I bought a 5.2 Zj last night that has low miles and kind of fell into my lap for dumb cheap. Well, of course cheap usually has issues. While driving I lose everything on the cluster; tach, speedo, fuel, OP, Voltmeter, everything. BUT, here's the kicker, if I slap the overhead console, they all come back. Every. Single. Time. This weekend I'm going to do some poking around But I figured I'd ask if anyone could point me in the right direction.

Tried a search also and didn't really come up with a whole lot besides people saying the BCM was usually on the way out when that happens but I curious as to if me being able to slap the OC and them coming back, if that has something to do with it.

Also, this is my first Zj so forgive any dumb zj related question.


thanks!

Bump

Anyone?

Sounds to me like a loose connection at the OC harness plug. Check that out before condemning the BCM.

Definitely doing the simple stuff first. Today I pulled it down and nothing seemed out of wack but just for kicks I unplugged all three connectors and the took her for a drive. No loss of gauges or anything then just plugged them in one by one. Seems like my problem is in the switch to change the display between US/Metric, MPG, Average MPG and all that. Its the only connector I left disconnected (connector closest to passenger side) and I put about 50 miles on her after and nothing has happened again.

Now that's funny! The OC in my WJ is acting weird also. The "step" switch sometimes doesn't work, so I just leave it on Compass/Temp. No flashing dash lights or gauge malfunctions though. Mine is a bit more complicated however. It's programmable in 5 languages!

I am actually having the same issue with my ZJ. I was thinking it had something to do with the security system because normally when mine does it the little red led on the dash lights up. Plus the PO had a remote starting system on it. I really hadn't had the time to really look into it yet.

Mine was doing the same, plus the doors would lock when it happened. I just left the "step" switch connector unplugged and it hasn't done it since.

You have to be real careful with remote starting systems on these jeeps. They can sometimes interfere with the factory security system and cause problems that are hard to diagnose. My WJ had one installed by the previous owner and it works, or at least it did when it was used to show me when I bought it. As soon as I got home, I took the batteries out of the remotes. I thought about having it removed, but when I found it under the dash, it had about 30 little wires coming out of it so I figured I'd just leave it alone. I DID however, pull the two 10 amp fuses that feed it.