This 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee came in with the complaint that the turns signals would work sometimes. When it arrived at the shop they were not working at all. Experience tells me that it is probably a faulty flasher assembly but a few panels have to be removed to access the flasher relay.
The panel at the lower edge of the instrument cluster unsnaps and pulls away. It has to be maneuvered around the tilt lever.
The fuse box cover at the lower left of the dash has to be removed. It unsnaps and pulls down.
There is a 10 mm headed screw in each of the lower corners of the knee bolster.
A phillip’s head screw at the end of the dash.
Two phillip’s headed screws at the top edge. One on either side of the steering column.
In the picture below, I am pointing out that there are relays above the fuse area.
The hazard/turn signal flasher relay. With either the hazards or turns signals switched on it usually only takes a slight push to make the flasher start working again. After I was sure of the problem, I used a pair of pliers to gently grab the relay and wiggle it from its socket.
I then used a couple of small screw drivers to release the side latches that hold the cover on the relay assembly.
With the latches released I separated the two pieces.
If you look closely at the upper left solder joint you should see the crack in the solder joint.
A little touch up with a soldering gun and some electronics grade solder and this one was fixed.
Sometimes more that one solder joint will have to be repaired so look closely.
Sparky,
I found your link after hours of research and wasted money on a multi-switch. At first I could get the flashers working by pressing or wiggling the relay so I assumed the problem that you had. After I soldered the top left joint that was cracked my left turn signal started flashing rapidly up front and not at all in the back? Is it possible I need to check some of the other solder connections or look into replacing the rear flasher bulb/socket?
A few simple tests at the flasher socket should reveal the cause of the no turn signal operation. At this point I would be suspecting separate issues, since you stated that only the turn signal problem returned. A single common cause could be shown if all problems returned and disappeared at the same.
Bought a 2002 Laredo a month back. Ran into electrical problems about a week into driving it. BAM! No turning signals, no running lights, had it on cruise and it ramped up to red line speed which I could not decelerate without turning off the vehicle. And when I turned it back on, redlined. It had been in the shop for the past two weeks and they could not replicate the problems. I took it back last Thursday, worked fine until Friday morning. No turn signals. Tried your fix, which was very well documented, but did not fix the problem. Dropped it back off at the mechanics shop today. But I’m starting to think about dumping this Jeep but I am a huge Jeep lover. Any thoughts on what may be going on. Thx
I took the tail light apart today, didn’t see anything obviously wrong though the sockets did look a bit browned from the bulbs. The bulbs are good, because it does work sometimes, though those times are getting less and less frequent!
The new light comes with new sockets, so hopefully that will fix it. Should get here some time next week. I’ll reeplace the bulbs for good measure since I’ll have it out. This issue is driving me nuts!
Nice blog btw, very helpful!
Hi Jerry,
Do not forget the simple stuff. It could just be a blown bulb or faulty socket.