Weird gage problem - HELP!

Hi Folks,

My beloved 96 Cherokee is starting to drive me nuts. At only 268,000
miles the throwout bearing went out (original clutch), they sure don't
build these things like they used too! <G>

OK, that's fixed, here is my problem. For quite a while the speedometer
has been bouncing around a bit, like the cable (which it doesn't have),
needs to be lubed. The problem has gradually been getting worse and
has gotten to the point where the speedometer is almost useless.

What is really odd about this is the gas gage has started acting up
right along with the speedo... when the speedo is dead the gas gage pegs
full, and when the speedo starts working (or trying to work) the gas
gage starts moving too.

In addition under light deceleration and left turns they try to work.

Saturday I decided it was time to do something about it. I pulled the
instrument cluster out and tugged and pushed the wires, did the same
thing with the wiring under the dash, in the engine compartment, and the
wiring going to the transmission and the gas tank. None of those made
any difference in the gas gage. (Ignition on of course).

Then I started looking at the "Power distribution center" at the right
rear corner of the engine compartment. Poking at those wires made the
gage drop! I took that thing loose and prodded and pulled each of the
wires, blew the dust out of the unit itself, and removed each fuse and
relay one at a time to see which one made a difference ... NONE of them
did. I can move the whole mess and the gage would change, but it
doesn't seem to narrow down to one wire.

I've got a Hayes manual but it's not very helpful, and doesn't even show
that power distribution box. There has GOT to be a common circuit with
the speedometer and the gas gage, and I can't help but think there is a
ground problem somewhere.

Have any of you had a similar problem, or any suggestions what I should
check?

Thanks!

Jeff DeWitt

Just a guess on my behalf....but I think you'll get some tips on checking
grounds.

On turns, the stress in the frame is enough to give intermittant contact....
By pushing/tugging on the wiring Distribution Center you might be pushing it
in better contact for a ground.

If you push on the Dist.Center and hold it in one spot....does it stay
working? or still jump?

"Jeffrey DeWitt" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi Folks,
>
> My beloved 96 Cherokee is starting to drive me nuts. At only 268,000
> miles the throwout bearing went out (original clutch), they sure don't
> build these things like they used too! <G>
>
> OK, that's fixed, here is my problem. For quite a while the speedometer
> has been bouncing around a bit, like the cable (which it doesn't have),
> needs to be lubed. The problem has gradually been getting worse and has
> gotten to the point where the speedometer is almost useless.
>
> What is really odd about this is the gas gage has started acting up right
> along with the speedo... when the speedo is dead the gas gage pegs full,
> and when the speedo starts working (or trying to work) the gas gage starts
> moving too.
>
> In addition under light deceleration and left turns they try to work.
>
> Saturday I decided it was time to do something about it. I pulled the
> instrument cluster out and tugged and pushed the wires, did the same thing
> with the wiring under the dash, in the engine compartment, and the wiring
> going to the transmission and the gas tank. None of those made any
> difference in the gas gage. (Ignition on of course).
>
> Then I started looking at the "Power distribution center" at the right
> rear corner of the engine compartment. Poking at those wires made the
> gage drop! I took that thing loose and prodded and pulled each of the
> wires, blew the dust out of the unit itself, and removed each fuse and
> relay one at a time to see which one made a difference ... NONE of them
> did. I can move the whole mess and the gage would change, but it doesn't
> seem to narrow down to one wire.
>
> I've got a Hayes manual but it's not very helpful, and doesn't even show
> that power distribution box. There has GOT to be a common circuit with
> the speedometer and the gas gage, and I can't help but think there is a
> ground problem somewhere.
>
> Have any of you had a similar problem, or any suggestions what I should
> check?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeff DeWitt

Just a guess on my behalf....but I think you'll get some tips on checking
grounds.

On turns, the stress in the frame is enough to give intermittant contact....
By pushing/tugging on the wiring Distribution Center you might be pushing it
in better contact for a ground.

If you push on the Dist.Center and hold it in one spot....does it stay
working? or still jump?

"Jeffrey DeWitt" > wrote in message
m...
> Hi Folks,
>
> My beloved 96 Cherokee is starting to drive me nuts. At only 268,000
> miles the throwout bearing went out (original clutch), they sure don't
> build these things like they used too! <G>
>
> OK, that's fixed, here is my problem. For quite a while the speedometer
> has been bouncing around a bit, like the cable (which it doesn't have),
> needs to be lubed. The problem has gradually been getting worse and has
> gotten to the point where the speedometer is almost useless.
>
> What is really odd about this is the gas gage has started acting up right
> along with the speedo... when the speedo is dead the gas gage pegs full,
> and when the speedo starts working (or trying to work) the gas gage starts
> moving too.
>
> In addition under light deceleration and left turns they try to work.
>
> Saturday I decided it was time to do something about it. I pulled the
> instrument cluster out and tugged and pushed the wires, did the same thing
> with the wiring under the dash, in the engine compartment, and the wiring
> going to the transmission and the gas tank. None of those made any
> difference in the gas gage. (Ignition on of course).
>
> Then I started looking at the "Power distribution center" at the right
> rear corner of the engine compartment. Poking at those wires made the
> gage drop! I took that thing loose and prodded and pulled each of the
> wires, blew the dust out of the unit itself, and removed each fuse and
> relay one at a time to see which one made a difference ... NONE of them
> did. I can move the whole mess and the gage would change, but it doesn't
> seem to narrow down to one wire.
>
> I've got a Hayes manual but it's not very helpful, and doesn't even show
> that power distribution box. There has GOT to be a common circuit with
> the speedometer and the gas gage, and I can't help but think there is a
> ground problem somewhere.
>
> Have any of you had a similar problem, or any suggestions what I should
> check?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Jeff DeWitt