Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
a while.

I'm suspecting a relation to the engine compartment temp, the higher
the ambient temp, the lower the reading on the volt gauge. I see no
effect on other elec. components, no dimming of lights etc.

Could this be a bad connection at the fuse block?
Does the connector to the fuse block pull off from the engine
compartment side of the firewall?

thanks
DH

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

I can't say for sure about your XJ, but many vehicles have a separate
voltage regulator for the cluster gauges. This insures they will read true
when system voltage varies for any reason. I don't if it is replaceable or
if you would have to change the whole cluster.
Joe, 90XJ



"dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> a while.
>
> I'm suspecting a relation to the engine compartment temp, the higher
> the ambient temp, the lower the reading on the volt gauge. I see no
> effect on other elec. components, no dimming of lights etc.
>
> Could this be a bad connection at the fuse block?
> Does the connector to the fuse block pull off from the engine
> compartment side of the firewall?
>
> thanks
> DH

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

I can't say for sure about your XJ, but many vehicles have a separate
voltage regulator for the cluster gauges. This insures they will read true
when system voltage varies for any reason. I don't if it is replaceable or
if you would have to change the whole cluster.
Joe, 90XJ



"dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> a while.
>
> I'm suspecting a relation to the engine compartment temp, the higher
> the ambient temp, the lower the reading on the volt gauge. I see no
> effect on other elec. components, no dimming of lights etc.
>
> Could this be a bad connection at the fuse block?
> Does the connector to the fuse block pull off from the engine
> compartment side of the firewall?
>
> thanks
> DH

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

I can't say for sure about your XJ, but many vehicles have a separate
voltage regulator for the cluster gauges. This insures they will read true
when system voltage varies for any reason. I don't if it is replaceable or
if you would have to change the whole cluster.
Joe, 90XJ



"dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> a while.
>
> I'm suspecting a relation to the engine compartment temp, the higher
> the ambient temp, the lower the reading on the volt gauge. I see no
> effect on other elec. components, no dimming of lights etc.
>
> Could this be a bad connection at the fuse block?
> Does the connector to the fuse block pull off from the engine
> compartment side of the firewall?
>
> thanks
> DH

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

"dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> a while.

It's always that damn ground wire, the braid from
the back of the block to the firewall. Check it.
__
Steve
..

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

"dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> a while.

It's always that damn ground wire, the braid from
the back of the block to the firewall. Check it.
__
Steve
..

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

"dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> a while.

It's always that damn ground wire, the braid from
the back of the block to the firewall. Check it.
__
Steve
..

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

Stephen Cowell wrote:
>
> "dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> > The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> > When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> > lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> > start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> > a while.
>
> It's always that damn ground wire, the braid from
> the back of the block to the firewall. Check it.
> __


I will second that!

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

Stephen Cowell wrote:
>
> "dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> > The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> > When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> > lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> > start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> > a while.
>
> It's always that damn ground wire, the braid from
> the back of the block to the firewall. Check it.
> __


I will second that!

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's

Re: Intermittent low voltage on 91 Cherokee
 

Stephen Cowell wrote:
>
> "dh" <dhoover@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
> news:gourovkui3si8uclf50e14q4d21gtvmfiq@4ax.com...
> > The dash voltage gauge will read between 10-14 volts unpredictably.
> > When it reads low, the fuel gauge reads low, the oil pressure reads
> > lower, the temp higher. Sometimes this happens while driving; at the
> > start of the trip, the gauge reads a normal 14 volts, but drops after
> > a while.
>
> It's always that damn ground wire, the braid from
> the back of the block to the firewall. Check it.
> __


I will second that!

Mike
86/00 CJ7 Laredo, 33x9.5 BFG Muds, 'glass nose to tail in '00
88 Cherokee 235 BFG AT's