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Partly broken dashboard backlight.

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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 09:53 AM
  #1  
iHenning's Avatar
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Model: Cherokee
Default Partly broken dashboard backlight.

My dashboard is partly dark, I cant's see the oil pressure, engine temp and any speed over 100 kph.

How do I change the broken bulbs?

XJ2000 Sport 2.5td
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Old Mar 16, 2012 | 11:54 AM
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the_big_h's Avatar
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From: Gads Hill, Ontario
Year: 1996
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
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There's a lot of clutter behind the dash, I believe your best bet is to pull out the entire instrument cluster, then you can see what you are doing.
Not sure if your 2000 is different, on my '96 I can do it in about 5 minutes:
- remove the plastic surrounding the steering column (3 torx screws underneath, then the 2 halves separate and come off. You need to unscrew the tilt lever to remove the one half)
- remove the plastic cover over the electrical connector that goes to the signal light switch
- remove the entire plastic bezel of the dash. 4 screws I think. One above headlight switch, one above lighter, I forget right now where the other two are. There are clips that hold it in place by the radio, by the headlight switch, and a few other places. It pulls straight away from the dash. It's a tight fit to get it out once it's free, but it does come out. The Haynes manual says you have to remove the plug from the signal light switch, but I never do - I just removed and threw away the plastic cover from the connector.
- now you can see the 4 or 6 screws to remove the instrument cluster
- pull it towards you until you can reach the connectors behind it. Unplug the two plugs, then you have the whole thing available to fix.
- I believe the bulbs are a #168, but I replaced all mine with red LED's from superbrightleds.com. There are many write-ups on this board about it.
- LEDs or not, you probably want to replace all the illumination bulbs, to keep the illumination even. I think there are 6. I wouldn't mess with the other bulbs, but you can replace them too if you want (like signal lights, hi-beam indicator, etc.) Make sure you get the right bulb for hi-beam indicator, it's a real nuisance if it's too bright.
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Old Mar 17, 2012 | 08:39 AM
  #3  
iHenning's Avatar
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Thanks for an extensive answear.

What about the airbag? The service manual is full of warnings regarding working on the car with the airbags still connected. Do I have to remove them aswell?

And bulb #168 is a Jeep specific bulb, or something I can find in any bulb-shop (Norway)?
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Old Mar 17, 2012 | 08:51 AM
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From: South Bend, IN
Year: 1995
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.6 stroker
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your cluster actually pops in and out of a "pod" of sorts, get the trim off around it and it will pull right out, then u can replace the bulbs
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