Electrical / wiring question

Was hoping I might get some assistance on a wiring question I have.

I installed an OEM rocker switch for more control of the AC folllowing the steps in this thread.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/have-more-control-of-your-hvac.10111/
I went with an OEM one (fog light) as I wanted the switch to light up when I had the interior lights on plus an indicator for when the switch was switched on.

Here is the strange thing.

The switch functions as it is supposed to. Looking at the HVAC control, when I’m on any of the 1st 3 spots or the defrost slots, the ac won’t work unless I flip the switch. The problem is that the indicator light telling me it is on doesn’t light up.

However, if I switch the knob to the slots that would traditionally NOT have AC or turn it off all together with the rocker switch in the “on” position, the compressor will shut off (since they are non-AC spots) but the indicator light on the rocker switch lights up.

Any idea what would cause this?

Curious if I need to wire the switch up to a relay vs. how it says to do it in the thread above.

To summarize:

1. AC won’t turn on unless I flip the switch.
2. When the switch is flipped, the light telling me it is “on” doesn’t light up if I am in any of the AC slots.
3. When I am in the non-ac slots or off, with the switch in the “on” position, the indicator light will light up but the compressor shuts off.

My goal: when I am in the AC slots the indicator light on the switch lights up.

The wiring on the switch is your typical 4 wire MOPAR switch.
Black-Neutral
Blue-Accessory
Purple-Power
Orange-LIght source

dbbd1 said:

You will not be able to use the indicator light. Remove the ground connection from the switch.

Re-reading ...
If you want the switch to light up with your dash lights, you'll need to remove the switch and remove the indicator bulb.

Click to expand...

it already lights up with the dash. That iant the issue. The issue is when the rocker switch is turned on the “on” indicator light turns off when the ac is engaged but turns on when the control is moved to the non-ac spots.

curious on removing the ground on the switch. Can you walk me through why it isn’t needed?

CharlesHS said:

Without seeing how you wired up this switch; my suggestion would be to step back and examine the factory wiring schematics and determine how you want to interrupt the compressor signal and then wire up the switch accordingly. Check the TJ Resources section for the PDF of Factory Service Manual wiring in 8W.

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads...ice-manuals-fsm-technical-documentation.4618/

Click to expand...

the switch is wired as in the linked thread.
Black is grounded
Orange is linked to the OD orange wire for dash light
Purple and blue are wired to the light green wire in the AC control.

LONGJP2 said:

Are you using an actual oem switch or a look-a-like?

IIRC, the linked thread doesn't mention a light for when the compressor is on.

Remember, the wire you are interrupting is a 0v signal which is basically a ground. That, and the way you wired it, is why it comes on when you don't want it to.

Click to expand...

oem.
Got it and that would then make sense. So I’m cancelling the ground on the switch when the actual is on which in turn is turning off the light but when the control knob for the ac control is on the non-ac positions the compressor ground isn’t active which allows the switch ground to function and thus the lights come on.

if the disconnecting the ground doesn’t solve it I wonder if adding a relay would.

LONGJP2 said:

Maybe.
I'd have to see the schematic for how an oem fog switch is wired to work normally. Not sure what year, or if the TJ even used them. I know they were on XJs.

Click to expand...

The wire color above in my image is how an Oem is wired.

blue=power
Purple=accessory
Black=ground
Orange=power for dash light

2004 do not have them but they can be used for accessory fog lights as it is a standard 3 wire rocker switch with an extra wire for the dash light.

1. if I put the blue and black wire on a 9v battery the indicator light turns on whether switch is in on or off position.

2. if I use the purple the light only turns on when I turn on the switch with it hooked up to the battery.

#1 above is also how the switch was working if you do the wires on the AC backwards. If I put the compressor side of the light green wire on the blue switch wire the light would come even with the switch turned off. The moment I flipped the AC to a ac slot the light would go off. Didn’t matter if the switch was on or off.
With the wires wrong the AC functioned normally.