Hello,
my Grand Cherokee v8 limited '95 started to make weird things few weeks ago. When I turn on the headlights, the instrument lights should turn on and the computer lights should get more soft. Now this happens once on ten, but what usually happens is that everything turns off inside the car!
I went to a Jeep dealer here in Italy and I was told that there's an electronic "body" card that drives this kind of stuff and I could try to send it to get fixed (520 bucks..) and see if that can help.
I bet you have better suggestions!
Thank you

Wow, $520, I bet there talking about the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) the engine computer? I've got a '99 JGC with the V-8. My PCM overheats in hot summer weather and causes all instrument gages to zero out to the left for 30 minutes while the PCM cools. Your problem sounds like a weak battery or bad battery cables or the infamous rusty/coroded/bad GROUND. The PCM will shut down if it gets less than 9.5 volts.

This may have something to do with a relays, you could swap relays around and check for overheated/tarnished fuses too. I had a Taurus that everything would die when I turned on the Air Conditioner. Turned out to be an overheated/tarnished fuse that had discolored connectors due to heat.

Do you have any after-market parts suppliers close, Autozone, Checker, NAPA, A1-Cardon? They might offer re-manafactured PCM's for your model/year?

Is your engine running when you turn on your headlights and everything inside turns off? If so, does it kill your engine? Is also killing the radio, power windows, horn, starter?

About after market dealers, I have to look on internet because as I wrote, I live in Italy and a 5.2 v8 engine is very rare to find on the street, just think that gasoline is four time more expensive than in the states!
I tryied to switch and clean out every single rele and fuse of the car, but I just put on a new battery and you suggest it may be bad.. I'll check it out and also the positive and negative connected to it.
All the rest of the car works great, just once in awhile it dies at the minimum range, but it is a ten years old car, I can't complain about it.
Thanks for your help, keep in touch!

Wow, $520, I bet there talking about the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) the engine computer? I've got a '99 JGC with the V-8. My PCM overheats in hot summer weather and causes all instrument gages to zero out to the left for 30 minutes while the PCM cools. Your problem sounds like a weak battery or bad battery cables or the infamous rusty/coroded/bad GROUND. The PCM will shut down if it gets less than 9.5 volts.

This may have something to do with a relays, you could swap relays around and check for overheated/tarnished fuses too. I had a Taurus that everything would die when I turned on the Air Conditioner. Turned out to be an overheated/tarnished fuse that had discolored connectors due to heat.

Do you have any after-market parts suppliers close, Autozone, Checker, NAPA, A1-Cardon? They might offer re-manafactured PCM's for your model/year?

Is your engine running when you turn on your headlights and everything inside turns off? If so, does it kill your engine? Is also killing the radio, power windows, horn, starter?

I'm a newbee on this forum and my only experience with fixing Jeeps is with my current 99 GJC-Ltd.

You might want to check out www.pamsauto.com I found it by searching for car parts from the web site www.car-part.com

pamsauto.com has an "Electronic Chassis Control Module" for a 10 year old 1995 Jeep with the 5.2 L engine for about $50.

Aparantly my 1999 also has an "Electronic Chassis Control Module" or BCM,ECU. I'll look at my manual and see what the BCM does.

Thank you!!! I'll check it out right away. I am also waiting for a repair's manual for my car that I just bought on Ebay, this can tell me more for sure. Very kind of you!

Did you have any luck with your Jeep?
Mine is officially fixed!!!
The $100 PCM from pamsauto.com and a quick $70 to have it reprogrammed at the dealer seemed to do the trick for me . . i.e., no more stalling, alas, the divorce is yet once again forstalled as the wife loves the Jeep when it runs.