HI all, I just finished swapping an hvac box and dash from an 01 xj(auto) into my 97(manual) due to the previous owner destroying the hvac box. My problem now is none of the gauges work. Has any body done this swap and know of something i need to change to get the cluster to work before i rip all of this apart again? I have tried the 97 and the 01 cluster neither will read.

 

Did you disconnect the battery before starting? If no, check the fuses in the PDC under the hood and in the JB under the dash. If those are all good then you missed an electrical connection somewhere, be it dangling or just loose. Or you pinched some wires. Or forgot a ground. Only one way to find out.

 

Yup. If you did this kind of work with the battery connected, it's possible you fried some things.

More likely, you just missed a connection. Maybe one is not seated properly.

 

Battery was disconnected before work started. Should add the airbag light is on. I checked all the fuses a few times. My blinkers/tail light/reverse lights also dont work. If i do the self test on the gauge cluster it checks out just fine. Ive cleaned and put dielectric grease on the gauge plugs. All of the grounds are bolted to the inside of the dash i didnt take them off but i check them anyways. I ran new grounds thinking that was my issue. Im thinking something is different in the 01 dash not letting the computer talk to the gauages. The only reason inused the 01 dash and not the original is the hot/cold blend door actuator is electric on the 01 and the 97 is cable operated. I guess im going to put the other dash back in and figure out how to wire this actuator.

 

Sounds like you have covered the bases. The only other thing I can think of is to get an 01 FSM (Field Service Manual) and compare the schematic to a 97. (I have a 97 FSM, I could help with that part).

 

Cruiser54 has a great web page you might want to look at:

http://cruiser54.com/?page_id=365

 

Thank all of you for helping. I just put the 97 dash back in and all the gauages work. Now to go memorial day wheeling!!