I have two gauge clusters, one from a '97 and one from a '99. There is one small difference between the two and that is the addition of a "rear hatch open" indicator light in the '99 cluster. When this is plugged into the '97 Jeep the indicator light is lit, even though the hatch is closed. The rear compartment area dome light operates correctly, lights when the hatch is opened and turns off when the hatch is closed, but the indicator light in the cluster stays lit. I assume that this a some kind of difference in the wiring. Has anyone else come across this and do you have a solution or idea what I can do to fix the problem (aside from putting the '97 cluster back in)?

Thanks for any help.

 

97 doesn't have the sensors to detect the hatch being open and causes that light to stay on. Pull the bulb in the new gauge cluster.

 

I decided to pull the wire from the connector instead. It does not appear to adversely effect the operation of the cluster. I may decide to run a wire back to the dome light and hook it up.

 

The only differences I know of between '97 and '01 clusters is the "basic" (speedo, but no tach, fuel gauge in place of tach, and no battery voltage or oil pressure gauges, but does have a coolant temp gauge) and "premium" (all 6 gauges: speedo, tach, fuel, coolant temp, oil pressure, and battery voltage). I never knew that they added a 'Hatch Ajar' indicator on the cluster in later models... they may've changed from actual words to just simple indicator lights in later models, though).

 

97 was the only year to have the off cluster. All other years should use the same updated cluster that has the hatch light, and picture of an engine instead of the words check engine

 

2000 was the first year for the engine graphic.