I've had this 99 Cherokee Sport for about 3 months now and fixed a variety of issues to pass inspection and everything seems fine the past 3-4 weeks. We got snow here in Pa along with the coldest temps of the year earlier today and when leaving home this afternoon I put it into 4HI due to the snow. Pulling out of the driveway the red "Check Guages" dash light popped on for a few seconds and it's the first time I was even aware of this light so it kinda startled me but as soon as it came on it went back off. Drive about 10 miles and getting off the off ramp of the highway and slowing down it popped back on for about 5-10 seconds then went off again and stayed off for the next 5 miles where I had parked and shut the jeep off. None of the Guages were off from what they normally read, everything seemed normal.
Roads were wet on the way home later this evening so I just left it in normal 2wd and didn't notice the red check Guages light again.
One thing I have wondered is with this 99, it has the 4HI, N, 4Lo 4wd slots and at no point in any 4 wheel setting does a dash indicator light come on to light up as 4HI or 4Lo. Should my 99 sport model have an amber light that comes on the dash when in 4wd? I know the actual 4wd works I can feel the differences in the gears when it's engaged.
Any ideas?

 

Yes it "should" have a PART TIME light that illuminates in the cluster. It's an extremely common failure.

However that system isn't related to the cluster's CHECK GAUGES function. That tends to be related to a sudden change in oil pressure, temperature, or voltage out of the safe zones.

 

Ok sounds good, is there a simple fix to the part time dash light? That's been bugging me since I got this so now I def want to get it fixed.

 

Bulb, switch, or connector. Start underneath and see if its even plugged in! Lol

 

Switch is on top of the transfer case correct? And with the 4hi, N, 4lo options for the 4wd I have the np231 right?

 

If the Check Gauges light comes on again take a look at your voltmeter and see if the voltage dropped to below 9 volts.

 

yep

 

Or oil pressure vanished... could just be gunk in the connector or a bad wire. I remember a guy on here found a new connector for the OPSU was spliced in with masking tape lol

 

the last time my CG came on my alternator took a dump, I got 150K out of it so it was just a matter of time.

 

LOL

Bubba never sleeps.

In retrospect, the oil pressure is the only system that's not monitored by the PCM. Voltage and coolant temp are. If either of these systems went nuts it may have popped a CEL as well - Maybe. Sometimes it takes two events to set a DTC and trigger a CEL...and a Check Gauges.

Clear as mud?