FIELD REPORT / JEEP / 17 January 2025
Connecting the extra front lights and setting up AUX 3 in Uconnect: my Wrangler installation.
The bonnet is open, with tools and cables ready. I want to connect the extra lights to the existing AUX switches. It sounds like a quick job. Once I start wiring, I realise I need more time.
It gets dark too early on the first attempt, so I continue in daylight. I check the connections again and look through the settings in the Jeep.
Four buttons, already in place
What I like about the AUX switches is that they're already part of the cockpit. I don't need to find room for another switch. Now I just need to connect the lights properly and choose the right settings.
My extra front lights go on AUX 3. Before connecting them, I check the wire colours against the Jeep documentation so I know which circuit I'm using.
The work is under the bonnet
Inside, all you see afterwards are the switches. There's more work under the bonnet: connecting the wires and routing them neatly. I want to be able to tell where each cable goes later on as well.
A light turning on isn't enough for me. The connection has to suit the load and be protected against moisture, tension and rubbing. I'd rather spend a bit longer getting that right.
Settings in Uconnect
Uconnect lets me configure each AUX switch. For my front lights, I use the latching setting: press once to turn them on, press again to turn them off. With the momentary setting, the accessory stays on only while the button is held.
I can choose the power source too. Ignition power makes the accessory depend on the ignition state. Battery power lets it run independently. The setting needs to suit the job, or the lights could stay on accidentally and drain the battery.
The last switch state can also be recalled. According to the Jeep documentation, this works with a latching switch and ignition power.
What I like, and what I check
The biggest advantage for me is having the controls built into the Jeep. I can also configure them to suit the accessories. That makes the four buttons useful in everyday use.
A spare button doesn't mean every device can be connected to it. I check the load and wiring first. For extra lighting, I also need to check where I'm allowed to use it.
My verdict
The extra lights now have their own switch in the cockpit. Going through the connections again in daylight was worth it. Finishing in the dark would only have made the job unnecessarily rushed.
Next time, I'll plan more carefully beforehand: which light goes on which button, which circuit does it need, and how should the switch work? That saves work under the bonnet later.
What have you connected to your Wrangler's AUX switches?
- Jeep Wrangler MY24, US owner's manual, Auxiliary Switches section, pages 81–82.