Have you just bought a Jeep Cherokee and found a problem with your interior lights always remaining on? Are you keen on knowing how to turn off the interior lights in your Jeep Cherokee? Then this article is meant for you.
When you buy a Jeep Cherokee, you will find many great features installed in the vehicle. However, like all other vehicles in the market, the Cherokee has flaws and problems. Interior lights are one of these problems. They have multiple interior lights that don’t turn off regardless of how many times you press on the light switch.
This may sound like a small matter, but driving at night or even during the day can be a real problem. If you are trying to figure out how to turn off the interior lights in your Jeep Cherokee, this article will tell you what you need to know.
What are Interior Lights Used For?
So, first things first, what are interior lights, and what are they used for? Interior lights comprise console lights, reading lights, dome lights on the car’s ceiling, door lights, dash lights, cargo area lights, etc.
- You use Interior lights to illuminate the interior of your vehicle. They are an essential part of the lighting system and can help make your car safer to drive in low lighting conditions. Some vehicles have a single light on each side of the car; others have multiple lights that come on only when needed.
- Interior lights also help you see inside your vehicle after dark. They can illuminate critical areas such as the driver’s seat, dashboard, and mirrors, so you don’t miss anything or get into an accident while driving at night.
- Interior lights are commonly used to help drivers see at night and provide illumination for the inside of a vehicle. In some cases, interior lights provide extra visibility for drivers and passengers.
- The primary purpose of interior lighting is to illuminate the inside of your car. Interior lights can be used to help you see better in low light situations and can also be used to help you see other vehicles on the road.
- The interior lights can make your car safer by alerting others that someone is in the car with them.
- If you have a hatchback or trunk, you may want to install an interior light so that people can see what is inside the cargo area.
Why is Turning Off Your Interior Lights Important?
There are several reasons why it is a good idea to turn off the interior lights of your car. Here are some of them:
- The interior lights can be distracting when you drive at night, and the headlights are on. It is better to turn them off to avoid accidents.
- The interior lights may cause glare for other drivers on the road. This is another reason why it is crucial to turn these lights off when driving at night.
- These lights attract insects that cause problems for you and your passengers when they get stuck or fly into them because your engine runs too long.
- It also causes problems with your engine if you leave it idling for too long without turning off any switches inside or outside your car.
- If you’re driving in the dark and suddenly notice that your interior lights are on, you may be in for a surprise. A car’s interior lights are pretty bright, distracting other drivers on the road.
- If you don’t turn off your car’s interior lights when not needed, it can actually cause accidents. This is because it’s hard to see potential hazards such as pedestrians or other vehicles when you have high-beam headlights shining into your eyes.
Why Won’t My Jeep Interior Lights Turn Off
Are you wondering why Jeep Cherokee interior lights won’t turn off? Here are several reasons why:
- The most common reason is that you have an intermittent problem with the bulb or ballast. Other issues include a loose connection or broken wire.
- If you have several interior lights that don’t turn off, you can use a multimeter to check the voltage on the circuit board. If there is no voltage, this could be a sign of a bad bulb or ballast. You should also check for loose connections and broken wires in the wiring harness under your dashboard.
- For some models, there may be a fuse that controls the interior lights. If your fuse is blown and it doesn’t seem to be causing any other problems with your vehicle, then you can replace it with a replacement fuse kit from an auto parts store.
- A code is stored in the computer, and check engine light is on.
- Check engine light is on, but check engine control panel or module has been reset.
- A problem with the switch or connector supplies power to your Jeep’s interior lights.
- An electrical short circuit in your Jeep’s wiring system affects one or more of your Jeep’s interior lights.
Jeep Wrangler Interior Lights Won’t Turn on When Door Opens
One of the most common issues with a Jeep Wrangler is that the interior lights don’t turn on when you open the door. You might be able to turn them on and off manually, but if you have a keyless remote, that won’t work either.
If your Jeep Wrangler interior lights don’t turn on when you open the door, here are two possible causes:
- Loose Wire — The most common cause of a flexible wire causing an issue like this is corrosion buildup between two parts of the circuit board or wiring harness. The first thing you should do is check to see if any wires are loose or frayed.
Loose wires cause intermittent problems with your interior lighting system over time due to moisture entering through cracks in those parts of your vehicle’s electrical system. It creates corrosion that can eventually damage components such as fuses or wiring harnesses. - Faulty Fuse Box — If you’re having a problem with your Jeep Wrangler interior lights not turning on when you open the door, there is likely a problem with the circuit in your dashboard. In most cases, this will be due to an issue with one of the relays or fuses in the fuse box behind your dash lights.
Check all fuses and relays in your fuse box and any exposed wiring by pulling off covers or covers near them. Ensure all wires are correctly connected, and nothing looks burned out or damaged anywhere.
Fixing Bad Interior Lights in Jeep Cherokee
If you have a problem with your Jeep’s interior lights and are unsure what to do about it, read on to get help to fix issues with the lights.
Here are some steps for fixing bad interior lights in your Jeep:
Step 1 – Remove all bulbs from the fuse box and test each individually. If any bulbs are burned out or if no bulb works, replace them all.
Step 2 – If none of the bulbs on the fuse box work, check each light in your Jeep one at a time. Look where the wires connect to the light and see if they are connected properly. If they are not connected, rewire them, so they are connected correctly.
Step 3 – If none of these steps work, then you need to replace your entire circuit board for your Jeep’s interior lights with a new one that has been tested for functionality by a technician before being installed into your vehicle.
Fixing Interior Lights That Won’t Turn Off in a Jeep Cherokee
If you can’t turn off your interior lights in a Jeep Cherokee, the problem is most likely in the fuse box located under the hood. Here’s how to fix it:
Step 1: Locate the Fuse Box
The first thing that you need to do is locate your fuse box. On most models of Jeep Cherokees, there are two fuses situated near the battery terminal on either side of the engine compartment. If these fuses aren’t working correctly, you’ll need to replace them before continuing with other repairs.
Step 2: Check Out the Fuse
Once you’ve located your fuse box, pull the fuses out one by one until you find the one that has gone bad and needs replacing. If several fuses need replacing because they’re all blown out or otherwise damaged from age, it’s best to replace them immediately.
You’ll also need to ensure that none of your other electrical components are on during this process. If they are, then they could cause problems with your vehicle’s wiring system or even start a fire if left unchecked.
If your dashboard and instrument cluster lights don’t turn off, you can use the following steps to fix the problem.
Step 1: Remove the center console.
Step 2: Detach all the circuit boards from the back of the center console and remove them from the back of your Jeep.
Step 3: Disconnect all wires from the circuit board and pull them out of their sockets to remove them from your Jeep.
Step 4: Inspect each wire for damage or fraying, and reattach them to their respective socket using wire ties if necessary.
Step 5: Reinstall all circuit boards in your Jeep and connect them to their respective wiring harnesses using wire ties if necessary.
Consequences of Leaving Your Lights On?
People are often unaware of the consequences of leaving car interior lights on. Here are some of them:
- The battery life will be reduced due to excess power consumption. Leaving lights on drains the battery and can cause it to overheat, leading to a fire.
- It will increase the chances of getting involved in an accident because you can’t see the road properly under low light conditions.
- It will also increase the chances of getting involved in an accident because it makes drivers blind at night time.
- It will be easier for criminals to find your vehicle if you have left the interior lights on while parked somewhere public and unattended.
Final Word
We believe you now know how to turn off interior lights in a Jeep Cherokee and have helped you answer the question ‘why won’t my jeep lights turn off.’ If your light stays on after completing all the above steps, you may want to consider having a professional diagnose the problem.
Also Read: Jeep Key Fob Not Detected- Reasons and Quick Fixes
Sometimes there can be faulty wiring or even shorted-out sensors responsible for causing this issue. Only a professional will likely be able to determine the underlying cause of these symptoms. All the best in fixing this problem.
