Comments: 1-15, 16-20
Rear brake lights don't work when the headlights are turned on.
I would like to thank jrdahle@yahoo.com for his January 1, 2005 post below. His instructions successfully fixed my problem i.e. my lower rear brake lights don't work when I have my headlights switched on.
The problem was correctly predicted as a faulty ground contact on my brake light and once I cleaned the contacts (I cleaned the other two while I was at it) with a Q-tip dipped in rubbing alcohol, and raised the metal contact slightly (be very gentle) on the ground contact with a small flat head screw driver I had to tighten up the screws in my reading glasses.
The whole process took me about 10 mins for the first brake light and 5 mins for the second light (since I knew what I was doing second time around). My local Jeep dealer quoted me $376 to fix this problem by completely replacing my two rear light fixtures (2 x $168 for the fixtures and $40 labor costs) and I fixed it myself with the help of this web site for free in 15 mins !!! I am an office worker not a mechanic and not particularly mechanically minded so if I can do it anyone can do it.
Here is a very useful site which shows you how to remove your rear light fixture so you can fix this problem http://www.wjjeeps.com/lamps/lampsrem.htm#EXTERIORREM
Here is a good site to purchase replacement globes for your Jeep http://www.eautoworks.com/html/bulbSearch-1-JEEP-Grand~Cherokee~Limited.htm
And if the trick above doesn't work here is a site where you can order replacement light fixtures for $58.95 each instead of $68 each list price which is what my dealer quoted to me. By the pay the part numbers for the replacement fittings are 11-5275-01 (RH passenger side light) and 11-5276-01 (LH drivers side light). The web page is at
http://www.carlightswholesale.com/cgi-bin/carlightswholesale/index.html?mv_todo=return&mv_action=return&mv_session_id=RUJG38Ei&make=JEEP&year=2000&department=replacement&model=GRAND+CHEROKEE
Tools you will require for this job are (a) a Phillips head screw driver for removal of your two rear light fixtures (b) small/tiny flat head screwdriver for raising the metal ground contact (c) Q-tips and rubbing alcohol for cleaning all the contact points.
Regards,
mikeandjulia@consolidated.net
This post was extremely helpful and saved me over 400 dollars.
This truly is "easy" to do on your own. If you need any questions on how to accomplish what this above post speaks about and you have any doubt that you can do it and need someone to walk you through it... feel free to drop me an e-mail. monojoseph@aol.com OR joseph.monohan@ubs.com.
Thanks - this works! I'd suggest for anyone to try this before running out and buying a new tail light assembly. I had to use a utility knife to dig under the ground contact and pry it up. Once pried, I slipped a small piece of thin plastic underneath the contact to keep it from sinking in again.
Thanks Mike. I am on my third Jeep, first Grand Cherokee, and really love this vehicle. I did not know that this model of Jeep had so many little problems, but am learning quickly. The turn signals/drive lights have been giving me major headaches over the past two weeks, but I refuse to spend the big bucks that a mechanic would charge. I just don't trust those guys anymore.
Although I have had my tail light covers off a half a dozen times, but I never attempted to adjust the leads. The though had been on my mind to try that as a last resort, but I figured it would still give me undesirable results so I haven't tried it yet.
I am so jazzed that this could be the answer to my frustration that I am going out right now to try it even though it is raining like crazy outside outside.
Thanks again bro.
I just did the fix (using the aluminum foil method) above on both the left and right taillight assemblies of my 1999 Laredo - bingobango it worked! Thanks to all for helping save lots of $$$!
First, I want to say thank you for the info, you saved me money and aggravation. Second it took me little while to figure out what contact I was looking for. So I would like to provide a little more detail to make it easier for others in the future.
This is the corrective method for your brake lights not working when your headlights are on (2000 Jeep Cherokee Laredo).
1) The cause of the problem is heat from the bulb.
2) Remove the light assembly as if you were going to change a bulb.
3) Turn the socket and remove it from the taillight assembly and set it aside (check to be sure your bulb is not burnt out).
4) Look at the opening, you will see 3 flat chrome colored contacts on the assembly.
5) Notice the one by it self at the top of the opening, that is the “ground”.
6) If you look closely you will notice the plastic around the ground contact has shrunk a little bit, this caused the contact to pull away from the socket, causing the problem.
7) With a small flat head screwdriver, VERY GENTLY pry up the contact so it stays slightly upward by itself.
8) Re-insert the bulb assembly back into the housing and press your brake petal with your lights on.
9) You should be in good to go!
10) Tools: Phillips head screwdriver and a small flat head screwdriver.
11) Time : 5 minutes per light.
Thank You all for the help with this same exact problem described above. The last post with the number steps - Excellent job!! You saved me the time of going to the deal to figure out what the heck was wrong.
I took my 1999 Jeep Grand Cherokee in to have the lights looked at for the very same problem described herein. The issue was with a burned out bulb on the passenger side tail light. They removed the assembly, replaced the bulb, and re-installed the assembly. The issue continued and they could not get a new light assembly from the dealer in time to give me back my Jeep.
I decided to buy some new light assemblies, upgrade to halo or alteeza style, prior to this... so this was just the spark I needed to buy them. Problem is that I still had the light out and couldn't drive it around where I live for fear of getting a ticket.
While looking on line last night for my new lights, I decided to look into this issue and see if it was a common problem. THANK YOU for the internet and THANK YOU fellow Jeep owners who have posted this issue and solutions. This thread and five minutes of my time, and my light is fixed (the new lights are still on their way... just because).
BUT I wanted to post this to say this thread hooked me up. One thing to note, make certain you check the direction the contacts in the bulb casing are set. Turned out the reason my auto-shop couldn't fix the light issue was that they put the bulb holder back into the socket facing the wrong way. So the contacts did not line up the way they were supposed to. This morning I went out to fix my lights in accordance with this thread and found out about the bulb holder being upside down.
I mention this so that should you find yourself being told by a mechanic they cannot fix the issue, make certain they have plugged things back in the way they are intended. Might save you some more headaches.
THANK YOU to the starter of this thread and to the individual who posted the numbered steps.
I have a 1999 Grand Cherokee Limited. I have had the problem with the left brake light not working with the headlights turned on. I followed the advice above and put a aluminum foil shim under the ground contact pad in the tail light assembly. This finally fixed a problem that had been aggravating me for some time.
Easily, the best vehicle I've ever owned. My 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo AWD V8 has all the bells and whistles, but the bottle line is: dependable, safe, responsive, and will go anywhere in the snow when others are stuck inside. The 2000 is one of the better looking year-model SUVs. 17.5 MPG is not the best aspect, but I love everything else about my Jeep.
JM
Indianapolis
I also have a 2000 Jeep grand Cherokee Limited and my brake light do not work when my head lights are on! I printed out what you have done and I will let my husband try this, I haven't been able to Drive at night. I will be also calling the Jeep Corporation. Thanks So Much Suzanne.
I too have a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee and was having the same problem with the left tail light going out when the headlights were on and I pressed on the brake. I am no mechanic, but like to try to fix little things on my car when possible. This brake light thing has been driving me crazy for over a year and could not figure out what the problem was. Thanks so much for the quick fix it. As soon as I wedged the ground up and plugged the light back in it worked better than ever.
I too have problems with my rotors and my steering wheel shaking when braking at a high speed. I had my brakes replaced only a year ago to have the same problem occur again. It is very frustrating and I have 2 small children that I have to drive around with me. I am hesitant to pay over $500 to have my brakes replaced again; does anyone have any suggestions as to what is causing the rotors to warp???
Thanks for your help!!
Sincerely,
A Very Grateful Jeep Owner.
My many many thanks to the suggestion to just pry up the contacts to make the rear brake lights come on when the headlights are on. It worked beautifully. It solves a very old and very frustrating problem; a problem my mechanic tried to solve with a new light bulb.
WOW!! I had no Idea about this stuff... I have a 2000 Jeep GC LMT that recently been a pain in the REAR... My REAR passenger door lock sounds like a wookie, MY REAR tail lights including the brake lights are out, occasionally I've had people telling me that I had a brake light out and I'd check including the dealer and nothing. Now tonight a friend noticed my rear lights were out completely. I left Jeep an email telling them I need this fixed.. But after reading this I will do it myself. Thanks.
Isn't the internet awesome? Bought my 2001 Cherokee a couple days ago and stupid me didn't notice the problem until I got it home. Did the suggested fix and it works great!
Great, Great. The fix works perfectly and easily. It's great that the Net can be used for such useful and money-saving things like this.
Thanks All.