SO! When I acquired my 89 Cherokee, the gauge cluster works fine and all, but when I turn the headlights ON, everything dies with exception to ONE night time bulb in the cluster, and only the speedo works (cable driven). I met a Jeep guru in the area and he said to replace the headlight switch. Upon pulling it, it looks FINE. Not burnt or gummed up at all... Put the new one in, same deal.... He noticed that the drivers front turn signal was very dim and flashing really slow, suggested replacing BOTH side front turn signal sockets... Which I did, and both work like they should now, still no gauges.

Now the catcher... The gauges will work when lights are turned ON, but only if I turn the **** to where there's NO light illuminating on the dash... Could this still be a headlight switch issue or simply swap gauge cluster? What am I missing??? I'm stumped and want a working cluster and functioning lights!

 

Could be a bad ground or a dead short for the gauge cluster? I know in reading Cruisers threads on the grounds the cluster and or gauges have a single lead going to the kick panel, I think?

 

ground

 

Can you find this thread for me? I wouldn't event know where to look

 

Look for the thread "Cruisers mostly renix tips", You'll want to look at the second page.

 

In my signature below. Posts 1, 2, and 3 are critical for you to read and perform the procedures.

I'm also wondering if someone messed up the radio illumination wiring. Happens all the time. Original radio?

 

Thanks Cruiser54, I had actually read up your posting there and will be doing most of that when time allows. The stereo is not stock/factory. PO hacked into the existing wiring. Didn't work at first for IGN power so I ran my own power source. There was 1 day when the gauges and lights worked perfectly after jiggling some wires under the dash. Hoping it's just a ground

 

If you "jiggled" some things around and it worked perfectly, it has to be a loose connection somewhere, probably a ground. Also, check if the connections and ground are clean, if not, the resistance will increase, and the cluster and lights won't get as much current as it needs.