No headlights

[AdventurePig]

Went to move the TJ (2004 TJ Rubicon) last night to let my daughter park her car ahead of mine on our driveway. Fired it up, let it idle a second, threw it into reverse and turned on the lights.

Have back-up, brake, brake, running and turn signal hazards. (And all interior lights)

My setup seemed fine last time i drove it at night. (Parked on Wednesday until i went to move it)

Pictured is the setup we have. Gets power directly from the battery, i think) but is switched off of the stock turn-signal stalk.

Have checked all the fuses i can find behind the glove box and in the under-hood fuse box. Also checked the inline fuse on the power lead to the lights. Nothing is blown.

Thoughts?

***Resolved. We have lights back. Post #14 has a few details. Thanks all!***

 

[Moglocker]

Went to move the TJ (2004 TJ Rubicon) last night to let my daughter park her car ahead of mine on our driveway. Fired it up, let it idle a second, threw it into reverse and turned on the lights.

Have back-up, brake, brake, running and turn signal hazards. (And all interior lights)

My setup seemed fine last time i drove it at night. (Parked on Wednesday until i went to move it)

Pictured is the setup we have. Gets power directly from the battery, i think) but is switched off of the stock turn-signal stalk.

Have checked all the fuses i can find behind the glove box and in the under-hood fuse box. Also checked the inline fuse on the power lead to the lights. Nothing is blown.

Thoughts?

View attachment 578724

View attachment 578725

I would get a hella harness or find the Toyota kit and be done with it.

 

[AdventurePig]

I would get a hella harness or find the Toyota kit and be done with it.

I don’t love these lights. Previous owner installed.
Can you share a bit more about these choices, just in case these lights have given up the ghost? (Gonna diagnose a bit more tonight, but not sure what the overall issue is)

 

[Rubiconned]

H4 plugs? Use a relayed wiring harness and get rid of the magical mystery box.

 

[Moglocker]

I don’t love these lights. Previous owner installed.
Can you share a bit more about these choices, just in case these lights have given up the ghost? (Gonna diagnose a bit more tonight, but not sure what the overall issue is

I would get a hella harness or find the Toyota kit and be done with it.

I use this harness,but the Toyota kit (if still available)comes with the headlights too

 

[JustDandee]

Is there a signal/power to the magic box from the multi switch?

 

[AdventurePig]

Is there a signal/power to the magic box from the multi switch?

Good question! Not sure. i didn’t have a chance to check this morning.

Multi-switch is sending power to running lights, dome lights, turn signals and I’m assuming fog lights (none installed currently, but i’ll put a test light on the intact pigtails at the grill area.)

 

[JustDandee]

Good question! Not sure. i didn’t have a chance to check this morning.

Multi-switch is sending power to running lights, dome lights, turn signals and I’m assuming fog lights (none installed currently, but i’ll put a test light on the intact pigtails at the grill area.)

I think that’s normal, that’s the way mine went out just lost headlights.

 

[AdventurePig]

no answers yet, but what is this?
I’ve heard it called a circuit breaker?

 

[AdventurePig]

H4 plugs? Use a relayed wiring harness and get rid of the magical mystery box.

yeah, not super familiar with this kit but I think the stock passenger side h4 bulb harness plugs into main HID harness, which feeds to DS/PS ballasts and bulb assemblies.

I think the stock H4 harness (if that is stock?) is still intact and is definitely getting 12v when the headlight switch is on(checked w/ test tight on both passenger/driver plugs) which would seem to point to the multifunction switch as in working order. Fog light harness is getting 12v to the plug, too.

i think the problem is in the HID harness, but not sure yet.

 

[AdventurePig]

with 12v power to the OEM h4 plugs and what look like housings that can take a 55w h4 halogen bulb (have to check on this, I’ll post some pics) I’m wondering if I can just roll back to a more OEM setup?

 

[Moglocker]

with 12v power to the OEM h4 plugs and what look like housings that can take a 55w h4 halogen bulb (have to check on this, I’ll post some pics) I’m wondering if I can just roll back to a more OEM setup?

Just do a Toyota kit and be done with it

 

[Morks]

I have a Toyota harness, not using it. I may be getting into the states soon, I'd ship it for shipping costs.

 

[AdventurePig]

Multi-switch is fine, OEM harness is fine.


This, this does not look fine!!

Proceeded to carefully pull the whole plug-n-play HID lighting enchilada out. Easy-peasy.

Back up and running with some OEM style Sylvania H6024 40/60w Sealed beams connected to the factory harness and plugs.

40w being less than 55w and these lights being more than bright enough on our test cruise tonight i’m thinking this will:
A.) not stress out our stock harness wiring or plugs,
B.) be a near-term, low-buck alternative to more expensive options to replace our failed HID kit.

Open to other future possibilities but if this works, i think we should be good?

 

[JustDandee]

Multi-switch is fine, OEM harness is fine.


This, this does not look fine!!

View attachment 579553

View attachment 579554

View attachment 579555
Proceeded to carefully pull the whole plug-n-play HID lighting enchilada out. Easy-peasy.

Back up and running with some OEM style Sylvania H6024 40/60w Sealed beams connected to the factory harness and plugs.

40w being less than 55w and these lights being more than bright enough on our test cruise tonight i’m thinking this will:
A.) not stress out our stock harness wiring or plugs,
B.) be a near-term, low-buck alternative to more expensive options to replace our failed HID kit.

Open to other future possibilities but if this works, i think we should be good?

Looks like you found it. I would revisit that Toyota kit as it’s pretty good bang for the buck or even just the harness kits like the offer up above. It seems it not a matter of if but when will the multi switch be an issue. All of that 40watts(x2) is going through the switch, the harness acts like you HID kit in that it will just need the signal power to activate the headlights vs running all the head lights power needs through the switch.

 

[Moglocker]

Multi-switch is fine, OEM harness is fine.


This, this does not look fine!!

View attachment 579553

View attachment 579554

View attachment 579555
Proceeded to carefully pull the whole plug-n-play HID lighting enchilada out. Easy-peasy.

Back up and running with some OEM style Sylvania H6024 40/60w Sealed beams connected to the factory harness and plugs.

40w being less than 55w and these lights being more than bright enough on our test cruise tonight i’m thinking this will:
A.) not stress out our stock harness wiring or plugs,
B.) be a near-term, low-buck alternative to more expensive options to replace our failed HID kit.

Open to other future possibilities but if this works, i think we should be good?

If you want to keep what you have ,just plug it back in and run a new wire around the plug for the burnt wire.