (which resulted in about a 4" lift since I used heavy duty coil springs and leafs), and installed a SYE. I tore out the interior, installed new carpet, and bought some OE Mopar leather seat covers from a Cherokee Limited that were on eBay (brand new). I put in a new stereo, found a slightly used OE center console, new Bridgestone Dueller AT Revo's, had some wheels blasted and powder coated and the Jeep was like brand new. I put $1,800 in it. I traded it for $7700. Just couldn't pass it up. I do miss it, but I travel A LOT for work and was never home to enjoy it. Maybe I'll get another "TOY" I can tear apart once my travelling days are over.

--Brad

Wow, sweet deal on the Cherokee. You must do some nice work!

My KJ just started doing this with the lights too.

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Nanette

03 Freedom with some neat stuff done to it that I learned about here.

Nanette - Sorry to hear that you're having the same problem. I'll post the solution when/if they fix it. Electrical problems always worry me ... it could be anything from a short in a single wire someplace to a faulty bulb to who knows what!

Thanks. I think I'd rather have it just die and be off all the time than be intermitent. (like the wierd transmission thing it did that cost $300 for them to not find anything wrong) Hopefully they figure yours out and it's easy. Then maybe I'll take mine in. Or tape a little flashlight aiming at the shifter. I miss my warranty.

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Nanette

03 Freedom with some neat stuff done to it that I learned about here.

I think the problem with my Gear Selector lights may have made me paranoid. The dealer ordered a new part and it's being installed tomorrow. Here is why I think I'm paranoid. Tonight I was driving home and noticed that some other interior lights may not be working. Can someone help me answer these questions to subside my paranoia!

1. On my center console there are 4 window switches. Two of them have the words "auto" illuminated, but the other two switches have no illumination at all.

2. On my driver's side door, my power window "L R" switch is not illuminated. Neither is my door lock switch. Neither is my power window adjuster switch with the 4 arrows.

3. On my passenger side door, the door lock switch is not illuminated.

4. I didn't think to check the back seat doors to see if their switches are illuminated.

5. My cruise control switches on the steering wheel are not illuminated.

6. Tonight my gear selector decided to illuminate.

7. My dash lights always work perfectly along with my headlights and fog lamps, turn signals, etc.

Is everyone else's Liberty the same way or do I have more electrical problems?

Any help will be greatly appreciated. As I said the car goes to the dealer tomorrow afternoon. If I find out that these some of these switches are supposed to be illuminated, I may begin to exercise my rights. The vehicle has less than 150 miles on it!

Thanks,
Brad

Thanks,
Brad

Everything is the same here except that the shifter bezel always lights up

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'05 KJ Renegade 3.7L
stuff
Lost Member Number: 051898

I traded a VW Jetta in to get my Jeep. That Jetta had a nice little soft light on every conceivable surface. The Jeep doesn't. Yep, only the front windows have "auto" illuminated, and the switches on the door aren't illuminated and the cruise switches aren't illuminated. Heck, there's not even an UNLIT sign that tells you what the steering-wheel mounted audio controls do! Ha! I had to show the salesman that they were actually back there.

I think you're okay now that your gear selector started lighting. But I do like Nanette's fix. Hang a Maglite from the roofliner and you're ready to go!

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