Got a 98... the backup lights work I guess purty much when they want... any suggestions? Could it be in the gear selector? Just noticed it... sometimes they work, sometimes they don't.... weird.

Electrical demons are so much fun..

Clean your neutral safety switch.

Could be your Neutral Safety Switch.
http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoNSSrebuild.htm

Hmm...... ok this should be fun

Thank you guys

If you think cleaning your NSS will be fun, might I interest you in a root canal?

I noticed driving home tonight (time change causes it to be dark when I leave work now) that my gear selector is dark. I have a '96 cherokee sport 6 cyl 4WD with the AW4 transmission.

Would this also be a symptom of the NSSS needed cleaning (or replacement)?

I don't think so, mine went dark once, I just popped off the cover plate and jiggled the wire to the bulb and everything was fine.

Your bulb may even be out, great time to go LED!