PyroZona
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Phoenix, AZ
Hello all,
Ok, I've had this gremlin in my electrical system for...let's just say quite a while. Mainly, it's been that I have to leave my power window lockout button in the "locked" position or none of the windows work at all. I had the classic problem with my power locks, but that's been fixed for a while thanks to Greg Smith's power lock fix...until now.
The other night, I noticed that my power locks were not locking when signaled to. They unlock just fine, but locking is quite weak. I checked the two relays that were added when I did the Greg Smith fix and they both appear to be fine (both will click like they should when either the button on either front door is pushed to lock or unlock). Then I noticed while driving that my voltmeter gauge was reading a bit below the straight-up 13 mark, and that my dash lights & headlights were a bit dimmer than they should be. So at a red light, I put it in neutral and gave it some revs to see if maybe I just had a low battery or something. Revving the engine made almost no difference either on the gauge or in the brightness of my lights! I also noticed that my radar detector, which is wired into my fuse panel by my left foot, wasn't working (seemed to not be getting enough juice), and that if I flipped the window lock switch to "unlock", my voltmeter gauge would dive down as far left as it will go!!
So, knowing something is definitely amiss, I brought my Jeep home, parked it in my garage, pulled both front seats out and pulled the kick panel covers off both sides in preparation for investigative surgery. I repaired a couple of bad wires that run under the driver's feet a while back, so I'm thinking the problem is somewhere else. All power windows except for the driver's window have been sluggish for a long time...been meaning to pull the panels off and clean/lube the regulators...but I really don't think they're getting enough power in the first place. I've read a lot about the window lockout switch going bad a lot, but I've gotta have one heckuva short somewhere to have THAT much draw when the switch is flipped to unlock. Just not sure where! I've tried opening & closing my driver's door to see if that makes a difference, but I still get the same huge draw, so I don't THINK it's a short in the wiring going through the door jamb.
My XJ is an '87 Laredo 4-door AT with an aftermarket hi-amp alternator (which has a smaller than stock pulley on it). I do have an UngoBox alarm system, which I've had forever, but that's functioning fine...except that it won't lock my doors either. I haven't done anything to it recently that could be attributed to why all this is happening. And yes, I've spent the last few nights searching and searching, trying to find anyone who's had similar problems...but have come up with zilch.
Any helpful insight would be MOST appreciated!!
Peter
Ok, I've had this gremlin in my electrical system for...let's just say quite a while. Mainly, it's been that I have to leave my power window lockout button in the "locked" position or none of the windows work at all. I had the classic problem with my power locks, but that's been fixed for a while thanks to Greg Smith's power lock fix...until now.
The other night, I noticed that my power locks were not locking when signaled to. They unlock just fine, but locking is quite weak. I checked the two relays that were added when I did the Greg Smith fix and they both appear to be fine (both will click like they should when either the button on either front door is pushed to lock or unlock). Then I noticed while driving that my voltmeter gauge was reading a bit below the straight-up 13 mark, and that my dash lights & headlights were a bit dimmer than they should be. So at a red light, I put it in neutral and gave it some revs to see if maybe I just had a low battery or something. Revving the engine made almost no difference either on the gauge or in the brightness of my lights! I also noticed that my radar detector, which is wired into my fuse panel by my left foot, wasn't working (seemed to not be getting enough juice), and that if I flipped the window lock switch to "unlock", my voltmeter gauge would dive down as far left as it will go!!
So, knowing something is definitely amiss, I brought my Jeep home, parked it in my garage, pulled both front seats out and pulled the kick panel covers off both sides in preparation for investigative surgery. I repaired a couple of bad wires that run under the driver's feet a while back, so I'm thinking the problem is somewhere else. All power windows except for the driver's window have been sluggish for a long time...been meaning to pull the panels off and clean/lube the regulators...but I really don't think they're getting enough power in the first place. I've read a lot about the window lockout switch going bad a lot, but I've gotta have one heckuva short somewhere to have THAT much draw when the switch is flipped to unlock. Just not sure where! I've tried opening & closing my driver's door to see if that makes a difference, but I still get the same huge draw, so I don't THINK it's a short in the wiring going through the door jamb.
My XJ is an '87 Laredo 4-door AT with an aftermarket hi-amp alternator (which has a smaller than stock pulley on it). I do have an UngoBox alarm system, which I've had forever, but that's functioning fine...except that it won't lock my doors either. I haven't done anything to it recently that could be attributed to why all this is happening. And yes, I've spent the last few nights searching and searching, trying to find anyone who's had similar problems...but have come up with zilch.
Any helpful insight would be MOST appreciated!!
Peter