Running lights

[sportruck4.0]

Hi I'm new to the forum and I just bought a 88 mj sportruck and the running lights and instrument cluster lights aren't working for some reason but the headlights are working could it be the headlight switch or something else?

[BLHTAZ]

The front light sockets area a fairly common problem. I had to replace them on mine when I first got it too.

 

These trucks are also VERY sensitive to proper grounds so you may have to do a little tracing on those, but try the sockets first. I some that worked well at AutoZone :thumbsup:

 

 

Welcome to the Club... :cheers:

[ocskipper]

:agree: I had the same problem and the same fix.

 

On a similar note, my left turn indicator stays on all the time when the headlights are on but the turn signal still works. The front bulb seems weak but is still working. Is that some sort of alert telling me to change the bulb or is my switch going out? :dunno: Another issue is that my dome lights don't turn on at the switch anymore. I know the interior lights suck and am planning on replacing but I figured it could be another sympton of a bad switch.

 

:USAflag:

[sportruck4.0]

The front light sockets area a fairly common problem. I had to replace them on mine when I first got it too.

 

These trucks are also VERY sensitive to proper grounds so you may have to do a little tracing on those, but try the sockets first. I some that worked well at AutoZone :thumbsup:

 

 

Welcome to the Club... :cheers:

 

Do you mean the turn signal bulb sockets?

[BLHTAZ]

:agree: I had the same problem and the same fix.

 

On a similar note, my left turn indicator stays on all the time when the headlights are on but the turn signal still works. The front bulb seems weak but is still working. Is that some sort of alert telling me to change the bulb or is my switch going out? :dunno: Another issue is that my dome lights don't turn on at the switch anymore. I know the interior lights suck and am planning on replacing but I figured it could be another sympton of a bad switch.

 

:USAflag:

Very likely the socket for the signal bulb too.

The interior light issue is more likely with the lights themselves. They are not known to work well to begin with.

[comancheman]

hey sportruck, I'm glad you joined. X3 on the running light sockets. mainly make sure the ground tab on side of the inside socket is making good contact with the bulb, also make sure all other contact points are clean.

bad grounds will cause all sorts of strange behavior. when i first bought my mj if i hit the left blinker all my running lights would flash. even my instrument panel lights and the light at the transfer case shifter would blink. if i bent out the ground tab in left running light socket the problem went away. i ended up replacing both sockets anyways.

 

also wouldnt be a bad idea to grab a test light and check for power at the sockets.

[fiatslug87]

Have you turned the headlight switch clockwise? This will dim and turn off the dash lights.

 

And welcome to the club.

[Randy in Maine]

You may want to inspect the rear wiring harness that is located behind the driver under the truck bed. They tend to be problematic and will short out the rear tail lights circuit which includes the front running lights and the dash lights.