Yeah that’s pretty gnarly. You also have to pay attention to where the bracing bolts to the tub and make sure those contact points are clean as well.
Gauges don't work
- Thread starter Dfrost89
- Start date
Yeah that’s pretty gnarly. You also have to pay attention to where the bracing bolts to the tub and make sure those contact points are clean as well.
I agree.... He should do further cleaning of the contact points.
Just noticed the owner lives in Missouri which gets snow and much more rain that what we get here in SoCal.
OP
Yeah I know 
the bad thing is the Jeep is in damn good shape to have some much rust on that dash assembly bracket. So disregard that last message I think it was acting funny because of the ground by the speaker. The illumination will work on the dash and the HVAC controls with the illumination wire to the 12v switch wire when the key is on and will shut off with the key switch but when it’s not 12volted none work. And the light switch doesn’t turn them on or off only all other lights. And when the illum wire is 12v the light switch won’t adjust. It’s a brand new light switch.
the bad thing is the Jeep is in damn good shape to have some much rust on that dash assembly bracket. So disregard that last message I think it was acting funny because of the ground by the speaker. The illumination will work on the dash and the HVAC controls with the illumination wire to the 12v switch wire when the key is on and will shut off with the key switch but when it’s not 12volted none work. And the light switch doesn’t turn them on or off only all other lights. And when the illum wire is 12v the light switch won’t adjust. It’s a brand new light switch.
OP
Are the contract points mostly just the 3 side bolts and the 4 nuts by the windshield? I’ve been trying to clean off with a wire brush everything I can see without tearing the plastic off the metal.
With these grounding problems.... you might consider running wire from a KNOWN GOOD ground to the brace instead of chasing where all the bad grounding points are on the brace....
OP
I cleaned up the contact points and rebolted it up. Using a test light I have a ground at every screw hole that touched metal so that’s a good sign. And I don’t believe any of my lights are led. I have ground at the head light switch. I don’t understand why I have to plug the illumination wire at the stereo 12v in for the cluster and HVAC to light up. I’m not very good at reading or understanding wire diagrams. Some but not much. Something going on between and lights
OP
Thank you all for bearing with me on this. They Jeep still runs and drives and we’re starting to get warmer weather here in Missouri
Sorry about the response concerning LEDs.... I confused your TJ with another member that I was trying to assist.
Sounds like the cluster and HVAC are finding a ground thru the radio wiring...
The previous owner may have done some creative wiring...
OP
Thank you, I did not see that one or know it was there I will check it tomorrow. And also check my stereo wiring. May just re wire it.
OP
I see this one is from a 03 4.0 auto and the wiring is completely different between years. I looked and I do not have that ground strap on mine. However I did stumble upon checking wires and grounds and such a wire that is already grounded before touching anything? Does anyone know if this wire should already be grounded? Or could this be part of my problem? The other ground wire there doesn’t light up on test light. And when the ignition is on it does a beeping and low flashing of the turn signals and high beam but when I touch it to the ground it stops beeping and everything cluster goes back to its start up.
They are the ground wires for the instrument cluster; the same as on my 01.
Those should be connected below the left front speaker.
Those should be connected below the left front speaker.
OP
Yes that’s where they were. My question is though, is the black w yellow strip wire suppose to be grounded even though it’s not on a ground right now. As you can see from the photo my test light is on positive lead and it’s lighting up not screwed to the dash frame.
OP
Everyone note: This Jeep was the very first of the tjs. Someone said for like the first 6 months production the wiring was different then the rest. Wish I had a manual for this early of diagrams.
OP