My 97 TJ 2.5L gauges are possessed. Sometimes they work, other times not. They’ve all been dead for three days. Filled up with gas yesterday. This morning, the gas gauge worked. At noon, all but the speedo and tach worked. This evening, none worked. They always pass the “start up” test. I have cleaned and greased the dash gauge connectors multiple times with no difference. I have replaced all the fuses though none were blown. I have not found any cut or damaged wire insulation. I have bent the gauge connectors mounting plate forward. At this point, I am totally lost.
Dash guages not working
- Thread starter woody367
- Start date
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
It sounds to me like you may have an defective cluster gauge. My mechanic was able to fix my 1997 4.0 gauge cluster for the everything but the seat belt indicator. He said it is an internal issue with the gauge cluster itself. I changed the seat belt switch and everything. He sent out my cluster and they couldn't fix it. I found someone online that rebuilds and guarantees them for $300-400 dollars, but I didn't think it was worth it for just a seat belt indicator.
Thanks for the advice. I just took my cluster out and have it disassembled on the kitchen table. Not sure what I am looking for but everything seems to look okay. I know that does not mean a lot with electronics. Ha!
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
I think you have to be good at Electronic testing of resistors and stuff like that. The tool of choice being a multimeter. Mine was sent out, by my mechanic to someone supposedly good at that stuff, and they couldn't fix it.
Burnboy
New Member
I'm super late to this party but I just fixed my gauges after trying everything. Self test worked, fuses, grounds, took cluster out cleaned, bend pins you name it. If your airbag light is on disconnect your airbag control module. It's on the transmission hump behind the shift boot against the firewall. I had to pull the three nuts to get at it. Once disconnected I started it up and it works as it should. Can find new airbag control deals on eBay or a junkyard. Hope this helps someone!!
Havsurf
New Member
Hello I'm having issues with my dash gauges on my 1997 TJ. The rest of the dash panel is operating correctly. The self test dosen't work at all. No beep or anything else. I checked the 10 amp fuses behind the glove box and in the engine compartment. All good and 12v in & out of the fuses. I also checked & cleaned the two dash cluster connectors.
Any suggestions?
Any suggestions?
Burnboy
New Member
Is your airbag light constantly on while all other gauges not functioning? I had that issue and found that my airbag control module was bad. I just unplugged it to check and sure enough everything went back to normal. Had to order another module to have functional airbags though. The module is located between the firewall and the shift boot. Like right under the dash, kind of a pain to get it unplugged.
I had this happen on my 1997 2.5 and I ended up getting a replacement unit from a used parts source. It had roughly the same milage already on the new to me unit so no big deal. I would disclose the difference if I were to ever sell, but I'll never sell so not a big deal to me. Not sure if it will fix it for you, but that is what I ended up doing to fix mine.
Havsurf
New Member
Hello Burnboy, thank you for your suggestion. No my airbag light is not always on. It seems to operate find.
I will try disconnecting the air bag module.
Havsurf
New Member
Hello 97tjmike, thank for your response.
Did you notice if your odometer was operating correctly? My odometer has no display even on the self test. I'm thinking the dash cluster is bad.
Sorry for the delay responding. Yes, my odometer was very weak coming through and could barely make out what the numbers were. The cluster i swapped it out for solved the issue
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
I understand it is illegal to swap out the cluster, changing the odometer, for obvious reasons. It is better, and more legal to fix the cluster, though more costly.
Not sure about the legality of it. Sounds like it may just be illegal to misrepresent the mileage if you are selling it, which i do not plan to do. A licensed mechanic at a shop sourced the replacement cluster and did the swap for me. I wouldn't think they would do that if it was illegal.
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
You don't know how it works in the US, either. Federal law, and probably most state laws, require you to document why you changed it, and what the mileage on it was, and what the new odometer reads. When you sell the vehicle, you have to record the actual mileage on the title, regardless of what the odometer says. There may be additional requirements. But you certainly can replace an odometer when needed.
ChasUGC
TJ Enthusiast
I don't want to get into some flaming fight with someone trying to tell me what I don't know about my own country. That's why I don't come to this forum anymore. The attitudes here are so superiority minded. I'm done.
Chas, you're the one who made a false claim. I'm not trying to be superior, I'm just stating that the claim is wrong. It's easy enough to look it up. Check out this article: Can You Legally Change the Odometer
Of course, this doesn't cover Canada, but they probably have similar laws. Odometers, or the instrument cluster, will occasionally die and need replacement.
Of course, this doesn't cover Canada, but they probably have similar laws. Odometers, or the instrument cluster, will occasionally die and need replacement.
I had that work done in the states when I lived there. I came up here a few years ago. I am not sure of the legality of it here in Canada either though. Either way, I'm not selling this thing so I am not worried about it
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