Stock XJ Cherokee Tech. All XJ Non-modified/stock questions go here XJ (84-01)
All OEM related XJ specific tech. Examples, no start, general maintenance or anything that's stock.

Instrument cluster reads "check gauges" please help! its my DD

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 12-25-2012, 11:55 PM
  #1  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
calpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 straight 6
Default Instrument cluster reads "check gauges" please help! its my DD

ok so i was driving yesterday and my instrument cluster reads check gauges. i looked and my battery gauge was all the way down. it drove the same and every thing. but its weird. today i went to the gas station and it did the same thing. but this time my oil pressure was low and my battery gauge dropped again . any help, or advice would be great. im in college and 2000 thousand miles away from home so i cant have my jeep die on me. Thank you very much, merry Christmas

here's some pictures
Attached Thumbnails Instrument cluster reads "check gauges" please help! its my DD-img_5064.jpg   Instrument cluster reads "check gauges" please help! its my DD-img_1367.jpg   Instrument cluster reads "check gauges" please help! its my DD-img_0324.jpg  
Old 12-26-2012, 01:30 AM
  #2  
CF Veteran
 
Radi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,302
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 16 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

First thing I'd try is rapping the instrument panel with your fist.
Do you have access to a DVM to check your actual voltage?
Old 12-26-2012, 02:38 PM
  #3  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
calpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 straight 6
Default

Originally Posted by Radi
First thing I'd try is rapping the instrument panel with your fist.
Do you have access to a DVM to check your actual voltage?
i was actually going to go buy one last week but i ended up not having the money to. but that is what i was going to try and do
Old 12-26-2012, 02:40 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Aljay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Tx
Posts: 999
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: I-6
Default

My 01 did the same thing (oil pressure) the sender was fubar @ 180K .
Old 12-26-2012, 03:59 PM
  #5  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
calpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 straight 6
Default

Originally Posted by Aljay
My 01 did the same thing (oil pressure) the sender was fubar @ 180K .
i have a 00 and its at 134k. is it anything serious do you think?
Old 12-26-2012, 04:24 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
rzldzl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: cariboo, bc
Posts: 606
Received 20 Likes on 12 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

alternator
Old 12-26-2012, 06:28 PM
  #7  
CF Veteran
 
captainwoot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Hanover,Ont, Canada
Posts: 1,047
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes on 3 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.o
Default

Originally Posted by rzldzl
alternator
x2 mine did this on and off for a few days, when ichecked into it the alt was toast.
Old 12-26-2012, 06:56 PM
  #8  
CF Veteran
 
CCKen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Canton, MI
Posts: 8,357
Likes: 0
Received 82 Likes on 67 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Default

Looks like your oil pressure is right at minimum (13psi @ Idle).

Take a look under your oil filler cap on the valve cover. See if you can see green liquid (anti-freeze) or milky oil.
Old 12-26-2012, 07:00 PM
  #9  
Junior Member
 
Lowrange2's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: +34° 25' 35.67", -81° 21' 12.04"
Posts: 15,016
Received 9 Likes on 7 Posts
Year: 1993
Engine: 4.0
Default

Oil pressure is fine...

I'd bet the alternator is on it's way out.

Go find an auto parts store with a competent worker and have them check your alternator.
Old 12-27-2012, 01:48 AM
  #10  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
calpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 straight 6
Default

usually my oil pressure isnt that low. and it keeps going all the way down and then slowly back up. but update on my battery alternator problem. on the way to get my girlfriend from work all the lights in my jeep got super dim, the heater started going out and my radio shut off. so yeah im assuming its my alternator. its in the mall parking lot now all alone. ill be picking a new alternator up tomorrow and possibly a new battery while im at it. im going to fix it in the parking lot. does any one have advise on installing the new one?. and by the way thank you guys for the help
Old 12-27-2012, 04:11 PM
  #11  
Junior Member
 
Snotzalot's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Poconos, USA
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 98
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh
Default

Remove the battery tray for easy access to the bolts. You should be able to shimmy the alt out through the bottom between the block and the body. When you pull it out have the pulley pointing up.

To install it's easier from the top down, you might have to gently move one of the A/C lines over a bit for clearance.

The bolts require a 15mm socket. The nut securing the wiring to the alt require a 10 mm socket and those two small nuts on the terminals are 7 mm.

Cussin won't help on this project.

Last edited by Snotzalot; 12-27-2012 at 04:15 PM.
Old 12-27-2012, 05:12 PM
  #12  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
calpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 straight 6
Default

Originally Posted by Snotzalot
Remove the battery tray for easy access to the bolts. You should be able to shimmy the alt out through the bottom between the block and the body. When you pull it out have the pulley pointing up.

To install it's easier from the top down, you might have to gently move one of the A/C lines over a bit for clearance.

The bolts require a 15mm socket. The nut securing the wiring to the alt require a 10 mm socket and those two small nuts on the terminals are 7 mm.

Cussin won't help on this project.
ok so me and my buddy just replaced the alternator and it works fine but now my jeep is idling really low like at 200 rpm and if i dont keep on the throttle it will stall out. he thinks it might be the idle air control. does the sound right?
Old 12-27-2012, 08:43 PM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
rzldzl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: cariboo, bc
Posts: 606
Received 20 Likes on 12 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

tps
Old 12-27-2012, 09:54 PM
  #14  
Junior Member
Thread Starter
 
calpat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Houston
Posts: 67
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 straight 6
Default

this is getting to be dumb, now its working just fine. hopefully? we'll see i guess haha
Old 12-27-2012, 11:05 PM
  #15  
CF Veteran
 
Radi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Wisconsin
Posts: 5,302
Likes: 0
Received 19 Likes on 16 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Default

Originally Posted by calpat
this is getting to be dumb, now its working just fine. hopefully? we'll see i guess haha

Sometimes they get funky after you disconnect the battery. A short drive normally takes care of it.


Quick Reply: Instrument cluster reads "check gauges" please help! its my DD



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:12 AM.