Head lights ON, everything off

[oldyeller]

Walked into garage to find the headlights on the jeep on (TJ 2000). smell of burnt plastic and found the following issues. turn/dimmer switch in steeing column melted there are two rolls of terminals one a (11)pin connector and a larger (4) pin connector, the (4) pin connector is melted pretty bad, the (2) terminals nearest the curved part or inside edge of the switch are toast, I disconnected the battery and the disconnected this unit from the steering wheel the two pins that are toast are colored coded from the connector as Green/white and Red (these 2 have the switch melted, also these two wires have 12 volts on them is this normal??) the other two Green and Purple/white are fine. After disconnecting and reviewing the wiring going to the headlights I found this wiring to be questionable and maybe it has shorted and caused my issue??, has anyone had this issue??. basically I walked into the garage and my headlights were ON, everything else on the JEEP was off including the head light switch I hate electrical problems :? :bomb:

 

[Sparky-Watts]

Dang, dude!! Sorry to hear that, but you're lucky it didn't burn to the ground! I, too, hate electrical problems, and am no help at all, but there are plenty of folks here that will be sure to give you good guidance. Good luck, and welcome to Jeepz!

 

[guysmiley]

Cant help you now, but tomorrow, I will get you a wiring diagram, that might be of service. I'll post tomorrow. Melted connectors are usually a sign of bad contacts. Melted wiring is a usually some short to ground.
guysmiley

 

[oldyeller]

Thanks that would be helpful, so far I have rewired the lights the connectors were in bad shape, also I had replaced the factory light with H4 lights, I have returned to the original lights wondering if these lights are pulling to much juice so to speak. I have also ordered a new light switch and will be ordering a new dimmer turn switch tomorrow, that dang thing is melted bad, I even have to replace the connector its shot too:x

 

[JeepMonkey]

Check on recall items. My 'O1 had a recall to replace some switch or wiring in the column. I can't remember exactly what for, but I know it was in for something in that area. Chrysler/Jeep probably wouldn't be very forthcoming with that fact unless you asked them straight out either.

 

[guysmiley]

oldyeller,
give me an email address. I have about 10 pages of wiring diagrams, to big to post on this sight, and wiring diagrams are not what you want to shrink. Also I didn't see any service bulletins for your model. The only one I saw was for wire splicing procedure and gauges. Thats the only reference for electrical.
guysmiley

 

[oldyeller]

Guysmiley, PM sent, thanks again