Lights failing fast...

[Blue2twenty2]

My lights are failing in sequential order. The left cluster panel light, then the right. My stereo then stopped working. All of my external lights (except headlights) are dark. Something started this cascade of events on my 2006 Wrangler X. Any ideas?

 

[JPNinPA]

Check your grounds.

 

[Tison78_CJ5]

Have you checked your voltage on the battery while it is running?
With it running it should be around 14 volts.

 

[Blue2twenty2]

Check your grounds.

Please elaborate (you're talking to a novice). Thanks for the help.

 

[JPNinPA]

Behind/under the dash, kind of above the gas pedal is a ground location for the cluster and radio. Make sure they are clean and tight. Might even shine them and the firewall up with some sandpaper.

Besides that the cluster plug is known to come apart but more than lights act up.

 

[Tison78_CJ5]

Maybe I misunderstood the "failing lights part". If it is not burning out the lights, then JPNinPA is right on the money.
The old jeeps are notorious for bad grounds. It woks very well to clean the connectors, and apply some dielectric grease over them.
Really pack them full with it. That keep the moisture away, from the bare metal. The grease comes from most parts stores, in a squeeze tube.
Good luck.

 

[Blue2twenty2]

Interior fuse #14 (radio) was blown. I replaced it and everything is good. Seems too easy. Was this the cause of my lights going dark.....or the result of something more ominous?

 

[JPNinPA]

Interior fuse #14 (radio) was blown. I replaced it and everything is good. Seems too easy. Was this the cause of my lights going dark.....or the result of something more ominous?

We're the lights out or dim?

If they were out I'd say: yes! it was the fuse.
I'd they dimmed there may be more at play.

 

[Gennybro]

My lights are failing in sequential order. The left cluster panel light, then the right. My stereo then stopped working. All of my external lights (except headlights) are dark. Something started this cascade of events on my 2006 Wrangler X. Any ideas?

I'd be willing to bet it's your voltage regulator, when they go, wierd things can happen. The stereo quit working after the lights went screwy, so that tells me it wasn't the radio that caused this problem. Some voltage regulators are built into the alternator, others are located on the back of the alternator. It's not very big if it's located on the back of the alternator, look closely for screws holding it in place.
I got a ford tempo that the regulator took a squat on me, went to auto zone and one of the guys told me I had to buy a new alternator cause the voltage regulator was inside it and the cost of it was 175 dollars. I ended up going to a different autozone and one of the guys there showed me where it was located attached to the back of the alternator. But auto zone don't sell the regulator, I went to napa and purchased it for 65 dollars, so be careful talking to the yahoos behind the counter cause ya just cann't trust what they say.

 

[Gennybro]

So what's up dude?

 

[Blue2twenty2]

Something is just "not right". The external lights are working and the cluster panel lights are on....but the right side is dim. The radio is (infrequently) going in and out, almost like there's an electrical short in the system. Twisting the turn signal stalk to increase and lower cluster light brightness feels different. There are more "clicks" then usual.

 

[JPNinPA]

Have you checked the grounds or the cluster connector behind the cluster?