1996 XJ Dome Lights Don't Work but Other Lights Do

[GraniteCow]

Neither of the two dome lights work in my 1996 XJ, but the dash and foot well lights do work and fuses 2 and 9 are fine. It looks like they aren't getting any power--they don't turn on when I push the buttons and they don't turn on when I open the door. Is there a common cause of this? Does anyone know how the wiring is set up for them? I'm not sure how well my interior panels will fare if I just start tearing things apart.

 

[Tim_MN]

Do the lamps work when you rotate the headlamp knob all the way to ON ? Have you tested the bulbs ? Have you used your $6 - 15 volts/ohms multi meter to check for voltage and continuity to ground at the dome lamps ?

 

[GraniteCow]

Do the lamps work when you rotate the headlamp knob all the way to ON ? Have you tested the bulbs ? Have you used your $6 - 15 volts/ohms multi meter to check for voltage and continuity to ground at the dome lamps ?

No they do not work under any circumstances. Bulbs are good. I measured with my Klein multimeter and got 0V at all wires using chassis as ground.

Is there a known failure point for these? It’s acting like the entire harness is unplugged or shorted.

 

[GraniteCow]

The ground wire doesn’t even go to ground! The two plugs under the driver kick panel that go to the dome lamp/cab harness are both plugged in. Is there another plug somewhere just for the lights? The rear wiper works if that means anything.

 

[8Mud]

I haven't messed with that circuit on a 96, they may have routed the wiring differently than the Renix****. The dome light wires went up the B pillar drivers side. If I remember correctly the wires weren't in the harness under the drivers side door sill plastic, in the main front to rear harness, but laid on the floor under the carpet and were prone to corrosion and damage.
The vanity mirror light ran up the A pillar passengers side. There was a bundle of connectors near the base of the C pillar drivers side.
Like I said they may have rerouted the harnesses in later years. But I know for a fact some of the interior lighting like the shifter lighting stiil ran under the drivers side carpet. Same trouble spot but slightly different wiring layout.

 

[GraniteCow]

Update: the harness for the map light goes up the front passenger pillar. It was trapped behind the heater core so I cut the wires above the dash and wired it to the light by the passenger kick board. Worked like a charm!