[Mark_]

Hey, I got my first Jeep Cherokee Limited with 27k miles around Oct 2017 and so far it's been a great ride to me (38k miles now). However, in these last few months there have been some issues propagating which lead me to believe that the symptoms I'm seeing are part of a deeper root cause. Here's what I mean.

About 3 months back, my driver side headlamp went out without any warning. When I got around to it, I switched out the headbulb with a Sylvania part from AutoZone (maybe I should've gone with OE). This did not solve the issue, I even got it returned and got a second bulb but no change. About a month and a half later, my passenger headlight also went out. And just 2 weeks ago it wouldn't start. My pops and I switched the battery and this seemed to take care of the starting issue (old battery had a dropped cell).

At this point I thought it's time to visit the dealership. The service rep contacted me today and told me that I had two bad headlamps which needed to be replaced ($250 a piece) and also because the battery was switched out that the computer had to be "re-set" ($125). All in all, a $1000 job including labor. I asked if the headlamp meant getting the housing and all replaced but he said no, I also asked if he meant just the headbulb to which he also answered no because this vehicle is equipped with an HID OE system meaning it also needs a ballast.

I looked around the forum to see if anyone had a similar problem before posting but found nothing that was quite like my case. Could this be a bad headlight switch or alternator going bad, anyone experienced anything like this before? I'm sorry about being long winded, just wanted to include as many details as possible.

Whoa, lots to digest here...

Ok let me give you my opinion, which may help navigate through this maze... :

1) If your Limited has the Luxury package, then yes it has factory HID headlights. If you tried to put a halogen bulb in there, the connector would not have allowed it (halogen is 9005/9012 connector, HID is D3S). So I don't know what you purchased at Autozone..? If you remember the price you paid, that would likely tell us (anything above $100 is likely an HID bulb). Connecting a halogen bulb in an HID setup would immediately fry the halogen ; halogens requires 12-15V, HID bulbs run on a few thousand volts... (from the ballasts).

2) Resetting the codes ? That's total bull. Don't let them do that, a battery swap causes a Check Engine condition which clears itself after a few engine Run/Off cycles. Dead headlight bulbs will also cause a headlight out error, until both headlights are up and running again.

3) Are the ballasts fried ? Haven't seen that happen on a Cherokee yet. Xenon bulbs going (HIDs), yes, we've had a few reports from forum members. Those bulbs are covered under the 3 year / 36K mile warranty, so you're out of luck there... darnit...

4) What to do ? If this was me... I would buy 2 xenon bulbs (HIDs) and install them. If they work, boom, your ballasts are good. If they don't, let us know and we'll help you locate some ballasts.

Now about the bulbs. They are *D3S* model xenon bulbs. OEM are 35W with a color temp of 4300K (Philips brand). You can find similar ones online for much cheaper than at any dealership. Here are some :

Like OEM (pair) : [ame]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B074MNGWJQ/ref=sxts_kp_tr_2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=223036077861030084&pd_rd_wg=AbjNp&pf_rd_r=4TWZP1N9XVJF8W4PJAWV&pf_rd_s=desktop-sx-top-slot&pf_rd_t=301&pd_rd_i=B074MNGWJQ&pd_rd_w=7x0B8&pf_rd_i=d3s+bulbs&pd_rd_r=44f47bff-f955-4284-a246-936e0786b372&ie=UTF8&qid=1534887515&sr=2[/ame]


Very similar to OEM, just as good (german brand - pair) : [ame]https://www.amazon.com/Osram-ALI-XENARC-Headlight-66340HBI/dp/B074KSBLDP/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1534887554&sr=8-6&keywords=d3s+bulbs[/ame]


Same Osrams, but cheaper price (pair) : [ame]https://www.amazon.com/GENUINE-OSRAM-xenarc-66340-Xenon/dp/B071H9GY2M/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1534887715&sr=8-3&keywords=d3s+xenarc[/ame]


Higher end Osram Night Breakers (pair) : [ame]https://www.amazon.com/Osram-Night-Breaker-Unlimited-66340XNB-HCB/dp/B01MRNQOVQ[/ame]


...etc... Where are you located, roughly, and what model year is the Limited ?

 

[Mark_]

Mark, replying to your post below.

1) If your Limited has the Luxury package, then yes it has factory HID headlights. If you tried to put a halogen bulb in there, the connector would not have allowed it (halogen is 9005/9012 connector, HID is D3S). So I don't know what you purchased at Autozone..? If you remember the price you paid, that would likely tell us (anything above $100 is likely an HID bulb). Connecting a halogen bulb in an HID setup would immediately fry the halogen ; halogens requires 12-15V, HID bulbs run on a few thousand volts... (from the ballasts).

Correct, it is a limited but not sure if it has the luxury package. It does have the HID headlamps so if only the luxury package Cherokee's have this option then I just found out something new. Yes, it was a 9012 bulb and it did cost a pretty penny ($130) so I want to say that I got the correct bulb. A different symptom the service rep pointed out at the dealer was that switching between off/on/auto would cause the passenger headlamp to flicker for a few moments along with an audible clicking noise.

2) Resetting the codes ? That's total bull. Don't let them do that, a battery swap causes a Check Engine condition which clears itself after a few engine Run/Off cycles. Dead headlight bulbs will also cause a headlight out error, until both headlights are up and running again.

Unfortunately like I mentioned above, I didn't get to see these posts until today. I had already picked it up yesterday and had them clear the codes and do the reset. I "saved" a few dollars from paying the whole $159 (before taxes) for diagnosis. Instead I paid $125 (before taxes) for the reset.

3) Are the ballasts fried ? Haven't seen that happen on a Cherokee yet. Xenon bulbs going (HIDs), yes, we've had a few reports from forum members. Those bulbs are covered under the 3 year / 36K mile warranty, so you're out of luck there... darnit...

Of course all these issues began after crossing the 37k mark.. lol of course. To what you mentioned.. the driver side headlamp is completely out. This is the headlamp that got a new HID bulb installed (Sylvania 9012). The passenger side is flickering and then shuts off. These symptoms seem to be more likely associated with a bad ballast which would keep a new bulb from working and would explain some of the intermittent behavior I'm seeing on the passenger side. Point in case, the passenger headlamp had gone out however three nights before taking it to the dealer, I was driving to a neighbors house and he pointed out that the passenger headlamp was actually working. Ballast right? Or am I jumping to conclusions?

Another interesting note I found while researching was that OE ballasts are rated for 2kh which is 2000 hours (label). This jeep is now 4years old and had about 37k when headlamps starting going out. I want to say it's not impossible to believe that both of these could have gone out almost around the same time, 4yrs and some months later?

4) What to do ? If this was me... I would buy 2 xenon bulbs (HIDs) and install them. If they work, boom, your ballasts are good. If they don't, let us know and we'll help you locate some ballasts.

During research last night, I found the headlamp assembly diagram: https://www.tucsonmoparparts.com/au...herokee/limited-trim/3-2l-v6-gas-engine/electrical-cat/headlamp-components-scat
I ordered two ballasts this morning; part number 68226783AA (HID Ballast). Should work for both right and left. Wish I would've seen this post yesterday. I would've ordered through you instead, if it was possible or at least held off on ordering the ballasts. I spoke with Tucson Mopar Parts and they are shipping the parts sometime this week so I will update y'all on my findings.

Now about the bulbs. They are *D3S* model xenon bulbs. OEM are 35W with a color temp of 4300K (Philips brand). You can find similar ones online for much cheaper than at any dealership.

I believe that both bulbs should be good as the driver side is new and the passenger side works when the ballast is working (or so I believe). Otherwise, I'll use the links you posted to order new bulbs. Thanks for all your help and for taking the time to respond to my essays lol.

Where are you located, roughly, and what model year is the Limited ?

I'm down in Houston, TX. And it is a 2014.

10-4 on all that, thanks !

One lingering question : the bulb you purchase at O'Reilley's was really a "9012" ? I'm asking because 9012 is a halogen bulb, the ones we have in non HID Cherokees (before 2018 MY). The OEM xenon bulbs are really known as "D3S". 9012 connnectors are 2-pin while D3S are 4-pin.
Now there is a possibility here... maybe... : since you don't know whether you have the Luxury group or not, maybe... your Limited came with halogens and the original owner installed an HID kit. A kit comes with 9012 xenon bulbs because the halogen connectors are 9012, not D3S...
Having said that, aftermarket 9012 xenon (HID) bulbs are easily found for $20 each (or even less). Aftermarket ballasts : not so sure, I've never looked into ballasts only.

So now my suggestion... : find out if your xenons are OEM or aftermarket. A picture of the ballast would quickly settle this. You can also do a VIN check online to get the window sticker for your Limited :
http://www.chrysler.com/hostd/windowsticker/getWindowStickerPdf.do?vin=#################
(replace #######... with your actual VIN)

If it turns out your setup is OEM HIDs, I guess you can try the new ballasts and return them if the problem is elsewhere... hopefully ?