Dash lights stopped working after ECU upgrade - fuse good
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member


Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 331
Likes: 14
From: Dallas, Texas
Year: 1987
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0L
Hey fellas,
I recently changed my ECU to a newer '90 model ECU my dash lights have stopped working. I don't know that the new ECU was the cause of the lights going out or whether it was coincidence. I was digging around today at lunch thinking it was a blown fuse, but the fuse is good.
I did, however, find a connector hanging down, though it appears to be wired into the brake switch in some way. Nor could I find any connector that seemed to be missing this link.
Could it be the ECU or possibly a bad Rheostat? It just seems to be weird that they were working fine and them *bam*, nothing. Rheostats usually fail slowly right?
Here's a photo of the hanging connector, sorry for the crap photo, it's all I could get.

Thanks for any thoughts guys!
-Matt
I recently changed my ECU to a newer '90 model ECU my dash lights have stopped working. I don't know that the new ECU was the cause of the lights going out or whether it was coincidence. I was digging around today at lunch thinking it was a blown fuse, but the fuse is good.
I did, however, find a connector hanging down, though it appears to be wired into the brake switch in some way. Nor could I find any connector that seemed to be missing this link.
Could it be the ECU or possibly a bad Rheostat? It just seems to be weird that they were working fine and them *bam*, nothing. Rheostats usually fail slowly right?
Here's a photo of the hanging connector, sorry for the crap photo, it's all I could get.

Thanks for any thoughts guys!
-Matt
Last edited by MayerMR; Mar 2, 2016 at 01:29 PM.
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member


Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 331
Likes: 14
From: Dallas, Texas
Year: 1987
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0L
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member


Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 331
Likes: 14
From: Dallas, Texas
Year: 1987
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0L
But after you mentioned it, I pulled both 5 & 6, 6 being the brakes (good). 5, however, was blown. Though it's weird bc it says dome, courtesy, glovebox, power mirrors, etc. I know for a fact the courtesy lights were working though. I'll change it out and see!
Thread Starter
Seasoned Member


Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 331
Likes: 14
From: Dallas, Texas
Year: 1987
Model: Wagoneer
Engine: 4.0L
Well, for anyone curious, I figured out what I did.
I had the back hatch cover off last weekend when I replaced the rear wiper bezel and reconnected the fluid hose. When I had it off I noticed a disconnected blue wire right next to a female bullet connector and thought it had rattled loose so I plugged it back in. It's apparently for a license plate relocation bracket. Well, that creates a short and was the problem. Other folks have done it too!
Here is a link with pics!
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/blo...ed-help-54649/
I had the back hatch cover off last weekend when I replaced the rear wiper bezel and reconnected the fluid hose. When I had it off I noticed a disconnected blue wire right next to a female bullet connector and thought it had rattled loose so I plugged it back in. It's apparently for a license plate relocation bracket. Well, that creates a short and was the problem. Other folks have done it too!
Here is a link with pics!
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/blo...ed-help-54649/
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