I don't think so. I unplug all the time on the trail. Sometime ill stop at certain spots on the trails and reach under the dash, squeeze that little tab and pop that connector right out or plug it back in. Depending on what I want first gear to do.

Never affects my gauges.

 

Randomly the cluster would die... and die in different ways:
Sometimes all gauges stop, odometer reads "no bus" airbag and engine light come on. Sometimes variations of all that.


Here's what DIDN'T work to fix it:
-TSB to replace plugs on back of cluster...wasted many hours soldering and heat shrinking wires
-Cleaned connections with terminal spray cleaner
-Used dielectric grease
-Didn't use dielectric grease
-Cleaned all the ground connections under the hood
-Beat on the top of the dashboard
-Pressed the Trip Odometer button
-Cussed a lot


Here's what DID work to fix it:
$50 bucks at the local junkyard to by a replacement cluster.


Save yourself hours of frustration. Go to a junkyard and get a used cluster. These things have some internal intermittent failure at this point in their lifespans.


One downside, my 2001 Cherokee Sport that used to have 126,000 miles on it now has 198,000 miles on it.


If you're really adventurous and don't worry about breaking the law there's a kid on the you-know-what-tube video who can show you how to change the mileage with a Chinese eprom reprogramming program. I think it's easier to just document for the MVA that I swapped out the cluster.


Happy to have my old Sport back up and running.

 

Mine does this every now and then on my 98, I just give her I nice little smack on her dash and everything will go back to normal. Not a permanent fix but it works for me