Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: specialk on September 19, 2012, 09:13:03 PM

Title: ZJ battery draw
Post by: specialk on September 19, 2012, 09:13:03 PM
My dad has a 97 ZJ.   Battery was dead the other day after it had been starting and running the days before.  He picked up  a new battery and when installed, the head lights are coming on immediately. (he thinks they are the high beams as it looks bright)
- no key in the ignition
- light switch is on off position

My first thoughts are bad relay.

Any other ideas?
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: morerpmfred on September 19, 2012, 09:23:27 PM
Daytime running light switch letting full power through ?
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: w squared on September 19, 2012, 09:34:06 PM
Well, if the realy somehow stuck in the closed position, that would account for the dead battery and the lights being on.

Just tell him to take out the headlight bulbs. That'll let him drive it normally without causing any problems with the battery. That's how the ZJ tech manual says to fix it....right Johnny?
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: esi on September 19, 2012, 09:35:15 PM
We had a 96 dodge 1/2ton . When the daytime running light module goes bad the headlights stay on all the time.
Title: Re: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: binare on September 19, 2012, 09:37:12 PM
99% sure its the drl module, black box attached to the inner drivers side fender.
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: specialk on September 19, 2012, 09:41:08 PM
thanks guys.   I have passed that along.
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: JackstandJohnny on September 19, 2012, 09:48:54 PM
the shifter arm module on the steering column can also cause issue with the lights acting weird.  i've got one if you need kev. 
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: specialk on September 19, 2012, 09:49:18 PM
And as for your idea Todd...  one light bulb is easy to pull...  the other by the battery is a bitch and would be to much work :-)
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: SwampSinger on September 20, 2012, 05:32:40 AM
thanks guys.   I have passed that along.

make sure he unplugs that stupid thing right away...  mine was melting wires when it went bad
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: yellowjeep101 on September 20, 2012, 06:09:06 AM
I had the same issue a few weeks ago, the drl can short out and cause the headlights to go on. It's a black box, I'm not sure where on a zj, but if you unplug it your headlights will work properly. But you will lose the high beam indicator on the dash.
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: morerpmfred on September 20, 2012, 06:27:18 AM
With a test like and a jumper wire it takes like 5 minutes or less to get the high beam indicator to work.
Title: Re: ZJ battery draw
Post by: raf2379 on September 20, 2012, 07:29:08 AM
the only way to fix this issue is to replace the ZJ with any of the choices bellow

XJ
TJ
JK

 :D