My check gauges light comes on at random and then back off. Only gauge that moves is my temp gauge and it will shoot up and peg out then drop back to normal then all the way down then back up to normal in a matter of seconds. I've replaced the t stat housing, t stat and temp sensor.

Second issues is I get a real bad surging only when in drive. Does not do it in park neutral or reverse. Check engine light comes on and goes off with the surging.

Last for right now anyways is when I hit a bump hard enough the jeep tries to die. It will die if I don't give it throttle. We live in the country so we have lots of put holes.

I had the code read this morning and it was p0117 for the water temp sensor. The air bag light is on but not sure what for. It came on about 2 months ago. It started with just randomly coming on but has recently stayed on. Any help is greatly appreciated. This is my work vehicle and need it dependable asap. Thanks In advance.

 

There is a common problem with some year XJ's, and the plugs on the back of the dash can work there way loose causing gauges to go crazy. As far as the surging goes you might have a IAC problem, Clean the throttle body and the area were the IAC is located and see if that fixes the surging issue.

 

Where at under the dash is the plug located? Passenger or driver side. I'll give that a try

 

You have to remove the gauge cluster. the pugs are on the back. try doing a search for ccd bus and that will give the procedure for removal and fixing the wiring.

 

Could the surging be the nss since it only does it in drive. I can rev the motor just fine in park neutral and reverse but if you put it in drive it starts surging and the check engine light flashes with the surging

 

Input from the coolant temp sender is used to control width of injector pulses. This could be what is causing the surging.
Before replacing the sender, refresh the connection (clean the contacts on plug) and check wireing for damage. Maybe even remove sender from engine to check for crud buildup on it.

 

Isn't a flashing CEL a sign of major issue? Different from a steady-on CEL.
Here is what member Tjwalker said about a flashing CEL "A flashing check engine light indicates a serious misfire, which if ignored, will absolutely destroy your catalytic converter."

 

^ I read on both of these after the post, good call Steve and where to start ^


JMHO

 

It flash with the beat of the surge. Not like a flashing check engine light. Which sender are you talking about replacing. I've already replaced the coolant temp sensor

 

OK, so you think the flashing has to do with the dash light issue or intermittent ground? That makes more sense because there would be additional codes for misfires.
Did you get the CEL for temp sender after replacing it and before replacing it?

 

Jeep affected by hitting bumps, could be wiring or ground related. The XJ is notorious for bad grounds.
Have you refreshed all the ground connections? This would be a good place to start.

 

Gonna check all grounds today. What's the best way to make sure they are 100%. They pulled the coolant temp sensor code after I replaced it and before. And the cel doesn't stay on all the time. This thing is driving me crazy. I unplugged the tps while running and the isle didn't change. Got in put in drive and it didn't surge. So I plugged it back up and drive down the road until it started surging again. I then got it and unplugged the tps again and this time it died when I unplugged it.

 

Look at the following links for grounding locations. May also need to clean the throttle body and its sensors (third link)
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...und_straps.htm
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showpost....96&postcount=2

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/cle...96/#post946475

 

No luck with the grounds. Still the same. Is there a way to test the tps. I unplug it and it dies but I had the vacuum line off right behind it and it stayed running perfect fine with it unplugged.but would die if I put the vacuum line back on. I really don't wanna put this I the shop.