I just bought my parents 89 xj, 4.0, 4x4, with 80,000 miles . It only has idiot lights . I would like to buy a same year instrument panel with gauges. I know it's a printed circuit board and also may need new sending units. Has anyone done this? What I'm I in for? Thanks, Jim

 

Hi and welcome to CF from Tj... You just need to get the sending units from the same year as the dash. It should be plug and play...Tj

 

Thanks!, I'm going to switch it over. I like to know what is going on.

 

Not sure if that year had 1 or 2 sensors for the Temp. I know there is 1 on the top right side of the valve cover and one in the Thermostat housing that urns on the E-fan in my 94 and the oil sender is right near the distributor...Tj

 

wow, an 89 with 80,000 miles on it! What did you pay if you dont mind me asking?

 

Thanks, I can only find 1 temp sensor
I paid 600.00(parents wanted it gone) . I'm going to put a small lift on it . My 14 year old drove it around our yard for about 3 hours last night. I think he's found his first car. I love the jeep

 

you have two sensors and one sender there is a coolant temp sensor under the manifold on the block ,the other is on the radiator tank in front of the air box for cooling fan and the coolant tep sender is on the cyl head driver side rear driver side of the valve cover

 

I did the swap from idiot lights to gauges out of another 96 XJ and the speedometer, tachometer, ammeter, and fuel gauges all work. However, your oil pressure and water temp sensors will need to be replaced. You can get the sensors at autozone like I did for around $45. The water temp sensor is located on the back of the block and the oil pressure sensor is located near your oil filter. Good luck!!

 

I have a 94 xj and I wanted to do the same thing because I hate my idiot lights but I talked to a mechanic and he said it wouldn't work because my jeep isn't even wired up to show RPM's and that all the sensors that are already on it wouldn't work with the new dash. If you can somehow figure out how to do this then I would love to know how and how much it costed

 

renix has different sensors

 

Forgot about that... not to mention it uses a speedo cable; whereas mine doesnt

 

Thanks for the help just completed it, nice upgrade

 

cool great you got back and ended rhe post now you got all k,inds of needles to watch lol

 

just curious and wanting to gain knowledge.

I thought older cherokees all had real gauges and the newer ones didnt?
Is it an option or does it come with different trims?

my '89 limited has real gauges.

 

My 89 Xj just had idiot lights, gas gauge, and speedo. Now it has everything . At least it makes me feel better.