Help me out dudes. I've got a 01 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo that has had a problem with just about every damn thing. I just dropped 2K for transmission work, but there's one other problem I need help with.

My back right light is out. Brake works, but the right side light over the license plate is out too. Changing the bulb does nothing - and this happened after the bulb for the brake light was changed, which originally went out first. I've been told it's a wiring board problem, meaning that I'll have to go to the dealer and get the entire light replaced.

Any way to confirm this? Perhaps one light was replaced incorrectly and will fix the other if changed right? I don't want to go for a whole new light kit if I don't have to. Thanks!

5/27/2007 9:57:35 PM

this is impossible for us to diagnose without actually being able to look at

however, the awnser you were given sounds plausible

5/27/2007 10:43:21 PM

check the fuses maybe?

5/27/2007 11:35:23 PM

Yep, I think I'm trying to get suggestions on what else I can try before I assume I need a new light kit - I found a forum that referenced fuses as well.

I just find it odd that it happened only after the brake light bulb was replaced.

5/27/2007 11:46:07 PM

Yeah fuses would be the simplest answer, but if they check out ok then...sounds like possibly just the wrong type of bulb in the brake light slot, not letting, or having only one path for the brake light circuit and not containing the other circuit, which is the path for the running lights above the license plate and that taillight. Look up the correct type of bulb for that vehicle, year, rear taillight, etc. at advance and check the one they've replaced.

I'm bored so
http://www.partsamerica.com/productdetail.aspx?MfrCode=SYL&MfrPartNumber=3157&PartType=318&PTSet=A

[Edited on May 28, 2007 at 12:14 AM. Reason : .]

5/28/2007 12:10:59 AM

OK had the lightbulb checked and it was replaced correctly.
The fuses are ok.

Guess I need a new light kit

5/28/2007 1:41:28 PM

what is a light kit?

and don't let them do any silly shit like tell you that you need a new wiring harness. a jeep dealer in raleigh told me that the wiring harness in my YJ Wrangler would have to be replaced when I asked for a taillight pigtail (Advance Auto was sold out).

5/28/2007 2:39:42 PM

I might be saying it wrong - they said I needed a whole new taillight and that it was something with the motherboard/wiring board in the light that tends to happen in Jeeps. I went online and found something like that - but nothing substantial to see if that really was a common problem.

[Edited on May 28, 2007 at 4:03 PM. Reason : is that perhaps the wiring harness you're talking about?]

5/28/2007 4:03:15 PM

go on ebay and get yourself a new fuckin light, jeez

5/28/2007 5:37:50 PM

your problem doesnt make much sense, the left and right parking lights are separate and tie in a the switch, black/yellow wire, the license lamps split off of the drivers wiring side near the top of the liftgate, so its probably not a power issue


however, the license lamps and passenger side parking lights do ground at the same point which is more than likely your problem, they ground inside under the left front seat through the black wire, the passenger light grounds under the right front seat, check to be sure the wire isnt broken under the seat by stuff jammed against it, then try grounding the black wire in the rear, if the problem goes away, then start tracing it out, or just splice in a new ground

5/28/2007 6:08:14 PM

My daughter has a grand cherokee and has had strange wiring problems. Look for places that the wires go under seats, through doors or liftback. Might be a short in the wiring going to the third brake light in the gate.

Happy hunting.

5/28/2007 7:42:45 PM