Cold Weather Electric Problem

[Wheels06]

Hi Everyone - I'm a newbie to the forum, but have used information from the great contributors here in the past. I have an 06 TJ. Bought it last June knowing it had some issues, but most were easy to fix. I bought it so I could learn to wrench and get experience/satisfaction working on a truck. Anyway, my latest dilemma: When the weather gets cold, below 40 degrees F, the jeep starts up fine, but the blinkers (both left and right), the radio, and the blower motor will not work. When the day warms up a bit, to above 45 degrees F or so, all the non-working items work fine.

Some history on the jeep: I replaced the blower motor resistor when I got the jeep because the motor only worked on the highest setting. That fixed the problem. Also, I just replaced the Flasher Relay, thinking that would fix the blinker issue. Any help or direction that I could get would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance and I hope one day to pay it forward from my experience to someone else in need.

 

[Jerry Bransford]

Welcome to WTF, glad to have you as a member! That's an unusual problem but the only thing I can think of would be your ignition switch could be going bad. Can you kinda jiggle/slightly rotate the switch to get them working when it's cold out?

And the root cause of the resistor pack (blower motor resistor) blowing is usually the fan motor drawing excessive current through the resistor pack. The motor windings are made from bare copper wire that is coated in shellac as an insulator. The shellac eventually starts breaking down and flaking off letting the windings start shorting together causing it to draw excessive current through the resistor pack. It can get the wires so hot too that the insulation can start melting. The fan motor bypasses the resistor pack on its highest speed which is why it still worked after replacing the resistor pack.

 

[Wheels06]

Hi Jerry,
Thanks for your reply. I have been busy the last two nights and needed to pull my jeep into the garage. I will try to leave the truck out in the cold this weekend after Thanksgiving and I will update you on how it works in the cold. Thanks again for sharing your expertise.

 

[Wheels06]

Hi Jerry,

Sorry for the long time for an update. I appreciate you sharing your expertise. When I started my jeep on a cold day, I was able to turn the key back slightly and then all was fine! The blinkers worked, the radio worked, and the blower worked at all levels/positions. I did not have to jiggle the ignition, but as you suggested, I only had to ever so slightly rotate the key back toward me and then everything worked. Turns out a guy I work with has a 2010 TJ and he has to do the same thing. Thanks again for your time and support. I will bank this and hopefully be able to pay it forward one day. Best wishes for a great holiday season!

 

[macleanflood]

Ignition switches are cheap and easy to swap. Dorman has a kit that'll key itself to your key on the first use. I bought a kit from Wolf Security and rekeyed my ignition and three doors.

-Mac

 

[Wheels06]

Ignition switches are cheap and easy to swap. Dorman has a kit that'll key itself to your key on the first use. I bought a kit from Wolf Security and rekeyed my ignition and three doors.

-Mac

Hey Mac-

Thanks for the advice. I'll check it out.