• Hello Guest, we are proud to now have our Wiki online that is completely compiled and written by our members. Feel free to browse our Jeep-CJ Wiki or click on any orange keyword when looking at posts in the forum.

1977 CJ7 - Hazards and Front parking lights not working

Highlights Only
1977 CJ7 - Hazards and Front parking lights not working
R

Rdavison39

Jeeper
Posts
88
Thanks
0
Location
Oakville Ontario
Vehicle(s)
1977 CJ7. 304 H. 52,000 original miles.
2010 Wrangler 2Dr
Hi There - need some help

Problem #1: When i push in the hazard button nothing happens
Problem #2: When i pull the light knob half way out to activate the parking lights then ONLY the rear side and rear back lights go on. The front signals and front side markers do not come on.

Fact #1: If the car has ignition switch in accessory mode all 6 light (2 front signals, 2 front side markers, 2 rear signals) work as expected

Fact #2: If the parking lights are on AND you push in the hazard button all 8 lights (2 front signals, 2 front side markers, 2 rear signals, 2 rear side markers) come on and do not blink. Turn hazards off and you are back to just the 4 rear lights coming on

Fact #3: I have already replaced the flasher for the hazard and the turn signals. I bought the same flasher (model 552) as i was told there was no difference between the two. When i interchange these flashers i get the same result

Is it possible there is a different flasher for hazards than the turn signal?
Is it possible that the front lights (signal and side) markers are not suppose to come on when you pull the knob half way in the parking light position
 
I would think you might have an issue with the ground circuit. Using a jumper wire to the battery negative from the problem areas might help. A wiring schematic could help with tracing the circuts down.
 
GND circuit and or dirt in the switches.
Work both a few dozen times and see if there's any improvement.
Same goes for your TS indicator.
LG
 
Thx for the quick reply. Agree i have a ground problem but I can't figure out where the ground is for the circuit that powers the front turn signals. I've attached the wiring diagram. If anyone can point me to the wire or tell me where to check on my CJ that would be great. Thx Ron
 
Start by wiring a dedicated GND from the dash panel to the NEG(-) of the battery.
Do your brake lights work 'rite'?
CJ's have a known history of GND issues........

LG
 
One other thing as i'm studying this diagram that puzzles me. My front TS have the double filament bulbs (1157) - and there are 2 contacts in the socket. This leads me to believe that one filament could be turn and other parking light - and there are 2 wires going to it - but one of the wires is a ground - or at least completes the circuit - i mean, that bulb is not grounded to the socket.

What am i missing here as i think it may help me understand my main issue?
 
All the front lights are grounded to the front grille. Then to the front fenders, then to the firewall. There should be a wire from the battery negative to the firewall. A better connection would be running a wire from the battery negative to the starter relay mount then to the back of the grille. The headlights can be improved by using a relay to run power to them.
 
Thanks LG. I actually removed my dashboard. I do have a ground wire marked that i know used to attach to the dashboard. Could that be the problem? If so, what piece that attaches to the dashboard would need to be grounded? I've tried grounding the speedometer but it appears grounded anyway by the cable....
 
The bulb-The 2 pins that hold the bulb in the socket make the ground connection.
You want a 12-14 awg wire from the dash panel to the battery (-). Easy to make. Use external star washers that will bite into the bare metal. Cover those connections with battery terminal spray.
You can make wire GND leads to tie in the grill to fender to firewall.
LG
 
How is the actual turn signal light housing? I was having issues and it turned out to be rust between the light socket and the housing.

Have you run a test wire from the neg battery terminal to the housing or touching the socket to prove a good ground?

If you have a test light, run it from the pos terminal and touch the housing and then the socket to see if you have a good ground (light will come on)
 
Thanks LG. So the 2 pins connect to a metal housing which in turn plug into the speedometer. Are you suggesting i connect a wire from the speedometer (which would normally bolt into the dash) to the battery (-) to make a secure ground?
 
Okay - after connecting a bulb (not one of the turn signals) that had come lose from the speedometer cluster the parking lights and signals are working.

Only the hazards remain non-functional. They don't work when the ignition is off nor on accessory.

Any hints on what to check. (I've replaced the flasher and interchanged the working signal flasher with the hazard flasher to no avail)
 
Maybe it is the hazard switch. Do you know if signal is being sent out of the switch when you engage it? Tested the current at the flasher relay to see if the signal is making it to the flasher?
 
Thx Gr8dain.

I've read a few times that trying to figure out the electrical problems in an old jeep is like chasing ghosts. I understand why now.

So....without any apparent reason the hazards now work. The only problem I have is the front parking lights do not work. They have power and if i ground the green wire to the frame they go on (this causes other problems if i do that - like the turn signals won't work). So for some reason the front lights are not grounded when the parking lights go on. The back lights go on, but the wiring is completely different for the back so that's understandable.

I've run a wire from the battery (-) to the Turn signal bulbs that fit into the speedometer cluster but that does nothing.

Now, when i poke a ground into the wiring harness that goes to the steering column (the female part of the connector) the front parking lights go on. So i think something in the turn signal wiring harness is wrong/busted. And that harness (SW324 - see attached) isn't something that comes apart by the looks of it.

I can't think of anything else.

Thoughts?
 
Thanks Everyone - finally figured it out. As everyone suspected it was a ground to the front light signal that was just not making contact. I cleaned it up and all is good!!!
 
The CJ ground circuit has been well discussed in this forum, you could look up previous posts for more info.
 
Again, I will say:eek: If you run a dedicated GND from the dash panel to the battery. It will save you much in future dash gauge issues.:beer:
LG
 
Lumpy Grits said:
Start by wiring a dedicated GND from the dash panel to the NEG(-) of the battery.

Do your brake lights work 'rite'?

CJ's have a known history of GND issues........



LG
Click to expand...



Would that help the ground of the front turn /marker light? One of mine is dimmer than the other



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
That is a light housing GND issue.
The dash GND 'fixes' dim dash lights, and many of the incorrect electric gauge reading issues.
LG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Jeep-CJ Donation Drive

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.

Help support Jeep-CJ.com by making a contribution.
Goal
$200.00
Earned
$0.00
This donation drive ends in
0 hours, 0 minutes, 0 seconds
  0.0%
Contribute
Back
Top Bottom