97 XJ No Gauges/radio/dome light unless brights are on
 

Alright guys I'm stumped so I need some help. The other day needle gauges and odometer reading stopped working, along with my dome light, and radio. Unless I turn my headlights on and switch it to brights, then everything works.

I've tried a different headlight switch, different dimmer switch, checked all my fuses, cleaned up battery terminals, and alot of the under the hood grounds. I removed the radio completely, disconnected dome lights, cleaned cluster connectors, cleaned TCM connectors, cleaned that other box under dash connectors. can't figure anything out.

Its a 97 xj SE, no power anything.

Does just turning the headlight on restore the instruments or do you have to activate the brights lever?


Edit: Has the passenger foot well ever been soaked with water? Has your Jeep ever been submerged up to the dash?

Oh boy... Brandon you done goofed.

Are you spilling your guts on Brandon? LOL

You mean you aren't supposed to drive through giant puddles doorless? Who knew? :laughing:

Gauges only activate when headlights are flashed to brights or headlights on and switched to brights. I can backfeed power from radios constant and get the gauges and brights to turn on without the switch even being touched.

I haven't gone through water in probably 6 months or so.

Attachment 310067

The plug I used to block off the antenna hole under the passenger side fender when the cage made it so I couldn't have an antenna fell out I guess. Whole bunch of dirt was up in there, I pulled the junction box completely out, cleaned it, cleaned the connectors and plugged it back in and it still didnt work. BUT if I backfed power to the radios constant the gauges would come on WITHOUT the brights and would turn off with the key. So I ran a new constant power directly from the battery (yes I fused it). and boom all good.