Electrical Gauge Issue

[SFCHondo]

Hey guys, I have an electrical issue and was hoping someone here my be able to steer me in the right direction. This problem is on my 2000 Jeep Wrangler with a 4.0 6cyl.

Here is the problem:

Airbag light comes on
Eng. light comes on
Speedometer goes to zero
Tachometer goes to zero
And a few times the odometer would read "No Bus"

This issue is intermittent, the first time was 3-4 weeks ago and it lasted about 5 min. before everything came back to normal. Since then it has happened 5 or 6 more times. It lasts anywhere from 10 seconds to 3-4 minutes. This issue doesn't seem to effect the engine performance.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[DofD]

Sounds like a problem with the electrical connection to the instrument panel. I'd start off checking the connections to the instrument panel.

It sounds like there is a loose or mostly broken connection on the Jeep's communication network (the no bus message).

Do you have a code reader you could connect to see if there are any codes being thrown?

 

[Bigredmariner]

Good advice, take the instrument panel out and look for broken pins or similar damage at the connectors. Also look closely at the wiring harness and make sure there are no signs of rubbing on brackets or anything. The GMT-800's had a bad issue several years ago with the wiring harness rubbing on a brace under the dash. Could be any of those things. Good luck.

 

[SFCHondo]

I got a Code Reader and it gave me just 1 code: P1687-NO CLUSTER BUS MESSAGE

But I didn't need a code reader to tell me that, since it stated it on the odmeter for me...LOL

Guess I'll just have to start checking wires, was hoping someone may know exactly which ones to check out first. I'll check the cluster wires first and go from there. Thanks for the reply DofD and BigRed.

 

[Bigredmariner]

Hopefully one our 2 Jeep guys will know something. But I guess that'll give you some place to start anyway.

 

[Zembonez]

I KNOW THE ANSWER!

I had the same issue on a 99 Cherokee once. Tach and Speedo went to zero. Idiot lights lit up like it was Christmas. It drove me nuts.

The solution was to pull the cluster, take an eraser to the contacts on the back of it AND the harness connector. The abrasive eraser is perfect tof cleaning the contacts of the oxidation that builds up on them. It never did it again. I've since fixed several other Jeeps with the same repair. Most recent was a friend's 03 Wrangler (which uses the same cluster as the Cherokee with a different gauge face setup).

Try it!

 

[daddy]

I KNOW THE ANSWER!

I had the same issue on a 99 Cherokee once. Tach and Speedo went to zero. Idiot lights lit up like it was Christmas. It drove me nuts.

The solution was to pull the cluster, take an eraser to the contacts on the back of it AND the harness connector. The abrasive eraser is perfect tof cleaning the contacts of the oxidation that builds up on them. It never did it again. I've since fixed several other Jeeps with the same repair. Most recent was a friend's 03 Wrangler (which uses the same cluster as the Cherokee with a different gauge face setup).

Try it!

How fortuitous! Hopefully that fixes him up!

 

[Zembonez]

I KNOW THE ANSWER!

I had the same issue on a 99 Cherokee once. Tach and Speedo went to zero. Idiot lights lit up like it was Christmas. It drove me nuts.

The solution was to pull the cluster, take an eraser to the contacts on the back of it AND the harness connector. The abrasive eraser is perfect tof cleaning the contacts of the oxidation that builds up on them. It never did it again. I've since fixed several other Jeeps with the same repair. Most recent was a friend's 03 Wrangler (which uses the same cluster as the Cherokee with a different gauge face setup).

Try it!

How fortuitous! Hopefully that fixes him up!

When one owns Jeeps, one becomes familiar with common Jeep maladies (or shoots the Jeep).

 

[daddy]

 

[SFCHondo]

Awesome THANKS, I will do that tomorrow. I really appreciate the advice.