Easier than I thought, I have a 98SE and used a gauge cluster from a 97, the only difference was the 'security' and 'low washer fluid' are reversed on the clusters so as soon as I plugged it in the 'low washer' light came on so I removed the bulb. Now that I think about it I will put the bulb back in the 'security' hole and when my fluid is low the 'security' light will come on instead.
Disconnect battery first, I waited ~20 min before I really started, wanted that air bag system nice and discharged
Step 1: Remove center bezel
Step 2: Remove knee blocker, 3 screws under then pull the plastic cover off top.
Remove the two screws that hold the steel plate on under that plastic knee panel after you get it off.
Setp 3: Reach around the left side and feel around the headlight switch in the back side for a push button, depress it and pull the light switch button straight out.
Step 4: Under the steering wheel there is a rubber 'neck thing' seperate it at the bottom, it slides apart.
Step 5: Locate and remove 8 phillips screws that hold that whole outside trim piece that surrounds the top of the dash, it has a couple of push lock pins in there so look for them, one on the left and one on the right.
Step 6: Wiggle gently twist the trim piece off and set it aside.
Step 7: Remove the 4 screws that hold the instrument cluster in, remove the cluster.
Setp 8: Insert the new cluster and reverse the previous 6 steps.
The gauge panel has self seating self docking plugs in it so just gently guide it in.
Done....
What I forgot to do the first time, record the old idiot light panels odometer so I put the idiot light panel back in and recorded it then reinstalled the gauge panel.
On first powerup I reclined the drivers seat with me in it 'just in case' there was some incompatability thing that by some stretch of the imagination [or the god murphy] the air bags deployed when I turned the key.
Odometer thing: The odometer on the 98 idiot light panel was 192.xxx, the odometer on the gauge panel is 152,xxx or something, it did not reset to the jeeps computer milage but kept its own. Going to open the idiot light panel and see if it's just a chip change to move one milage over to another. Plus I wanted one to experiment with using a bunch of stewart warner phase III gauges I have laying around from a couple of my past cars that I no longer have.
Senders: Aparently the 97+ XJ's all use the same senders, I did not need to change any, my old gas gauge did not work correctly and this new one is no different, it would require replacing the fuel pump sender to get it accurate but at least I don't have a mungo 4" gauge waving round anymore, now it's just a 1" that does it
