adams98cherokee

It didn't start doing this until I reset my ecu, now my gauges will work sometimes then my airbag light comes on and they stop working. Anyone ever dealt with this before?

JeepingDan

What do you mean reset? Cleared codes?
With what kind of scanner?

adams98cherokee

I took of the negative battery terminal for like 15-20 minutes and reset the ecu

MrTowers

mine does that every now and again. I reach down, jiggle some wires, swear and kick the dash and bingo! works like a charm. I'm pinning it on a loose connection somewhere but i haven't been able to pinpoint it despite searching for hours..

Big David

It's more than likely the connectors behind the gauge cluster. Next time it happens hit the top of the dash over the gauges & see if that "fixes" it.

Mine does it too.

adams98cherokee

Yea that's what I've been doing but I work on a strip job so hitting bumps just causes them to go off again, someone told me to pull out the cluster and clean the connector

MrTowers

start with that. dielectric grease

DieselDaze

hmm... just got here to search this very thing....

it just happened today on my '97, keep in mind today is the first day I drove it any distance for over a month... also I just replaced my dead battery last week, maybe it has something to do with resetting the ecu and messing with the battery?? dunno...

I'm going to try this, take off negative cable for 20 seconds then replace, turn on adn off headlights and drive...

if nothing then..

take off positive cable and touch the negative cable for 20 seconds and see what happens...

adams98cherokee

As far as I can tell I fixed mine yesterday, I took my cluster out and cleaned the plugs and put some bulb grease on the male plug and it worked fine after that

CCKen

School me.

Why would you use "bulb grease" on the instrument cluster connector(s)?

DieselDaze

update for those interested...

went for a drive today and right off the bat there was the 'airbag' light and nothing worked... I smacked the dash right on top of the cluster and BINGO everything works and remained working for the 40miles round trip..

fluke?? maybe but if it acts up again I'll try the smack down, after that when I get a chance I will remove cluster spray with electric cleaner and hit it with dielectric grease..

Dutchess

its your clockspring, in 97-99 they had the clock spring wires in the steering wheel and they would become worn with the turning of the wheel and cause this very issue. it would happen in my 98 ALL the time, they actually had a recall for it. so you can get the recall number and take your rig to a dealership and they will move it. in 2000-01 they moved it to under your center console, its a little yellow plug in the back. that is where the dealership will move it. good luck guys!

adams98cherokee

I put light bulb grease in the connector because it helps the connection, since I don't it my gauges have worked fine. This same deal has happened a bunch of times with light bulbs being corroded, I'd take them out and clean them and put light bulb grease on them and they'd start working again

Big David

A bad clock spring will not cause your dash gauges to stop working. But it will make the horn & cruise inoperable.

Edwardstrey12

My dad just picked up a 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited with inly 80,000 miles on it. So he gave me his '98 Cherokee Classic. So I've been gifted with a working car. But. Problems keep needing fixing. So if anyone can help me out with these issues. That would be fantastic.

1) Instrument Cluster not working. (Bought new cluster at junk yard today)
2) Heater core
3) Front right speaker not working. (I have a bada$$ system. But passenger side doesn't work)
4)Automatic locks nit working on passenger door, and both rear doors. Along both windows.


Greatly appreciated guys!