power gauge wonkyness

[dustin g]

I was out doing a light wheeling trip today and my power gauge maxed out. The check gauges light comes on but the Jeep runs perfect. Then after a couple miles my entire instrument cluster dies and comes back on at random. Again the Jeep is running fine so I'm thinking a bad connection? I'm clueless when it comes to electrical issues. If anybody has any ideas please help.
Thanks

 

[extra-medium]

Beats me. I would pull the dash apart and check the connections

 

[Bounty__Hunter]

Smack the top of the dash over the gauges when it happens and see if it changes. If so, it's a bad connection where the gauge cluster attaches to the wiring harness.

 

[saar]

I'm not sure how it works in ZJs, in the XJ the dash has 3 connectors behind it. if the connections are not good (something moved?) then you'll get that issue.
sometimes, just trying to move the cluster in its place helps for that, sometimes you'll have to remove it and check the connections behind.
Saar.

 

[Glamissand1]

with 250k plus miles I would look for chaffs. 3M electrical tape and some new wire loom can extend the life of your wires.

 

[dustin g]

Had the alternator checked today. For the first minute and a half it reads normal. Then it taps out to 17.8 volts. Was told the regulator was bad. This make sense?

 

[Glamissand1]

Yeah thats crazy voltage for your system, 15v max 14.5 optimal. Hope nothing got fryed.

 

[dustin g]

Ok so I ordered a new alternator. I took it out of the box at the store and it had a tag on it saying it was externally regulated. So the question now is where is the regulator? I was under the assumption it was part of the alternator. The parts store could not find anything on an alternator regulator. I did however notice that on my current alt there is a small plastic box with connectors on it with wires out of it. The new one did not have this. Any idea if that could be the said regulator?

 

[Jayare250]

The regulator is in the computer. I had a similar problem but my headlights and radio blew up. Turned out my positive and negative battery leads were shot and most of the insulation was gone. they shorted out taking the alternator with it.

 

[dustin g]

So I took off the alt this morning to have it bench tested and it failed. So I buy a new one and put it on. Issue still remains. Took it to mechanic and he checked the voltage. Battery was charging at 19v. Way high! So he hooked up to the computer which said it was regulating correctly at just over 13v. So now I'm at even more of a sticky spot. What the hello could cause this other than those two things and where is the extra voltage coning from? Worst part of all this is I have a big camping trip planned soon and it ain't happening without my Heep running properly. Had it planned for months and its 3 hours minimum to the nearest town. Wont be alone but that's not the point.
Heeelllp!

 

[dustin g]

Ok checked out as many connections as I could find. Only one was questionable. I took off the ground from the block to the alt/bat ant there seemed to be some sort of silicone or similar adhesive all over the connectors. Scraped it all off and used a wire brush to clean it nice and shiny. Put it back and now it seems to be running perfect. Had checker check the alt and bat just because and all was good except my battery was overcharged a little and was reading 13.3 with Jeep off. So when I got home I left my lights on for a few to kill it a little.
So it seems for now the issue is resolved. Thing is who in their right mind puts adhesive on electrical terminals?