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Instrument Cluster Madness

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Old 05-05-2022 | 10:34 AM
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Default Instrument Cluster Madness

Howdy all,
I cannot seem to figure out this for the life of me. So my Cluster lights work, but the needles don't and the odometer does not light up!I have scrounged the forums for a few hours and looked at CCKen's (rip) various threads on the issue, but I still want to pull my hair out.

Things I have tried:
1) Cleaned Various Grounds (Some not all)
- Also Checked continuity on the Grounds up in Cluster with know grounds around the vehicle.
2) New Instrument Cluster (Same issue)
3) New Connections spliced in on the back
4) Ran a new Ground on C2 Connector (Still no fix but now the check engine light works)
5) Cleaned and replaced Battery Terminals.
6) Checked for 12V at the Ignition Wire and Always Hot Wire on the back of cluster (Its there)
7) Checked all fuses in the JB and PDC.
8) Looking at forums for hours


OTHER ISSUES:
Right turn signal blinking rapidly (All bulbs work)
Airbag was deployed at some point (Airbag Light is on + Steering wheel punctured)

SPECS:
97 Cherokee Sport 4.0 AX15



The Diagram I have been Following

Last edited by AngrySeabeeXJ; 05-05-2022 at 12:07 PM.
Old 05-05-2022 | 04:19 PM
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Help?
Old 05-05-2022 | 04:44 PM
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Year: 1988
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I'm a RENIX guy, not sure how similar the instrument clusters are. On mine, I found that there was corrosion under the screws that held in the gauges. I had to remove each screw and clean the copper strip on the cluster and the back of the screw head. Where you say you have tried a "new" instrument cluster, I assume you mean different. My donor Jeeps cluster was worse than my original. They both needed cleaning.
Old 05-05-2022 | 10:41 PM
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Run a cluster test. You mentioned the airbag went off, was this jeep recently wrecked? the cluster might not have survived and could need replaced.
  1. Push and hold the odometer reset button.
  2. Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to the Run position, but don't start it.
  3. Release the odometer reset button.
Old 05-06-2022 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by AngrySeabeeXJ
Howdy all,
I cannot seem to figure out this for the life of me. So my Cluster lights work, but the needles don't and the odometer does not light up!I have scrounged the forums for a few hours and looked at CCKen's (rip) various threads on the issue, but I still want to pull my hair out.

Things I have tried:
1) Cleaned Various Grounds (Some not all)
- Also Checked continuity on the Grounds up in Cluster with know grounds around the vehicle.
2) New Instrument Cluster (Same issue)
3) New Connections spliced in on the back
4) Ran a new Ground on C2 Connector (Still no fix but now the check engine light works)
5) Cleaned and replaced Battery Terminals.
6) Checked for 12V at the Ignition Wire and Always Hot Wire on the back of cluster (Its there)
7) Checked all fuses in the JB and PDC.
8) Looking at forums for hours


OTHER ISSUES:
Right turn signal blinking rapidly (All bulbs work)
Airbag was deployed at some point (Airbag Light is on + Steering wheel punctured)

SPECS:
97 Cherokee Sport 4.0 AX15



The Diagram I have been Following
Ran through numerous tests on the ccd bus and determined it to be functional.
When reading from the DLC pins 3 to 4 read 2.5V and 11 to 4 2.5v.
When testing continuity, reading from 3 to 11 on the DLC I get 60 Ohms. According to Ken, this is standard and correct and tells me there is no issues with the ccd bus wiring.

Still oblivious.

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/ccd-bus-issue-234249/
Old 05-06-2022 | 09:06 AM
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Default Ran the Test

Originally Posted by Veeb0rg
Run a cluster test. You mentioned the airbag went off, was this jeep recently wrecked? the cluster might not have survived and could need replaced.
  1. Push and hold the odometer reset button.
  2. Insert the key into the ignition and turn it to the Run position, but don't start it.
  3. Release the odometer reset button.
Yes, I did run this test and some lights blinked a few times in a rhythm, but the needles didn't work. Looks like the cluster is functioning with exception of the odometer and guages.

Also, I am suspecting this Jeep has been in an actual collision, it was sitting for 10 years before I picked it up Sunday for 1000 dollars. The signs are there.

1) Airbag light on.
2) Front bumper pushed in slightly.
3) Steering wheel as a hole in it.

As for the cluster, I have another cluster from a different XJ and I put it in, but it does the same thing.

ANOTHER NOTE:

I did find a nonexistant Ground on the C2 connector. Pin 9 On connector C2 did not ground at all. (G108). So I ran a new ground and bypassed it, in the favor of time and testing purposes. However the same ground on Connector C1 (Pin 6) does work. So my G108 groG108 is functional from the C1 Side but not C2. With bypassing this ground with a new one, I though I fixed my problem, but I was wrong.

Last edited by AngrySeabeeXJ; 05-06-2022 at 09:11 AM.
Old 05-06-2022 | 10:34 PM
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From: Glen Burnie, MD
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Engine: 4.0l
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What year is this Jeep? The early 97-99 i think had the airbag modules on the floor under the driver seat and were known to get wet/corroded and cause havoc. they moved them under the center console in the later years.

I'd also check the PCM under the hood. Maybe reseat the connectors on it. It almost sounds like there's an issue with the CCD bus that's causing the cluster to freak out.
Old 05-07-2022 | 08:04 AM
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Originally Posted by Veeb0rg
What year is this Jeep? The early 97-99 i think had the airbag modules on the floor under the driver seat and were known to get wet/corroded and cause havoc. they moved them under the center console in the later years.

I'd also check the PCM under the hood. Maybe reseat the connectors on it. It almost sounds like there's an issue with the CCD bus that's causing the cluster to freak out.
The Jeep is a 97. I will check out the airbag module today. I have the whole dash frame out of the jeep at this point still looking for the issue.
Old 05-07-2022 | 04:17 PM
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Default Still Struggling

Originally Posted by AngrySeabeeXJ
Howdy all,
I cannot seem to figure out this for the life of me. So my Cluster lights work, but the needles don't and the odometer does not light up!I have scrounged the forums for a few hours and looked at CCKen's (rip) various threads on the issue, but I still want to pull my hair out.

Things I have tried:
1) Cleaned Various Grounds (Some not all)
- Also Checked continuity on the Grounds up in Cluster with know grounds around the vehicle.
2) New Instrument Cluster (Same issue)
3) New Connections spliced in on the back
4) Ran a new Ground on C2 Connector (Still no fix but now the check engine light works)
5) Cleaned and replaced Battery Terminals.
6) Checked for 12V at the Ignition Wire and Always Hot Wire on the back of cluster (Its there)
7) Checked all fuses in the JB and PDC.
8) Looking at forums for hours


OTHER ISSUES:
Right turn signal blinking rapidly (All bulbs work)
Airbag was deployed at some point (Airbag Light is on + Steering wheel punctured)

SPECS:
97 Cherokee Sport 4.0 AX15



The Diagram I have been Following
Well today I got some motivation and I took out the whole dash frame. This solved nothing, but I did realize how messy the wiring in this thing can be.

Also, I put a steering column from a Junk xj in. This did not solve anything, but did eliminate an ignition switch being the culprit.

If you guys have any thoughts on this let me know. I want to get this figured out!
Old 05-08-2022 | 10:35 AM
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Default Help?

Originally Posted by AngrySeabeeXJ
Well today I got some motivation and I took out the whole dash frame. This solved nothing, but I did realize how messy the wiring in this thing can be.

Also, I put a steering column from a Junk xj in. This did not solve anything, but did eliminate an ignition switch being the culprit.

If you guys have any thoughts on this let me know. I want to get this figured out!
Does anybody have the wiring schematic for the instrument cluster on my 97? Preferably from the FSM.
Old 05-09-2022 | 07:45 AM
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Originally Posted by AngrySeabeeXJ
Howdy all,
I cannot seem to figure out this for the life of me. So my Cluster lights work, but the needles don't and the odometer does not light up!I have scrounged the forums for a few hours and looked at CCKen's (rip) various threads on the issue, but I still want to pull my hair out.

Things I have tried:
1) Cleaned Various Grounds (Some not all)
- Also Checked continuity on the Grounds up in Cluster with know grounds around the vehicle.
2) New Instrument Cluster (Same issue)
3) New Connections spliced in on the back
4) Ran a new Ground on C2 Connector (Still no fix but now the check engine light works)
5) Cleaned and replaced Battery Terminals.
6) Checked for 12V at the Ignition Wire and Always Hot Wire on the back of cluster (Its there)
7) Checked all fuses in the JB and PDC.
8) Looking at forums for hours


OTHER ISSUES:
Right turn signal blinking rapidly (All bulbs work)
Airbag was deployed at some point (Airbag Light is on + Steering wheel punctured)

SPECS:
97 Cherokee Sport 4.0 AX15



The Diagram I have been Following
Bump
Old 05-09-2022 | 09:11 AM
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dmoe69's Avatar
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Year: 1988
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
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From cruiser's website:

Technical Manuals | cruiser54

Chapter on the instrument panel starts on page 1001. Schematics start on page 1333.
Old 05-09-2022 | 03:32 PM
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Originally Posted by dmoe69
From cruiser's website:

Technical Manuals | cruiser54

Chapter on the instrument panel starts on page 1001. Schematics start on page 1333.
Thank you! Hopefully I can get this figured out soon.

Old 05-10-2022 | 12:55 PM
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Originally Posted by AngrySeabeeXJ
Thank you! Hopefully I can get this figured out soon.
Bump
Old 05-10-2022 | 04:11 PM
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Being a RENIX guy, I can't provide useful suggestions. However, I wanted to make sure you saw the diagnosis and testing instructions that start on the bottom of page 1009 of the FSM? It seems to suggest that it is anticipated that there will be gauge faults following a collision. There are two diagnostic paths provided.


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