Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Check Engine Light Issue?

I own a 96 Grand Cherokee with an In-Line 6 cylinder with auto trans. The check engine light comes on as soon as I turn on the head lights. Further, although the engine is not over heating, the engine over-heat warning bulb to the extreme right of the analog temp gauge lights with the check engine light. By disconnecting / reconnecting the battery, the check engine light resets and remain off until I turn on the head lights. If I don't turn on the head lights, check engine light remains off. My guess is that there is a short in the electrical harness or possibly a bad instrument cluster bulb. Also I did the self diagnostics via turning the ignition switch on/off for 2 cycles the back on so to display a code. Two codes come up: 12 and 21 indicating a bad O2 sensor and the other indicating that power was lost to the PCM. But due to the behavior of when the Check Engine light being triggered by turning on head lights, I'm thinking it's a wiring issue. Thanks in advance for your help

9 Answers

Relevance
  • 1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Check engine lights can be delt with at your local auto zone. Have them do a diagnostic:)

  • HD
    Lv 5
    1 decade ago

    has the vehicle been in an accident or had any aftermarket elect component added that you know of? i agree with you, o2 sensor probably not, wiring issue more than likely. i doubt

    if it's the harness, more like a short somewhere that would effect the pcm thus setting the code. Now, just have to figure

    out in addition to the headlight switch being turned on, the short( I assume it's a short) is setting the code by effecting another elect part, like maybe the alternator somehow. i believe that has an internal regular (in the alt.). i wish you luck

    on this one my friend, elect problems can be a nightmare as

    you know and is why shops charge $100.00 hr. sometimes to

    diagnose elect problems. ps: at least when you reset, the light stays off so it's not a hard code, but, that would be easier to diagnose but. probably more expensive to fix.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    I have a 99 Cherokee Sport that does the same thing. My instruments also cut out from time to time. It's been doing that for a couple of years and nothings become of it. Try putting a piece of black electrical tape over the "check engine" light. You'll never see it again.

  • Rich
    Lv 4
    1 decade ago

    When the computer goes, weird stuff starts happening with cars. PCM = Primary Control Module = computer

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 1 decade ago

    sounds like you got it you could chase it down by sticking a pin in the line to hook your gage to and checking for the short but on a 96 i wouldnt bother

  • 1 decade ago

    thats funny...because i had the same problem. i don't know how much i spent trying to get it fixed, before i took it to a garage and told them to just take the bulb out.

  • 1 decade ago

    really,my friend, self diagnosis is not the way. you need to get a reader and hook it up and see,for sure... then you can repair the problem.until you do,it will be just guessing...

  • 1 decade ago

    Check your fuses.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    ur fuses are crossed

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.