I just purchased a 1997 Jeep Cherokee Sport. With 130,000 original miles and zero rust. This is for my daughter and needs some repairs that we are going to do together. I noticed on the way home the dome lights worked when the doors open or when you turn on with headlight switch. When I got home and opened the doors, no lights? A new alternator was just put in yesterday and is working appropriately. Also the odometer reading was working. When I get home it randomly stopped working. Any ideas would be great. I have a 2013 JKU and I have had a CJ or 2. I am mechanically inclined and can do a lot of the work. A/C work will go to a shop and gears, SYE will go to a shop.

 

I would check and clean my grounds both on the battery and the body.

 

Sig220, Thanks I will check that. Also when I test drove it and engaged the 4wd it had issues going back into 2h. It actually popped out and was between 2h and 4h. Is this a linkage problem?

 

The linkages for the 4WD are common issues. The way it was designed was awful. Check underneath and you can adjust it. Helps to have two people for that. A lot of people get an aftermarket setup to replace the crummy linkage on these.

 

Agree about the grounds. See the link in my sig, #1, for the locations.

 

Here's how the factory suggests you shift the transfer case and I've been doing this since these things were new and I worked at the dealership. Quoted from the owner's manual. The suggestions in CAPS are mine.

"To engage, shift the transfer case lever from 2H to 4H while the vehicle is moving at any legal speed". I LET OFF THE GAS, THROW THE LEVER, TAP THE GAS AND LET OFF.

4L position: " To engage, slow the vehicle to 2-3 MPH , shift the transmission to Neutral, then shift the transfer lever to the right and pull firmly rearward to 4L".

TO SHIFT OUT OF 4L, SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED, SHIFT THE TRANSFER CASE LEVER TO 2H, THEN THE TRANS TO D IF YOU HAVE AN AUTOMATIC, OR INTO FIRST GEAR WITH A MANUAL, AND CONTINUE ON.

Revised 11/20/2014