Hello Everyone. I have a problem with a soundbar I have a 1998 jeep wrangler sport 4.0 automatic it did not come with the factory soundbar. I found a factory soundbar and a harness on ebay I plugged everything in and changed the speakers out everything seemed ok. I put a bulb in the soundbar this is where it gets weird if the jeep is started and running the light works fine you can cut it off and on by the headlight switch open the doors the light comes on close them the light goes off. You turn the key off the light stays on you turn the headlight swith to on for the underdash lights the soundbar light goes off you turn the under dash lights off the soundbar light comes on. Open the doors the soundbar light goes off close them the soundbar light comes on. The underdash lights work how they should.Anybody have any idea on what's going on? This is driving me crazy.
Sound Bar Problem
- Thread starter jamesc5774
- Start date
That might be the longest run on sentence I've ever read 
When you say you "plugged it in", where did you plug it into?
When you say you "plugged it in", where did you plug it into?
Lol. Under the dash where the you plug it in.That might be the longest run on sentence I've ever read
When you say you "plugged it in", where did you plug it into?
Everything else works fine. The sounbar light works perfect as long as the key is on. But when the key is off the light works backwards. This really has me puzzled. I have worked on plenty of cars but this really has me stumped.
I'm not an electrical guy by any means, but the first thing I'd be checking is fuses (make sure none of them are blown or missing).
After that I'd be looking under the dash to see if you can visually tell if any wires have been tampered with (i.e. aftermarket alarms or accessories).
After that I'd be looking under the dash to see if you can visually tell if any wires have been tampered with (i.e. aftermarket alarms or accessories).
Ok thanks everything looks like it is factory underneath and I checked all the fuses and they are good. I took the bulb out until I can figure out what is going on.
It might take a service manual with schematics and a few sacrificial brain cells to sort this out. The interior lighting on TJ's is a little more sophisticated that a basic system with ground switches in the doors. My 2001 for instance, has features such as gradual dimming, a safety disconnect should the interior door(s) be opened for too long a period, and a delay feature to keep the interior lighted until you drive off. Chrysler made a number of electrical changes throughout the TJ run so we can't make assumptions based on just any year. I'm finding big differences between my 2001 and 2000's alone.
Thanks for the reply. I was wondering if it is supposed to have a dimmer on the interior lights and it may be bad. They have always just went on and off with the door opening or closing. I guess I'm going to have to do a bunch of checking when I get time.
If you haven't already done it, try to find a free PDF service manual for your year. I had to download two, a 2000 and a 2001 Addendum since they didn't publish a complete manual in 2001. I can't recall which websites have them but it didn't take much looking to find them. All wires will have an abbreviation such as PK/WT (pink with white strip) as in the schematic below. The manual even has locations for the connectors and ground points.
Here's a description of the interior lighting where it's gets a little more complicated;
A single EMIC module is offered on this model;
however, some variations of this module exist due to optional equipment and regulatory requirements. This module utilizes integrated circuitry and information carried on the Programmable Communications Interface (PCI) data bus network for control of all gauges and many of the indicators. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES/COMMUNICATION - DESCRIPTION). The EMIC also uses several hard wired inputs in order to perform its many functions. In addition to instrumentation and indicators, the EMIC has hardware and/or software to support the following functions:
† Chime Warning Service - The EMIC performs the functions necessary to provide audible alerts to the vehicle operator and eliminates the need for a separate chime module. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/CHIME/BUZZER - DESCRIPTION).
† Interior Lighting Control Service - The EMIC performs the functions necessary to provide control of the interior lighting. This control includes providing illuminated entry, fade-to-off (theater) dimming, and battery saver (load shedding) features for all interior courtesy lighting.
Thanks for the info. Let me ask one question. Do you think this problem could be that the computer needs programmed for the soundbar light since it did not come factory with it?
I doubt that would be an option almost 20 years ago. Two things come to mind. First, did you wait long enough, release the e-brake, and try to drive off? Does the sound bar light still stay on? Cause the sound bar lamp will give you a brief delay before fading out. The factory thought it would be a good feature to keep the interior illuminated while you get ready to pull away (fastening seatbelts, etc).
If it stays on then you have a problem. If your original interior lamp at the back of the hardtop worked correctly, then I would attempt to connect the sound bar lamp with the same feed as the rear. Note on the schematic above that the same circuit and fuse feeds both. Once you find out the color code, it should be possible to ID the wires. I would think you could trace the wire bundle back on the LH side under the carpets from the back rear corner and find a suitable spot for the surgery.
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