Various electrical probs with 88 comanche

[deepscout]

So I have a 1988 comanche 2wd 4.0 base model, 5 speed manual, standard bed(dark red) with 189k miles.   It has lots of issues but the ones I'm focused on right now are as follows.

 

 

#1 Wipers stop operating while in use.   They simply stop at some point in their cycle while driving down the road with them on.  This is intermittent

 

#2 Hazards do not work.   Same scenario as before.  I will have the hazards on and then nothing.   This is intermittent

 

#3 Horn does not work.   Horn button is missing, all I have is a black wire sticking out of the steering wheel that does nothing when grounded.  My thought here is to trace the wire down into the dash pull it and just put an old push button horn on the dash for the short term.  This horn has never worked since I bought veh.

 

#4 Turn signals stop working.   I will use turn signal for a day or two with no problems and then out of nowhere... i get nothing.   I can leave them "on" for 20 min or 3 days before they randomly start working again.  This is intermittent

 

 

The engine block ground point next to thew oil dip stick has been taken apart and fully cleaned.   The main negative battery cable has been relocated to a drier location on the block.  At this point I'm looking for some direction to go in since all of my problems appear to be related to the steering column.  Battery terminals have been replaced.

 

 

 

[87MJTIM]

Here is a good place to start: http://comancheclub.com/topic/12083-electrical-manual/

 

The 88 electrical FSM

[Minuit]

You mentioned a 5 speed. A common problem with manual Comanches is that the clutch master cylinder can leak fluid directly onto the fuse box under the dash. When this happens, electronics will start acting strange for no apparent reason. Take a good look at the fusebox and look for any corrosion or evidence of the plastic fusebox cracking or distorting. See if the fuses wiggle. If the fusebox looks damaged or corroded, this is very likely your problem. If that's what happened, both the fusebox and clutch master cylinder will need to be replaced.

 

The wipers stopping could also be due to the bushings in the linkage being worn out and binding. See this link. http://comancheclub.com/topic/18239-mjxj-wiper-bushing-install/

[ParadiseMJ]

The wipers could be the bushings...and I put in a new motor last years and replaced the bushings then.  My (88 also) problem, however, was that the circuit breaker was loose in it's slot.  A bumpy road or two and the damn thing wiggled out and fell on the floor.  I tried to tape it in there but didn't really hold too well. To remedy this I just put a drop/glob of solder on each blade and sanded it down just enough for it to be tight.  Problem solved.

 

FWIW I used to have a 5 speed in mine.  It definitely leaked a little fluid and ate up the slot for the INST lights.  I rerouted the circuit to another empty slot and cleaned up the area so it didn't eat anything else.  It's good now.  When I get around to deleting the C101 connector I'll probably swap in a new(er) clean fuse box.

 

The flashers (hazards) on mine work, but only if I hold in the button.  Your problem sounds like it's back to the fuse box.

 

You may have luck taking apart the whole steering/switch set-up at a junkyard.  Any XJ up to 90 will be identical to an 88.  A new stalk/switch may just do the trick for you. 

 

The horn wiring is weird.  Advise to get the guts off of a steering wheel at the junkers and looking at how the wires go when removing it.  You need the little cup, the flat disc with holes in it.  It's the crap right behind the cover that you need, pull what you can, pay attention to how it comes apart.

[deepscout]

Here is a good place to start: http://comancheclub.com/topic/12083-electrical-manual/

 

The 88 electrical FSM

thanks for the book,  I didnt have this one.  :-)

[deepscout]

You mentioned a 5 speed. A common problem with manual Comanches is that the clutch master cylinder can leak fluid directly onto the fuse box under the dash. When this happens, electronics will start acting strange for no apparent reason. Take a good look at the fusebox and look for any corrosion or evidence of the plastic fusebox cracking or distorting. See if the fuses wiggle. If the fusebox looks damaged or corroded, this is very likely your problem. If that's what happened, both the fusebox and clutch master cylinder will need to be replaced.

 

The wipers stopping could also be due to the bushings in the linkage being worn out and binding. See this link. http://comancheclub.com/topic/18239-mjxj-wiper-bushing-install/

Thanks for the tip.  I'm planning a work day this weekend to look at stuffs... I'll make sure to include this as part of the process.

[deepscout]

You mentioned a 5 speed. A common problem with manual Comanches is that the clutch master cylinder can leak fluid directly onto the fuse box under the dash. When this happens, electronics will start acting strange for no apparent reason. Take a good look at the fusebox and look for any corrosion or evidence of the plastic fusebox cracking or distorting. See if the fuses wiggle. If the fusebox looks damaged or corroded, this is very likely your problem. If that's what happened, both the fusebox and clutch master cylinder will need to be replaced.

 

The wipers stopping could also be due to the bushings in the linkage being worn out and binding. See this link. http://comancheclub.com/topic/18239-mjxj-wiper-bushing-install/

I'm not hearing any binding or the motor running with no movement.  Also turning the wipers off/on doesnt show any signs of movement.   I'm wanting to lean in the direction of an electrical issue but I will attempt to look at the bushings to see what is going on there.

[deepscout]

The wipers could be the bushings...and I put in a new motor last years and replaced the bushings then.  My (88 also) problem, however, was that the circuit breaker was loose in it's slot.  A bumpy road or two and the damn thing wiggled out and fell on the floor.  I tried to tape it in there but didn't really hold too well. To remedy this I just put a drop/glob of solder on each blade and sanded it down just enough for it to be tight.  Problem solved.

 

FWIW I used to have a 5 speed in mine.  It definitely leaked a little fluid and ate up the slot for the INST lights.  I rerouted the circuit to another empty slot and cleaned up the area so it didn't eat anything else.  It's good now.  When I get around to deleting the C101 connector I'll probably swap in a new(er) clean fuse box.

 

The flashers (hazards) on mine work, but only if I hold in the button.  Your problem sounds like it's back to the fuse box.

 

You may have luck taking apart the whole steering/switch set-up at a junkyard.  Any XJ up to 90 will be identical to an 88.  A new stalk/switch may just do the trick for you. 

 

The horn wiring is weird.  Advise to get the guts off of a steering wheel at the junkers and looking at how the wires go when removing it.  You need the little cup, the flat disc with holes in it.  It's the crap right behind the cover that you need, pull what you can, pay attention to how it comes apart.

 

Is there a harness down in the dash somewhere that might be corroded or is it straight wires from steering out to their various destinations?  I'm hoping to find a harness somewhere that just is nasty and needs to be cleaned and all my problems will go away.....

[Minuit]

There's a big connector where the wiring harness goes into the cab that's packed with some tarry crap that hardens over time. It's never been a source of issues for me but you could try cleaning it out. It'll be on the other side of the fusebox. Held together with I believe a 1/4" bolt. Look right under the clutch master cylinder.

[SVPete]

I highly recommend you start simple. Read Cruiser's tips on Cruiser54.com. Start with cleaning and improving grounds. Clean the fuse box if the clutch master cylinder leaked on it (which it probably has), including the black gunk out of the connector (which sucks to clean). Change the fuses since the brake fluid from the clutch master cylinder will have corroded them. Since a 1988, clean the C101 connector (which sucks more than the fuse box). Do these things (and read all of Cruisers tips) before you start going down rabbit holes, tearing steering columns apart, or buying parts.......