Hey, been experimenting with trying to get my VIC up and running. I picked up one from the jy and was wondering if anyone knows what the single red connection is that comes off that wire bundle? On mine it was unplugged and taped back over the bundle. The jy one is in and so far running OK. I thought that red connector might have been the constant 12v memory or something? Thx Cory

 

Does it have vanity mirrors?

 

It has lighted vanity mirrors and they worked with it unplugged.

 

Do you mean the VIC at the bottom of the dash or the trip computer on the roof?

I did the same exact thing. The left button wasn't lit up on the trip computer... I figured I could replace it and it would work...so pulled a trip computer from the junk yard and it was the same way--one red wired disconnected. I think that wire is just an extra.

In any event, I put in the "new" trip computer and the left button was still out... didn't bother with it after that.

 

I meant the VIC at the bottom of the central dash. The computer at top doesn't work either, that'll be the next project. The vic has a 2 separate plugs, 1 a little smaller than the other. the red connector was a single wire that was taped to the wires of the 2 plugs. Should have just taken a photo.

 

I believe that plug has something to do with which transfer case is in the vehicle......the dash panel wiring harnesses were designed to be universal through all the different models and engine/trans/transfer case options

 

OK, so that begets the next question. Obviously with 150k miles this jeep has some issues. One is that when I put it in 4wd I get no indicators on the dash. When I select 4wd Low I can hear it "clunk" into 4wd so I believe that works. Although it has no indicator either. Where should the full time, part time lights be? I must say it seems strange to link a 4wd wire near the VIC?

 

OK, this morning just figured out that the part time, full time 4wd indicators are on the VIC. Now however when I hit the brakes a brake light failure warning pops up on the VIC even though the brake lights are fine. guess its always going to be something.

 

yup. Although most people get Coolant sensor bad, rear lamp failure, and Check 4wd switch"

Switch..I think ... Forgot that last one, but almost everyone has rear lamp failure

 

Anything that can be done to correct it?

 

smash the VIC with a hammer. best solution.

the little red and black plugs are for the different transfer cases. the 249 uses the red connectors (black are left unplugged) and the 242 or 231 uses the black connectors (red are left unplugged). cheaper to make one universal wiring harness for a model than to make a bunch of different ones for all the different options. another example is the trailer wiring harness. not all models came with trailer tow from the factory, but if you pulled the passenger side interior panel in the trunk area, youd find the plug for it.

 

Not ready to give up and smash the VIC, at least for now. The overhead console is next on the list. Looking at your build thread I see we have the same Jeep except mine has the 6 instead of the 8. I also see your VIC did the rear brake light failure thing. Thx for the info on the red plug thingy.

 

i highly reccomend making an account on jeep forum if you havent already. theres a whole section dedicated to ZJs. if you do a search theres lots of info about reflowing solder joints in the VIC. no offense to anyone on CF, but i think theres just alot more information to be had for these on JF. after all, this is cherokee forum, not grand cherokee forum

good luck with your VIC repairs

 

I don't have the wiring diagram in front of me, but I can tell you that more than 90 percent of the problems with the VIC are related to the Key Off Memory power source (bad fuse or broken wire) and the ground for the harness (6 inches to the left of the VIC in the harness, the connection has 8 to 11 Black/Blue wires coming to a shunt then going to ground.

And JF only looks like it has better ZJ tech there because I'm hardly ever on that site anymore.

 

Just a quick update on the VIC brake lamp failure message. After doing some research it seems 90% of the problems related to this message are bulb related. Either a bulb is out or its the wrong one. Apparently the VICs are very sensitive electrically and the wrong bulb can screw up the reading and cause an error. I knew all my bulbs worked, even the 2 in the high 3rd brake light. So I started pulling all the lenses, starting with the hi light first, thankfully, and lo and behold someone had crammed a little 194 dash type bulb into the socket. It worked but was the improper bulb. I changed it out for the proper bulb (922?) and the error message is now gone.