Say if you already have Remote Keyless Entry (RKE) set up and working with your 98 XJ and want to buy and install the Limited Larger Overhead Console (with the temp sensor and extra compartments, etc) -- can you just swap over the RKE module to the new console and have it all work as before -- or do you need to reprogram the module that comes with the larger console?

I'm wanted to get one of the big overhead consoles but don't want to lose my RKE.

 

I think the alarm modules are the same . all you have to do is unscrew the module and put it in the new console , for the temp to work you will need to add in a sensor for it .

 

So you want to take this:

Out of your dome light and put it in your overhead console?
Not a problem. Did it when I put an overhead console in my '00 that did not come with one.
The fobs are paired with the circuit board.
Now my Jeep does not have the security system with the gray chipped key.
And I am under the impression even if one is that it does not matter.
Cause there is something called an immobilizer in that system and the PCM is programmed as such.
And that is independent of the remote locking system so....
You will have to take the overhead apart to get it in though.
Separates into 4 different pieces.


IIRC you have to cause you can only get at one of the two screws that secure the board when it is whole.
Now how much you have to take apart to do just that I don't know.
I took mine all apart so I could do that but also recover the cloth on the overhead so.....
I have this idea that if you did not want to take it apart that maybe you could drill a hole in the plastic that is covering the one screw so you could get at it.
And that might not be a bad idea cause of all the little clips and screws that keep it together.
Things could snap. 20+ year old plastic and all.

Did you buy all the parts to do this?

 

Awesome thanks Ralph! That is exactly what I was hoping was possible.

I haven't bought the overhead console or the wiring harness yet. I do have a temp sensor though.

 

Just be careful what you buy. The overhead or the bracket does not matter. Any year '97 to '01.
It is the wiring harness that you want to pay particular attention too.
Any year will work it is just a matter of how much you need to do to make it work.
Now obviously '98 would be plug and play for you.
I get confused if '98 and '99 are the same. Thinking worst case scenario you would have to repin one connector.
Using the one off your dome light harness.
'97 is its own year. But if you buy a '97 you will have to do the same.
Be best to stay away from '00 and '01 if you can.
And the reason being is the lighted visors.
'97 to '99 are one wire visors. Wire for power and an internal ground.
'00 and '01 are 2 wire visors. One for power and one for ground.
The harness reflects this..
Now I put a '99 harness in my '00. I had to repin one connector.
But since I also grabbed the visors from the '99 I used them instead of the ones in my Jeep.
Now if you were to grab an '00 or '01 harness with the lighted visors then that would work out better.
Still just have to repin the one connector.
But that brings up another issue. Color match. The cloth, that you could change, but the color of the plastic around the mirror.
See '97 and '98 are technically Mist Gray. '99 to '01 are Agate.
I don't know if the mirrors vary in color between '97/'98 and '99 to '01.
Cloth might too. I just don't know.
Now if you don't care that it is correct then the color match is not an issue.
And frankly even if you were to buy a '00/'01 harness I am betting you could figure out a work around to use 1 wire visors so....

Did you get the little harness with the temp sensor?

 

Thanks Ralph! This saved me a lot of time.

Does the sun visors for the non-Limited XJs not fit in with the larger console? I know the console has grooves that the visors fit in.

I do have the temp sensor bracket and new temp sensor from moparpartsgiant

 

There are plenty of write ups concerning putting the overhead in a Jeep that did not come with one.
Most telling you that you have to repin the connector in the footwell are on the passenger side depending on what year the donor is and what year you have.
But in all the time I researched this, and trust me I research doing stuff like this, I never saw any mention about the visors.
At least I don't think I ever did. LOL.
This is why I like to find donors and pull my own parts. And I take everything even remotely associated with whatever I am doing.
So when I pulled the parts from the '99 it was kind of just dumb luck that I grabbed the visors too.

That is an interesting question about the visors. Never really occurred to me that they might be different.
I am going with they are the same for both a dome light and overhead console.
But since I used the visors from the donor that I got the overhead from can't be 100% sure.
But I am pretty sure. LOL.

No I am asking about the little harness that connects to the connector that you should have hanging behind the bumper for the temp sensor.
See what is circled in the shot below.

OK so the temp sensor itself was used in a boat load of Mopars.
Like Chrysler Sebrings and such. Boneyard is littered with them.
So when I was doing the install I got around to doing the temp sensor.
And for some reason I could not get the temp sensor to click in to the connector hanging behind the bumper for it.
By me holding it in by hand and with the help of a friend I could see that it worked. But I could not get it to click in.
Then I remembered that I had that little harness. Kinda forgot about it. LOL.
Anyway the harness clicked right in and all was good.
I came up with this little theory.
So Jeep screwed up and the connector in the Jeep would not let you click in the temp sensor.
To solve this problem they came up with the little harness.
Now is this all Jeeps or just a mine or just '00's? Who knows.
But somebody else here was having the same problem and did not have the little harness.
But they said that by removing the WeatherPack seal, that oval rubber seal that you will see when you get to doing this job, they were able to click in the temp sensor.
So if you don't have the harness and have this problem keep that in mind.