96 xj issues
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 1998 4.0 242
96 xj issues
Hey y'all been a while since I've been on the forum but I'm once again back in the Cherokee game. Bought a 96 and it had the idiot light gauge cluster. The gas gauge was reading past full and not moving and the speedometer didn't work. I installed a new speed sensor and I swapped the cluster for one with gauges. The gas gauge is still past full, the speedometer still not working, and the "newer" tachometer also isn't working. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks!
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 799
Likes: 4
From: usa
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 6 cylinder
I could be wrong but the 'gauge' cluster should be a direct replacement for the 'idiot' cluster.
Hard to believe the speedo, fuel gauge and tach all have individual separate problems.
I'd suspect the problem lies with the cluster/wiring/connector/grounds.
Check the cluster connectors real close for spread connector pins, corrosion, etc.
Then check all ground connections.
If none of that works then there are a bunch of cluster issue threads here where the resident forum cluster expert KENCC walks people through trouble shooting techniques along with cluster related schematics.
Do an advanced search here for cluster issues and KENCC.
Hard to believe the speedo, fuel gauge and tach all have individual separate problems.
I'd suspect the problem lies with the cluster/wiring/connector/grounds.
Check the cluster connectors real close for spread connector pins, corrosion, etc.
Then check all ground connections.
If none of that works then there are a bunch of cluster issue threads here where the resident forum cluster expert KENCC walks people through trouble shooting techniques along with cluster related schematics.
Do an advanced search here for cluster issues and KENCC.
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,126
Likes: 30
From: Detroit, Michigan
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
did you try the "Palm Slap?" method...?
not making this up, just palm slap it- look for a video, the whole cluster comes loose and you have to knock it back in- it completes the ground-
I had to do this every time my speedo didn't work. When driving, it would cut out, palm slap near the edge of it and it would restart.
Also- the gas gauge could be stuck from the float not working-
you wont know until you pull the gauge though. unless the palm slap works, then you'll want to pull it to clean and reattach so it doesn't happen all the time-
not making this up, just palm slap it- look for a video, the whole cluster comes loose and you have to knock it back in- it completes the ground-
I had to do this every time my speedo didn't work. When driving, it would cut out, palm slap near the edge of it and it would restart.
Also- the gas gauge could be stuck from the float not working-
you wont know until you pull the gauge though. unless the palm slap works, then you'll want to pull it to clean and reattach so it doesn't happen all the time-
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 202
Likes: 0
From: Virginia Beach
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 1998 4.0 242
Thanks for the help. Took it to an auto electric shop and they figured it out. One ground caused the three gauges not to work. They couldn't find the source of the problem, so they just ran some grounds from the cluster.
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 2,139
Likes: 93
From: Syracuse, NY
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Glad you got it sorted out. Keep an eye out for anything else not working, just in case other items were depending on that unidentified bad ground as well.