Jeep Cherokee (XJ): Diagnosis and testing

Driver door jamb switch

For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to 8W-40 - Instrument Cluster or 8W-44 - Interior Lighting in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Rotate the headlamp switch knob counterclockwise to ensure that the dome lamps are not switched off. Open the driver door and note whether the interior lamps light. They should light. If OK, see the diagnosis for the Key-In Ignition Switch or the Headlamp Switch in this group. If not OK, go to Step 2.

(2) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Unplug the driver door jamb switch from its wire harness connector. Check for continuity between the ground circuit cavity of the driver door jamb switch wire harness connector and a good ground.

There should be continuity. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, repair the circuit to ground as required.

(3) Check for continuity between the door jamb switch ground circuit terminal and the left front door jamb switch sense terminal of the door jamb switch.

There should be continuity with the switch plunger released, and no continuity with the switch plunger depressed. If not OK, replace the faulty switch.

Driver seat belt switch

For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to 8W-40 - Instrument Cluster or 8W-44 - Interior Lighting in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Unplug the driver seat belt switch wire harness connector on the floor under the driver seat near the seat belt buckle-half anchor. Check for continuity between the seat belt switch sense circuit and the ground circuit cavities of the seat belt half of the driver seat belt switch wire harness connector. There should be continuity with the seat belt unbuckled, and no continuity with the seat belt buckled. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, replace the faulty seat belt buckle-half assembly.

(2) Check for continuity between the ground circuit cavity in the body half of the driver seat belt switch wire harness connector and a good ground.

There should be continuity. If OK, see the Instrument Cluster diagnosis in this group. If not OK, repair the circuit to ground as required.

Key-in ignition switch

For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to 8W-40 - Instrument Cluster or 8W-44 - Interior Lighting in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Remove the steering column shrouds. Refer to Group 8D - Ignition Systems for the procedures.

Unplug the key-in ignition switch wire harness connector from the ignition switch.

(2) Check for continuity between the key-in switch sense circuit and the left front door jamb switch sense circuit terminals of the key-in ignition switch.

There should be continuity with the key in the ignition lock cylinder, and no continuity with the key removed from the ignition lock cylinder. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, replace the faulty ignition switch assembly.

(3) Check for continuity between the left front door jamb switch sense circuit cavity of the key-in ignition switch wire harness connector and a good ground.

There should be continuity with the driver door open, and no continuity with the driver door closed. If OK, see the diagnosis for Instrument Cluster in this group. If not OK, repair the circuit to the driver door jamb switch as required.

Headlamp switch

For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to 8W-40 - Instrument Cluster or 8W-44 - Interior Lighting in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Remove the headlamp switch from the instrument panel. Refer to Group 8E - Instrument Panel Systems for the procedures. Unplug the headlamp switch wire harness connectors. Check for continuity between the left front door jamb switch sense circuit cavity of the headlamp switch wire harness connector and a good ground. There should be continuity with the driver door closed, and no continuity with the driver door open. If OK, go to Step 2. If not OK, repair the circuit to the driver door jamb switch as required.

(2) Check for continuity between the key-in switch sense circuit terminal and the left front door jamb switch sense terminal of the headlamp switch. There should be no continuity with the switch in the Off position, and continuity with the switch in the park or head lamps On position. If OK, see the diagnosis for the Instrument Cluster in this group. If not OK, replace the faulty headlamp switch.

Instrument cluster

Before performing this test, complete the testing of the hard-wired chime warning system switches as described in this group. For circuit descriptions and diagrams, refer to 8W-40 - Instrument Cluster or 8W-44 - Interior Lighting in Group 8W - Wiring Diagrams.

WARNING: ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIRBAGS, REFER TO GROUP 8M - PASSIVE RESTRAINT SYSTEMS BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY STEERING WHEEL, STEERING COLUMN, OR INSTRUMENT PANEL COMPONENT DIAGNOSIS OR SERVICE. FAILURE TO TAKE THE PROPER PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN ACCIDENTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. Remove the instrument cluster from the instrument panel. Refer to Group 8E - Instrument Panel Systems for the procedures.

(2) Unplug the headlamp switch and the key-in ignition switch wire harness connectors. Check for continuity between the key-in switch sense circuit cavity of the right instrument cluster wire harness connector (connector B) and a good ground. There should be no continuity. If OK, go to Step 3. If not OK, repair the short circuit as required.

(3) Check for continuity between the key-in switch sense circuit cavities of the right instrument cluster wire harness connector (connector B) and the headlamp switch wire harness connector. There should be continuity. If OK, go to Step 4. If not OK, repair the open circuit as required.

(4) Unplug the driver seat belt switch wire harness connector. Check for continuity between the seat belt switch sense circuit cavity of the right instrument cluster wire harness connector (connector B) and a good ground. There should be no continuity. If OK, go to Step 5. If not OK, repair the short circuit as required.

(5) Check for continuity between the seat belt switch sense circuit cavities of the right instrument cluster wire harness connector (connector B) and the driver seat belt switch wire harness connector. There should be continuity. If OK, test the instrument cluster as described in Group 8E - Instrument Panel Systems.

If not OK, repair the open circuit as required.