SKIM Light, No SKIM Installed - Gauge Cluster Specific

[staplesofficewar]

Backstory. Got a 02 Wrangler Sport with all 8s on the Odometer. Got the mileage read from the ECM and got a exact part number cluster off eBay that had about 100 more miles then I have. So score!
Got the jeep to as close as I wanted to the new clusters mileage and installed it. That was a few days ago. I did not drive it afterwards, just did the gauge test and called it a night. Went out tonight to see what I was going to work on next and cranked it up. After 5-6 seconds of running - I get the yellow no key symbol in the dash. Odd. Did some checking and I don't have a skim module in my steering column. I also have a black yet - so no chip. I shut off and restarted 2 more times - each time the symbol comes back. Disconnect batter, reinstall old cluster, start and... no symbol. Disconnect battery and install new gauge cluster again, start... and symbol is back.

So uhh what the crap?

 

[macleanflood]

@Wranglerfix is it possible a different gauge cluster flipped on the SKIM mode in the PCM?

-Mac

 

[staplesofficewar]

Backstory. Got a 02 Wrangler Sport with all 8s on the Odometer. Got the mileage read from the ECM and got a exact part number cluster off eBay that had about 100 more miles then I have. So score!
Got the jeep to as close as I wanted to the new clusters mileage and installed it. That was a few days ago. I did not drive it afterwards, just did the gauge test and called it a night. Went out tonight to see what I was going to work on next and cranked it up. After 5-6 seconds of running - I get the yellow no key symbol in the dash. Odd. Did some checking and I don't have a skim module in my steering column. I also have a black yet - so no chip. I shut off and restarted 2 more times - each time the symbol comes back. Disconnect batter, reinstall old cluster, start and... no symbol. Disconnect battery and install new gauge cluster again, start... and symbol is back.

So uhh what the crap?

just found this forum:

https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/immobilizer-light-coming-on-with-new-gauge-cluster.26888/

Is this for real? there is no other way to disable the light besides pulling the bulb?

 

[staplesofficewar]

@Wranglerfix is it possible a different gauge cluster flipped on the SKIM mode in the PCM?

-Mac

that would be crazy. Because the light goes away with my non-skim cluster. In that sense, you could yank a skimmed console, install a non-skimmed cluster to disable skim in the PCM and steal away! this whole mileage fix and all 8 issues is becoming a pita

 

[macleanflood]

and steal away!

Plenty of ways to steal a TJ or any car but when you can pull up with a tow truck and dolly and wheel lift a vehicle in under a minute...or drag it on to a rollback... it's all irrelevant.

Light going away with the old cluster is definitely a twist.

This is why I like my nice basic simple 97.

And yes...but it's not a bulb...you literally have to cut the traces on the instrument cluster.

Somehow I thought it was shutting down the engine.

-Mac

 

[DirtDawg]

Agreed, your donor vehicle's PCM (ECM) was probably equipped with SKIM, thus the first time you turned on the ignition, PCM looked for a matching chipped key, started the vehicle and then shut off the engine as the PCM was programmed to do. You can send that PCM to WranglerFix and have them code out SKIM. My understanding is that once the SKIM module has been activated previously (on the donor vehicle), the PCM will continue to function as if the vehicle remains equipped with a SKIM module.

My buddy and I both bought W-F PCMs for his 2003 and my 2005. His was equipped with SKIM, so he removed the module while I had the battery disconnected and swapped in the new PCM. Being the first time the new PCM "communicated", no immobilization occurred since no module was in play to trigger that. As to the warning lamp, it's not a removable bulb thus must either be de-soldered on the cluster PCBA or (as we did) partially dissemble that cluster to allow separating the clear gauge lens from the instrument panel and carefully place a few small strips of electrical tape over the back of the lamp hole.

Hoping you didn't pay too much for that used PCM, 'cus with the cost of that plus W-F's decoding service, a new PCM might have been the better option...

 

[staplesofficewar]

Agreed, your donor vehicle's PCM (ECM) was probably equipped with SKIM, thus the first time you turned on the ignition, PCM looked for a matching chipped key, started the vehicle and then shut off the engine as the PCM was programmed to do. You can send that PCM to WranglerFix and have them code out SKIM. My understanding is that once the SKIM module has been activated previously (on the donor vehicle), the PCM will continue to function as if the vehicle remains equipped with a SKIM module.

My buddy and I both bought W-F PCMs for his 2003 and my 2005. His was equipped with SKIM, so he removed the module while I had the battery disconnected and swapped in the new PCM. Being the first time the new PCM "communicated", no immobilization occurred since no module was in play to trigger that. As to the warning lamp, it's not a removable bulb thus must either be de-soldered on the cluster PCBA or (as we did) partially dissemble that cluster to allow separating the clear gauge lens from the instrument panel and carefully place a few small strips of electrical tape over the back of the lamp hole.

Hoping you didn't pay too much for that used PCM, 'cus with the cost of that plus W-F's decoding service, a new PCM might have been the better option...

To be clear - I have not changed the PCM. I have only changed the cluster to correct all 8 issue. The light comes on when the new cluster is installed. When i swap back to the old cluster, the light does not come on (as it should not). The jeep never shuts off.

 

[DirtDawg]

Aha, yes I misunderstood. With that clarified, perhaps your donor cluster did come from TJ equipped with SKIM thus had the lamp in play. That "assumes" clusters were assembled with / without that lamp depending on build specs. Seems your only option now is to eliminate the warning lamp as outlined...

 

[macleanflood]

Wonder if someone could figure out how to program it...

S

Thread 'DIY Cluster Mileage Correction'

Sep 25, 2025

I finally got a shop who could pull the mileage from my new to me 2002 TJ. One of the things that bugged me was all 8's, I knew step one was to get the true miles off the ECM. Now that that is done, I can either send the cluster for repair or buy new and send for reprogram. From my reading - the all 8s on the cluster is a data corruption issue and probably not physical damage. Previous owner said they changed the alt and battery and when they started it back up, it was all 8s. I have emailed and called a few places. Some wont work on a 2002 cluster, another wants me to send it and...

• staplesofficewar
• cluster eeprom gauges odometer issues
• Replies: 1
• Forum: TJ General Discussion

-Mac

 

[staplesofficewar]

Aha, yes I misunderstood. With that clarified, perhaps your donor cluster did come from TJ equipped with SKIM thus had the had the lamp in play. That "assumes" clusters were assembled with and without that lamp, depending on build specs. Seems your only option now is to eliminate the warning lamp as outlined...

yea i thought about that so I looked at the old cluster. It has the skim lamp in it as well. I would have to reinstall it and initiate the cluster test to be sure it was enabled or at least lights up. It not just a light - its the annoying beep, then the light.

What this points to for me is that even the same part number from jeep can have different programming in it. Its strange to me that the gauge cluster was setup to turn its own lamp on and no wait for the PCM to say, "hey cluster, skim is broke, turn on the lamp" Ill go out in a few and test the original

 

[staplesofficewar]

Wonder if someone could figure out how to program it...

S

Thread 'DIY Cluster Mileage Correction'

Sep 25, 2025

I finally got a shop who could pull the mileage from my new to me 2002 TJ. One of the things that bugged me was all 8's, I knew step one was to get the true miles off the ECM. Now that that is done, I can either send the cluster for repair or buy new and send for reprogram. From my reading - the all 8s on the cluster is a data corruption issue and probably not physical damage. Previous owner said they changed the alt and battery and when they started it back up, it was all 8s. I have emailed and called a few places. Some wont work on a 2002 cluster, another wants me to send it and...

• staplesofficewar
• cluster eeprom gauges odometer issues
• Replies: 1
• Forum: TJ General Discussion

-Mac

ill have to call them tomorrow and see if they have that capability - they charged me 170 to pull the mileage before.

 

[staplesofficewar]

I just thought of something else. The skim light issue appears in forums with people removing skim and having the PCM programmed to remove it. So I wonder the opposite. If a non-skim jeep has the module added, and starts the car - my understanding is the PCM will automatically enable skim... does it then automatically enable the light in the cluster? interesting thought

 

[staplesofficewar]

Did a cluster test on each one - so strange. So the original cluster - SF version 2.1 - scrolls the messages and only says "open panel". It never turns on the skim light during the test.
The new cluster - SF version 2.0 - scrolls open panel, but also shows bus b0, b1, b8 - which is ECM, Skim, Airbag. It does turn on the SKIM light, BUT never turns on the high beam indicator! There may be more that i didn't notice. i supposed it could be a bulb. Ill swap some around and see it it changes.

I tested this - turned on head lights, high beam low beam several times - no high beam indicator! It has gotten a little more odd.

It seems that a cluster swap isnt just a cluster swap

It was just a bad highbeam bulb

 

[Wranglerfix]

Plenty of ways to steal a TJ or any car but when you can pull up with a tow truck and dolly and wheel lift a vehicle in under a minute...or drag it on to a rollback... it's all irrelevant.

Light going away with the old cluster is definitely a twist.

This is why I like my nice basic simple 97.

And yes...but it's not a bulb...you literally have to cut the traces on the instrument cluster.

Somehow I thought it was shutting down the engine.

-Mac

Backstory. Got a 02 Wrangler Sport with all 8s on the Odometer. Got the mileage read from the ECM and got a exact part number cluster off eBay that had about 100 more miles then I have. So score!
Got the jeep to as close as I wanted to the new clusters mileage and installed it. That was a few days ago. I did not drive it afterwards, just did the gauge test and called it a night. Went out tonight to see what I was going to work on next and cranked it up. After 5-6 seconds of running - I get the yellow no key symbol in the dash. Odd. Did some checking and I don't have a skim module in my steering column. I also have a black yet - so no chip. I shut off and restarted 2 more times - each time the symbol comes back. Disconnect batter, reinstall old cluster, start and... no symbol. Disconnect battery and install new gauge cluster again, start... and symbol is back.

So uhh what the crap?

The vehicle you took the cluster from most likely had skim installed and that cluster is looking for the signal. The only way to get rid of the light is to unsolder the bulb from the cluster. It will not cause any driveability issues.

 

[Wranglerfix]

@Wranglerfix is it possible a different gauge cluster flipped on the SKIM mode in the PCM?

-Mac

No. A spike in voltage coupled with a loose/corroded ground can enable skim in a non-skimmed Jeep. I think the cluster has info stored from previous Jeep.

 

[staplesofficewar]

The vehicle you took the cluster from most likely had skim installed and that cluster is looking for the signal. The only way to get rid of the light is to unsolder the bulb from the cluster. It will not cause any driveability issues.

that might be my last ditch effort. When I do a cluster test I also get Bus b0, bus b1, bus b8 as well. One is associated with the skim, one for the MIL and aother for airbags. I dont get these errors on the old cluser.