What could cause all the gauges and most lights in the instrument panel of a 1998 Jeep Wrangler not to work if changing the fuses did not solve the problem?

Answer 1

Are the gauges mechanical or electrical? (LED DISPLAY) If it's both the gauges and the lighting, i'd use a voltmeter and probe the circuit where the fuse is that you replaced. Check to see if voltage is flowing thru. If it isn't, then there's a break in the circuit somewhere... and the hard part starts. USUALLY, it's a lose ground that's either poorly bolted to the chassis, or is rusted or something that prevents it from providing the proper ground.

I have the same problem in my 98 wrangler. My gages go on and off intermitantly. The dealer said it was the molex wire connector from the computer to the gage panel. They wanted $900. so im trying to find the part online.

I am not a mechanic, but there is a TSB on this for my 1999 Jeep Cherokee. I was at the point I was going to replace the entire dash module, around $900 when I found the TSB. The fix is a $7 plug that plugs into the back of the module. All that needs to be done is to cut out the old plug and splice in the new one. I haven't had this problem in about 4 months, it was an every day, all day occurence. Find the TSB for the exact name of the part etc. Just ask your local dealerships service manager about it. He may not want to tell you, but he will.

One my 93, the back of the instrument cluster is basically a circuit board with "ribbons" of connectors going from the main wire harness/plug. Check to see if you have appropriate signals coming from the plug itself and/or there are no breaks in these "ribbons"

My dash does the same thing. I normally bump the top left front of the dash in a forward motion. That normally fixes it for a while anyways. I was told by a technision that it was to many keys on my key ring. I think dealerships just like to take you money. So unless you brother or sister is the technision don't listen to them. $900 for a new cluster is just insane. My Wrangler is a 98 almost 10 years old. who wants to spend that much to get it fixed?

I have a 99 Jeep Wrangler that this happened to. I took the instrument cluster off, used compressed air to blow out the plug and reinstalled. It hasn't happen since. I think the connection gets loose over time. It's not difficult to take off the instrument cluster. Use a flat head screw driver to pry the cover off the top of the dash (over the defrost vents) and remove the screws on either side below of the steering wheel. The panel is attached on the top and bottom w/ Phillip's head screws.

I haver had this problem on a Jeep that I have been working on and finaly found a bad Airbag Control Module. I replaced the module and everything started working again.