I've replaced my tail light bulb and bulb socket and it goes out immediately. Any suggestions for next step?

95

Asked by yldkatt10 Jul 26, 2007 at 12:30 PM about the 2000 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited 4WD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I bought the jeep in 2003, the L tail light was replaced then brake light went out, brake light replaced, tail light out. Had mechanic change bulb socket worked for a few days then out again. Bulbs last about a day or blow brake lights. Not sure if should take to electrical place or dealer. I'm worried the diagnostics could cost a fortune.

8 Answers

84,355

Take this one to a dealer. It sounds like something in the system is putting out too much voltage and frying the bulbs. It may simply be a shortin the system. I doubt the diagnostics will cost you much over $100, the electronic aspect of lighting is still pretty simple even on newer vehicles.

2 people found this helpful.
55

Hello, Probably is too late to reply to this topic; but from my experience the tail lights on the JGC from those models 99-04 or 05. Is that the socket also has some connectors on the contacts on the socket enclosure; but those contacts are surrounded by plastic and if you keep your breaks on for a long time, it might melt the plastic because the heat of the bulb; I might recommend you to change the whole socket and the harness to avoid that problem; and not using the contacts on the base. I hope this helps.

5 people found this helpful.
6,935

FYI: electrical systems may be simple in function, but beware- you may have to pay for a lot of time in diagnostics. Sometimes chasing down the problem is like catching a field mouse outdoors.

625

ok so this is like way late and you most likely have had it fixed but keep in mind that sometimes those problems are something stupid. dont forget to check fuses!! and if the lens isnt air tight water could be blowing the bulbs too!!

1 people found this helpful.
75

Make sure all of your fuses are working. Otherwise i dont know

1 people found this helpful.
1,755

dealer? $100 to fix? fuses? what are ya'll thinking? If the light is blowing and not just shutting off, then it won't be a fuse since a blown fuse wouldn't allow power to it. Check all of your connections and make sure that anything isn't barely connected and causing a short. Otherwise...run new wires and bybass the current ones and put in a smaller fuse (smaller fuse would cause the fuse to blow before the light)

3 people found this helpful.
555

on mine the bulb is fine but when i have my lights on and i hit the brakes the bulb cuts outs its the connectors within the brake light i messed with it and no problems since

5 people found this helpful.
10

Rather the lamp blow, the fuse "should" go! So, I believe that the fuse has a short that by passes the fuse. (?) i don't like having to take things apart anymore. not unless I have done it before. x___________!====!x_________ Between here --------------------x and x here (A short that bypasses the fuse .)

1 people found this helpful.

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