To all you 1997-2001 cherokee owners having that annoying problem of intermminent gauge dropouts and airbag light illumination, heres what is happening. It is a bad wiring harness that has notoriously gone bad over a relatively small time period. So bad that Jeep has recognized it and will be able to fix it easily. Unfortunately its not a bad enough problem that they make a recall so its not a free repair unless youre still on warranty. If you really wish to get it fixed, you have two options: You can pay the dealer to fix it up, which costs $104.00. Or you can buy the needed parts for $20.00 and try and do it yourself. I'll probably do it myself, and ill let you all know how easy or difficult it actually is. Hope this helps everyone, I've had the problem for while and this is the only real answer anyone has ever given me. Best of Luck!

What are the parts that you need and where can I order them.
Is it the airbag recall...I had that done.

As i said, its not a recall. The part number is 05106261aa. I tried going in there and looking at it but its more than i want to deal with, I'm mechanically inclined but this requires a little additional saldering skills. I did however clean the connectors between the harnesses and the back of the gauge and its fixed for now, but who knows when it may start again. Good luck

As i said, its not a recall. The part number is 05106261aa. I tried going in there and looking at it but its more than i want to deal with, I'm mechanically inclined but this requires a little additional saldering skills. I did however clean the connectors between the harnesses and the back of the gauge and its fixed for now, but who knows when it may start again. Good luck


So this is whats causing my gas gauge problem? I'm gussing more and more of my gauges are going to start acting up? I have a 98 Cherokee sport. Could you post more info as to what is bad, is it the wiring harness itself, or the connectors, a relay, etc?? Where did you clean, at the gauge cluster or the otehr end of the harness, which is where?

Thanks,

Jeff

if you want every small detail call a jeep dealership, tell them the symptoms and they'll explain it. But they will probably try and use unnecessary language to confuse you. It is faulty wires in what I believe is the wiring harnesses that plug into the back of the gauge cluster and go to the ecu. Its not fun getting all that dash stuff off, but just pull where there arent any obvious screws and it'll pop out. I cleaned the plug recievers on the back of the cluster (there are two identical, rectangular white plug areas) and the two plugs from the wiring harness and just put it back in with as solid a connection as i could get. Its been two days now and its had zero problems so im keeping my fingers crossed. Like I said, give that a shot and if youre lucky it'll help. Otherwise the part is $8.20, $20 for parts from the dealer with things like heat tube and soldering wire, and around $100 for labor if you really want to bend over and have it repaired.

So this is whats causing my gas gauge problem? I'm gussing more and more of my gauges are going to start acting up? I have a 98 Cherokee sport. Could you post more info as to what is bad, is it the wiring harness itself, or the connectors, a relay, etc?? Where did you clean, at the gauge cluster or the otehr end of the harness, which is where?

Thanks,

Jeff[/QUOTE]
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The gas gage problem is a recall on the 97, maybe the 98, because it would run out of gas before it showed empty...mine ran out twice. They change the sender in the tank.

This erratic gage issue has not happened on my 97 XJ Sport.

Lots of folks have this same problem; good post.

good post... My 98 is doing that, so basically, I should take the cluster and clean out the connectors? but why does it "fix itself" when I flip the wipers on and off? My friends "fixes itself" when he flips the headlights on and off...

Electronics are funky...my wife's 99 did the same thing. Maybe the voltage change when changing wipers/lights is enough to do it.

Thats true, The lighs and wipers probably do draw a substancial a bit of power