Buy Jeep Cherokee Parking, Corner, Side Marker, Signal Light

Quick Summary

Turn-signal lights-also called blinkers, indicators, or directional lamps-tell other drivers which way your Jeep Cherokee is about to turn or change lanes. They sit inside the head-lamp or bumper housing, use 7443/7440-type bulbs on most 2014-2023 Cherokees, and must meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108 for brightness and flash rate. Using your signal can cut lane-change crashes by roughly one-quarter, while failing to signal is blamed for more than two million U.S. accidents each year. (eCFR, Parking, Transportation & Services)

Part Basics

• Location - One lamp at each front corner; rear lamps share the tail-light housing. On many trims the Daytime Running Lamp (DRL) module must come off to reach the front indicator. (Jeep Cherokee Club)
• Bulb size - Most KL-body Cherokees (2014-2023) use dual-filament 7443 or single-filament 7440 amber bulbs up front and rear. (Jeep Cherokee Club)
• Wiring - A dedicated fuse/relay lives in the under-hood box; refer to fuse F76 or the diagram on the lid. (YouTube, StartMyCar)
• Flash rate - Must be 60-120 flashes per minute; the system speeds up ("hyper-flash") to warn of a failed bulb or low resistance circuit. (NHTSA, Wrangler TJ Forum)

Fit & Compatibility

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Function & Safety

A working blinker keeps you legal and visible:

• FMVSS 108 says the lamp must glow amber up front and amber or red at the rear, be visible through a 20-degree cone, and have a flash duty-cycle of 30-70 %. (eCFR, Legal Information Institute)
• The Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) bars left-arrow images on the near-right signal face to avoid confusion. (MUTCD)
• An SAE field study found drivers skipped signalling 48 % of the time while changing lanes, leading to millions of preventable crashes. (SAE International)

Bulb & Housing Types

• Halogen (stock) - Inexpensive, 400-700 hr life.
• LED retrofit - Up to 25× lifespan and faster on-time; may need a 6-ohm load resistor or CAN-bus-ready bulb to stop hyper-flash. (Underground Lighting, Jeep Garage)
• Sequential LEDs - Emit a sweeping arrow pattern; recent SAE research shows sequential signals are noticed faster in fog and at night. (SAE International)

Common Problems

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Maintenance & Replacement

1. Turn off ignition and lights.
2. Remove the wheel-liner push-pins or bumper clip for access. (Jeep Cherokee Club)
3. Twist socket counter-clockwise, pull out, and swap the bulb.
4. Use dielectric grease on the O-ring to stop moisture.
5. Test flash on each side; speed should match OEM. For LEDs, add a resistor in parallel if flash is rapid. (Jeep Garage)

Time: ≈15 min per side.
Torque: Hand-tight-do not overtighten plastic housings.
Always wear gloves; skin oil shortens halogen life.

Legal & Standards

• All 50 states require signalling at least 100 ft before a turn; some, like Illinois, raise it to 200 ft on highways.
• FMVSS 108 S9.3.6 demands a noticeable flash-rate change when any lamp fails; non-compliance led to Jeep's 2022 safety recall. (NHTSA, NHTSA)
• Signals must be amber at the front; red rear turn lamps are optional on U.S. SUVs but amber is standard on Cherokees for global compliance. (eCFR)

Upgrades & Mods

• Switchback LEDs - White DRL that switches to amber flash; choose 7443 switchback style for plug-and-play. (Jeep Garage)
• No-resistor LEDs - Some "CK-compatible" bulbs include built-in resistive circuits to avoid dash errors.
• Sequential housings - Aftermarket lamps with built-in sweeping arrows improve visibility at night, as recent SAE tests show. (SAE International)
• Smoked lenses - Legal if DOT-stamped and still meet candela limits; dark films can cut brightness below 500 cd and fail inspection.

Cost & Labor

Average repair shop price for a Cherokee turn-signal bulb swap: ≈ US $100-about $5 in parts and $95 labor. DIY cost is only the bulb itself. (YourMechanic)

Eco Disposal

Halogen and standard incandescent bulbs can go in household trash if wrapped; LEDs contain small circuit boards, so look for e-waste recycling. (The Home Depot, The Spruce)

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What bulb number do I need for a 2018 Cherokee front blinker?
A: Most 2017-2018 Cherokees use a 7443 dual-filament amber bulb. (Jeep Cherokee Club)

Q: Why does my blinker flash really fast after I installed LEDs?
A: The body-control module senses lower resistance from the LED and speeds the flash to warn of a "burned-out" lamp. Add a 6-ohm resistor or use CAN-bus-ready LEDs. (Jeep Garage, Wrangler TJ Forum)

Q: Is it legal to have sequential arrow turn signals?
A: Yes, as long as each flash cycle still meets FMVSS 108 brightness and timing rules. (Legal Information Institute, SAE International)

Q: How early should I signal?
A: Federal and state rules say at least 100 ft (about two car-lengths) before turning, and 200 ft on faster roads.

Q: Can I swap in red rear blinkers?
A: Red is allowed in the U.S., but you must use DOT-approved lamps; many owners stick with amber for clearer contrast. (eCFR)

Q: My dash indicator stays solid-what now?
A: A stuck relay or a body-control fault is likely. Check the fuse-relay block and scan for codes. (StartMyCar)

Q: Do I have to remove the bumper to change the bulb?
A: On many trims you can reach it by peeling back the wheel-liner; full bumper removal is only needed for complete DRL/turn-signal module replacement. (Jeep Cherokee Club)

Q: How long do halogen bulbs last?
A: About 400-700 hours; LEDs can exceed 10,000 hours. (Underground Lighting)

Q: Will tinted covers fail inspection?
A: If a photometer test shows light output below the FMVSS 108 minimum, the vehicle can fail; keep the DOT markings visible. (eCFR)

Q: What does a load resistor do?
A: It adds 5-7 ohms of resistance to mimic a halogen bulb, stopping hyper-flash when using LEDs. (Jeep Garage)

Always verify bulb specifications with your owner's manual and follow local traffic laws.