I only have some very vague information to add. I have my 97 XJ's interior stripped out and last night I figured I should start the engine just to give it a chance to run since it's been sitting so long. We'll, after I fired it up, none of my gauges worked... the whole cluster was all totally dead. By nearly a complete fluke, I found a ground wire near the transmission tunnel that was dangling in mid air because I had unbolted it to paint the floor. I touched the wire to some metal on the floor and voila, all my gauges came to life.

Go here and scroll near the bottom where it talks about the "instrument panel ground wire".

Here's some data for you.

The fact that you have the advisory lights working is good. It means the fault is limited to CCD Data Bus fault(s).

Here's a diagram of the CCD Bus and associated modules.



Here's a schematic that shows the modules on the Bus as well as the DLC connector.



Refer to the diagram and schematic above.

If you are going to disconnect modules to see if the instruments come back, have the instrument cluster plugged in, but not secured to the dashboard. The TCM is a trouble maker and should be disconnected first.

If you have Sentry Key Immoblizer System, it too can cause problems. Do you have SKIS?

The wires running up the pillar to the roof is to the Remote Keyless Entry Module, located in the Mini Dome Lamp assembly. Here's a pictorial on how to get at it.

Remove the Mini Dome Lamp lense using a scewdriver.



Remove the lense and the two black screws.



Remove the Mini Dome Lamp assembly. The printed circuit board is the RKEM.

Here's a thread by PUNISHER about inop instruments. He has a NO BUS situation but read through his CCD Data Bus troubleshooting.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/cod...no-bus-166340/

i removed the dome light assembly and unplugged the RKEM and nothing. Im gonna try the tcm next but its raining now so might have to wait on that and continue doing research of possible fixes for this.

ok just went out there to unplug some things and now i noticed nothing on the cluster works. not sure if it all went out before or after i started to unplug things. i unpluged the air bag sensor( under console/armrest right?) bus wires there read.4-.6 volts. un plugged the tcm under dash driver side near radio side?? read same amount of volts there to.

im getting 2.3-2.4 volts at the data link connector. why only there? im gonna recheck cause that was yesterday and who knows what it is now.

data link connector know reads .06v blk/grn wire behind cluster has continuity. dash does light up when i put headlights on.

The voltages you were getting at the DLC (2.3-2.4 volts) are a bit low but I think they are still workable. Disregard the voltages you were reading at the module connectors for now. I think you have a problem with the instrument cluster power or ground circuits, or the PCM has taken a dump.

You should see the advisory lights on the instrument cluster light up momentarily (bulb check) when the key is turned to RUN, before cranking. If you have no lights at this point there may be a power circuit problem or PCM circuit problem.

I think you should positively establish if you have power to the instrument cluster and good grounds to the cluster.

Refer to the connector pinouts below.
Connect all modules except the instrument cluster.

Check for power (2 places).

Key to RUN.

Connector C1: Check for voltage at pin socket 8 ((+) probe) to pin socket 6 ((-) probe. This is power from fuse 9 in the JB. Check for power at C1 pin socket 9 to pin socket 6. This is power from fuse 16 in the PDC (IOD fuse).

If you don't get power at these pin sockets the ground at G108 may be bad. Repeat the test using the dashboard structure for the meter ground probe. If you now get power at pin sockets 8 and 9, the ground circuit to G108 may be open.

Key OFF, disconnect battery negative (-) post connector.

If you think the G108 circuit is open, measure the resistance between C1 pin socket 6 to the dashboard structure. You should read near full continuity. If you read open or very high resistance you will need to physically check the two G108 ground studs, which are located on the dashboard structure near the headlamp switch.

Repeat the continuity check of the ground circuit in connector C2, pin socket 9. It is grounded at G108 as well.

C1 and C2 pinouts (disregard the RHD C1)



C1 and C2 location



Verify that the pins and pin sockets of C1 and C2 are not corroded (black/gray apperance.

Ok so I checked connector c1 pins 8&9 for power 8 didn't have power fuse 9 was blown. Replaced fuse and now has power. I have my dash indicator lights working again but still no gauges. I'm gonna have to start testing pcm. Its raining again so gonna have to wait it out. Its been raining a lot lately and problem started after heavy rainstorm. I wonder if somethings building up a lot of moisture???

Will car run with bad pcm? Cause mine still runs fine.

You may have corrosion damage to your Junction Block. I recommend you access the entire JB and inspect it for evidence of corrosion. When you get the entire cover off the JB look for white and/or green powder on the surface of the JB and around the connectors. Pull connectors and inspect the connector pins and pin sockets. There was been four recent occurances of corroded JB's causing instrument cluster problems, and other non-related problems.

Ok completely took apart JB and looked very clean. also cleaned battery negative post and wire from post to body. I don't know what else it could be. Didn't test pcm yet so thats my plan now.

You checked fuses ,did you confirm power in and out of fuses? jm2cw ....

according to this I count three fuses that are related to dash 6,12,16....http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/...tification.htm

Ok fuses 6&16 have no power . Fuse #12 checked out fine. Checked them while running. Time for some more research. Any underhood fuses send power to these?