Short In Steering Column?

[clively]

I knew I had significant wiring issues with the headlights & dash lights flickering in/out, and now its probably the cause of my jeep not starting at times. Its a 1980 CJ5 with body issues & darn near everything needing to be replaced. However I was hoping not to do a frame off restoration for 4 years. I think the best thing for me to do is re-wire everything with a new wiring harness.
So, is it worth it to install a Painless or EZ wiring harness in a jeep that will hopefully be totally re-done in 4 years or just wire it myself one at a time. My friends & I are not the sharpest as far as re-wiring goes though.
Which wiring harness would you recommend?

 

[Jimbos76cj]

Im going with the EZ 12 circuit system. For the head lights and dash lights flickering you either have a bad groung of a bad head light switch/conector. As far as wiring goes got the $180 that a EZ wire kit runs I would just rewire it. It doesnt matter if your going to do as ground up resto on it in the future since you should be wiring the jeep correctly using good connectors and not just splicing the new one into the old one. You should be able to rewire yours with little to know problems as long as you carefully remove your old harness and mark where every thing came from.

Option 2 would be to buy some good ground strapping. pull the groung wire that goes from your bat to your block and clean under it really good. From there run a strap to your frame, and one to your tub. Clean any paint of rust off of the areas where the straps are going. I even went as far as runnign another 10 ga wire all the way to the back of the frame and grounded it there. All the lites and fuel lever gauge were gounded there. I also ran a second 10 gauge wire to the grill.. thats where the head lights were grounded.. I know it sounds excessive but Jeeps are horrible with thier ground issues.

Then I would replace my head light switch.. if its the original its had alot of power running through it for the last 33 years and they get yucky on the inside. While you have it off look into the coket really good and check for any loose or burned/corroded connections.

Then move down to you high beam switch.. again replace it and check the plug.

Once all thats done read up and complete the head light relay upgrade.

IF that doesnt help fix your head light/dash light problem I would get the new wire harness.either wayy all those things I said above shold be done when you get rewire it in the fure so you will be one step ahead.

 

[Jimbos76cj]

For the problem with the ignition not working all the time look at the connections on the colum.. there should be one long plug that goes to your multi function switch and 2 that go to your ingitions.. they fit together abut are 2 seperate plugs. pull em off and check for bad connections and see what you find.. after years of driving some some of those wire corrode down to just a few strands and wont give enough power allow it to kick over.

here is a article about the relays for the head lights.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

 

[cerrajero]

no problems with above
but lets try the easy way first and less then $30 like jimbo said

BWD S450 - Headlight Switch | O'Reilly Auto Parts

worth a shot
after i replace mine it seemed that the dash lights got brighter