1983 Jeep CJ7 Instrument Cluster and brake lights

GREGORYKOPKO

MEMBER
1983 JEEP CJ7
6 CYL
4WD
MANUAL
155,000 MILES

Both the instrument cluster lights and brake lights have stopped working.
My turn signal lights still work and my emergency brake light was working until recently.

It was rained on without a top and also the alternator belt was loose but has been tightened.

Ive replaced one blown fuse but I dont think that was the problem.

suggestions?

1 Reply

CJ MEDEVAC

MECHANIC
11,005 POSTS

OK, CJ GUY

Ready to fix you up. See my profile. It would be nice if you had a voltmeter, at minimum a test light.

I would like to do a few tests at the fuseblock prior to jumping ahead, before isolating the problem (which I already suspect)

Testing now, will keep the factors in the equation (small, and in an order, should we have to keep going)

1st either voltmeter or test light, Scrape the paint off and GROUND your device to The EMERGENCY BRAKE MOUNT.

NEXT. DO NOT REMOVE FUSES (YET)

Turn your key to ON, energizing fuse box.

Place the Positive end of your device on EITHER SIDE of EACH FUSE (STILL IN PLACE, both sides, one at a time), Until you have done ALL FUSES. Insure you dug in deep enough for good contact.

YOUR RESULTS SHOULD BE.12 VOLTS on every fuse, on either side. AT MINIMUM 12V ON ONE SIDE of All ( [the feed] if not, persue other problems)

Pay close attention to 20 amp fuse for stop and

3 amp to your cluster.

Should any fuse be "HOT" on one side and not the other. One of two things is occurring.

1) FUSE BLOWN or (what I suspect)

2) Although Jeeps can survive, without the top on,

Your fuse is probably good, but your FUSE HOLDER (connection) is sorta "corroded", and the dampness pushed it to its conductivity limit.

This is what you can do if ONLY 12Von one side,

REMOVE POS BATT CABLE, clean female terminals.

I took an old fuse and "scored" deep lines in the prongs, top and bottom running parallel with the plastic (making it into a file), then I used needle nose pliers to insert it repeatedly in the sockets to "sand" them out.

After that I bought a tube of Electric Silicone Grease, and coated all fuses and sockets. That was the way we fixed my neighbors problem.

Soon after, you fix that, your headlights will flash off and on, over and over (days later). RIGHT NOWFIX THIS TOO.

Unplug your FLOOR DIMMER SWITCH. Connector and switch will need cleaning and silicone grease ! ! !

Write down ALL FINDINGS and respond back (using the "reply to question", NOT QUOTE)

YOU BETTER RESPOND--HAVE WRITTEN YOU A BOOK.I will continue to help you if we had negative results.

Love, Turddog