Main cluster issues with specific indicator lights

jdinsb

New Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2021
Messages
10
Location
Santa Barbara
I'm having some electrical headaches with my YJ's main cluster, specifically the indicator warning lights. Half work, half don't. I have ruled out bulb issues (replaced and confirmed polarity with the working indicators). Note that the actual right turn signal, illum, and hazard are functional... it's just that the light doesn't go on when they're engaged. My best guess is that something is up with the printed circuit, but I'm not sure. Any and all help appreciated.

Working
  • Left turn
  • Check engine
  • Upshift
  • Brake
  • High beams
Not working
  • Illum
  • Right turn
  • Hazard
  • Seatbelt (intermittent)
Here's the wiring diagram I'm going off of.

Screen Shot 2022-03-30 at 3.26.37 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-03-30 at 3.26.42 PM.png

Screen Shot 2022-03-30 at 3.26.54 PM.png
 
Hi JD, Sorry bud but I'm not going to be of any help with your issue but I'm glad I came across your post. I am collecting parts to do a complete rewire of my dash gauges and indicator lights. Thanks for sharing your schematic, what manual are you using? I would like to find one specific to my series YJ. I have a 92'
I'm not even sure all what indicator lights I need to keep out of the main cluster.....like the up arrow for instance, do you know that is for?
Paul
 
Printed circuit boards rarely go bad. Clean the area were the bulb holder makes contact with scotch bright or sand paper, clean the tabs on the bulb holder the same way then finish off with brake clean on a q tip. Put a film of dielectric grease on the contact area and see if that works. Just had to do the same thing on my center gage cluster lights.
 
When you say illum and hazards, what exactly do you mean isn't working? For illum I have no idea what that is (do you mean the gauge illumination?), for hazards I feel like you mean the triangle icon up on the cluster. If so, the triangle never lights up. the windows with the icons are generic and from other Jeeps at the time so there are quite a few unused ones. If by hazards you mean one or both turn signal indicators are not lighting up when you run the hazards, then you may have another issue.

As for right turn and seat belt...right turn is just spliced right off the turn signal circuit, so test and see if you have power at the gauge connector. IF you do, then you have a circuit board issue. If you don't, follow the wiring and find the break/corrosion.

The seat belt could not be working for several reasons...the circuit runs out to the seat belt buckle and passes through the seat belt buckle back out to ground. When belt is buckled, the circuit is broken so the light won't be lit up. The seat belt light runs through the buzzer on the dash. I don't recall if the buzzer has to be there/operational for the seat belt light to work. Personally, I hated the buzzer and the seat belt light so I disabled both. Threw the buzzer in the trash long ago and removed all the seat belt light wiring.

I would agree with above that the circuit boards are rarely problematic especially the 92+ YJ ones. Some testing with a meter should figure out your issues pretty quick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jdinsb
Hi JD, Sorry bud but I'm not going to be of any help with your issue but I'm glad I came across your post. I am collecting parts to do a complete rewire of my dash gauges and indicator lights. Thanks for sharing your schematic, what manual are you using? I would like to find one specific to my series YJ. I have a 92'
I'm not even sure all what indicator lights I need to keep out of the main cluster.....like the up arrow for instance, do you know that is for?
Paul
Up arrow is an upshift light for the manual trans. I pulled that bulb long ago, hated that thing.
 
Run a 12v tester on the plug to see if you have power there. If so the issue is in the Circuit board. Check the plug on that side. On the that board it looks easy to trace the runs with the tester. Make sure you put some fingernail polish over the areas you scrap off with the tester. If you have a break in the board you can solder it and again use fingernail polish to protect it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jdinsb
Printed circuit boards rarely go bad. Clean the area were the bulb holder makes contact with scotch bright or sand paper, clean the tabs on the bulb holder the same way then finish off with brake clean on a q tip. Put a film of dielectric grease on the contact area and see if that works. Just had to do the same thing on my center gage cluster lights.
Thanks Dave, will give it a go this weekend!
 
When you say illum and hazards, what exactly do you mean isn't working? For illum I have no idea what that is (do you mean the gauge illumination?), for hazards I feel like you mean the triangle icon up on the cluster. If so, the triangle never lights up. the windows with the icons are generic and from other Jeeps at the time so there are quite a few unused ones. If by hazards you mean one or both turn signal indicators are not lighting up when you run the hazards, then you may have another issue.

As for right turn and seat belt...right turn is just spliced right off the turn signal circuit, so test and see if you have power at the gauge connector. IF you do, then you have a circuit board issue. If you don't, follow the wiring and find the break/corrosion.

The seat belt could not be working for several reasons...the circuit runs out to the seat belt buckle and passes through the seat belt buckle back out to ground. When belt is buckled, the circuit is broken so the light won't be lit up. The seat belt light runs through the buzzer on the dash. I don't recall if the buzzer has to be there/operational for the seat belt light to work. Personally, I hated the buzzer and the seat belt light so I disabled both. Threw the buzzer in the trash long ago and removed all the seat belt light wiring.

I would agree with above that the circuit boards are rarely problematic especially the 92+ YJ ones. Some testing with a meter should figure out your issues pretty quick.
Thanks! Didn’t know the Hazard didn’t light up, TIL. Based on the diagrams, the Illum is supposed to go on if the cabin lights are on… maybe that’s a dummy as well?
 
Thanks! Didn’t know the Hazard didn’t light up, TIL. Based on the diagrams, the Illum is supposed to go on if the cabin lights are on… maybe that’s a dummy as well?
Can you point me to what you mean by illum? I am still not sure what you are talking about on that one.
 
Can you point me to what you mean by illum? I am still not sure what you are talking about on that one.
page-8E-30.gif

Specifically referring to the indicator to the right of the seatbelt in the diagram. I'm thinking it is also a dummy but there is certainly a wire in the 21st position if I'm reading correctly.
 
View attachment 120017
Specifically referring to the indicator to the right of the seatbelt in the diagram. I'm thinking it is also a dummy but there is certainly a wire in the 21st position if I'm reading correctly.
That is a dummy, if anything it would be a headlight or DRL indicator but to my knowledge no YJ ever came lighting that light either.

The illumination pin on the connector should definitely have a wire in it because illumination is the power for
The bulbs that light the gauge cluster. The light bulb icon is not illumination. I can see where the confusion came from. No need to worry about that bulb location, it is unused.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jdinsb
That is a dummy, if anything it would be a headlight or DRL indicator but to my knowledge no YJ ever came lighting that light either.

The illumination pin on the connector should definitely have a wire in it because illumination is the power for
The bulbs that light the gauge cluster. The light bulb icon is not illumination. I can see where the confusion came from. No need to worry about that bulb location, it is unused.
You’ve been a huge help! Hopefully I can get that turn signal working!
 
  • Like
Reactions: machoheadgames