I've searched but haven't found anything.
I just bought a 97 xj 5spd and the gauges didn't work and odometer won't light up when I got it. Thought it would just be loose connecters but isnt. I found out tonight that if I hold the brake in some of the gauges sorta work but if I let off the brake they stop. Also if I put it in reverse and hold the brake in the gauges work but perfectly but odometer still won't work. Any ideas?

 

I would start looking at the ground connections and, and other wires under and behind the dash board. It sounds like you have loose wires, especially if things start to work if you apply the brakes. maybe there are wires caught in the brake lever going to the master cylinder.

 

Start out buy checking all connections (unplugging/plugging back in) and most important all the grounds are tight and clean.


This is not an uncommon problem with wiring on our old XJ's, good luck.