Electrical short involving trouble codes P1698 and P1694

ANDREWLINDEKUGEL

MEMBER
2000 JEEP CHEROKEE
94,000 MILES

I have a 2000 Jeep XJ with 94,000 miles. Since I've had it I've gotten the "no Bus" signal with dead tach and spedometer needles from time to time.

Recently I took the dash apart to get to the AC evaporator and also did the popular window lock bypass (tan and white wires splice at driver side kick panel).

My problems now are as such:
1) When I plug my phone to the cig lighter or power outlet the gauges go dead and the rear wiper engages.
2) When I try to use the power locks the horn sounds, the doors do not lock (but they try to), and the rear wiper engages.
3) The overhead map lights are dimmer than normal
4) The rear defroster toggle switch does not stay engaged - the rear wiper engages and there's an electrical-short-buzzing sound that comes from the passenger-side kick panel

I pulled trouble codes from the local AutoZone:
P1698 and P1694

I'm trying to find a bad ground but honestly don't know where to look. If there's a bad CCD Bus line, where is it? Also I don't know if the ECM, TCM or what is bad.

The dash is still apart, carpet all pulled up. I'm about to go to a dealership, but I really don't have the cash for it. Any help is appreciated!

10 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Undo the bypass and see if the problem still exists

Roy

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Sunday, September 30th, 2012 AT 5:19 PM

ANDREWLINDEKUGEL

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6 POSTS

I did undo the bypass immediately after noticing the other electrical issues (so it was bypassed for maybe 10min total)

I still haven't fixed the AC - I got sidetracked by a rusty floorpan, had to button things up and drive it around, but noticed immediately that the electrical was not right. One thing that I did was drive a couple of miles with no instrument cluster (I didn't think it would matter - had to get to a body shop before he closed - the first thing the body shop guy said was that he was surprised that the car ran without the gauges).

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Sunday, September 30th, 2012 AT 5:22 PM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
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He is correct. I am surprized it ran without the cluster.

That may be the no bus you have.

Start with battery grounds at the block and at the body. Lots of them and they need to be tight and clean.

Roy

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Sunday, September 30th, 2012 AT 5:25 PM

ANDREWLINDEKUGEL

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6 POSTS

Where do I find these grounds?

The instruments work fine unless I plug in my phone to the cig lighter? They go back to normal as soon as I unplug the phone. Does that suggest a faulty computer? What's the cheapest way to test the ECM?

This stuff is a little over my head (I'm in podiatry school, not a mechanic or electrician by any means). I'm good at trying things myself to save cash - not as good at getting myself out of trouble. I'm happy to donate for sure - especially if you can send me a picture of the wiring I should be looking for. I have a Haynes manual here, but it's not helping me find the wires I need to find.

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Sunday, September 30th, 2012 AT 5:31 PM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

You definitely have an issue with the power plug.

I would have a shop check it or just replace it with another plug fed directly from the battery.

You cannot test the ecm, that is done by a shop.

When you put it back together, install the cluster and without using the power plug, see if it all works.
Roy