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Transforming the Caravan Console:












The Wiring: Ok to do this you will need a 96-98 ZJ trip computer, 96-98 ZJ BCM(body control module). You could probably make the whole ZJ console fit into the XJ(its mount at the rear is the same), and do the wiring below to make work. Or you can take a console out of a Caravan(which is the same as the XJ, with the exception of the computer, and the rear panel with vent switches), and use the ZJ guts(look below for that post from another person). Testing apparatus of dangling wires:
Headlights on, displayed on brightest dim setting:
Headlights on, lowest dim setting:






This is the connector for the sentry key module, if you do or dont have this you could tap into the CCD bus here. If you do have it then you could still tap into in the CCD bus, but I would recommend pulling power/ground from the cig lighter. If you dont have the sentry key then you could pull your power, ground, and CCD bus lines from this unused plug, and run 2 wires for the temp sensor up to the ZJ BCM which would be convenently stored and wired out of the way under the steering column in that huge space shown. This would mean you would only need to run a single switched power wire up to the over head consol, all the other wiring will be in place. Otherwise if you choose to install the ZJ BCM up with the overhead console(end there is room to tuck it up there, you would need to run a power, and 2 wires for the temp sensor. I like the solution of putting the ZJ BCM down at the kick panel and then running only a single power wire from the cig lighter up to the overhead console.


This is the pinout diagram for the sentry key connector:
Here are the specific wires that you will need to use for the ZJ BCM:



And the pinout diagrams of those:


You will need the CCD bus, grounds, courtesy lamps, and fused power to provide to the ZJ trip computer:

Here is the ZJ trip computer pinout(the red connector in the above photos). Connect your switched power wire you run and your wires from the RKE plug to make this work, like I said above you can either put the ZJ BCM up there and tie it into all that wiring, like I did on my test setup, or put it down at the footwell, it wont matter either way, the ZJ BCM transmits the data on the CCD bus, so it doesnt matter where you put it(you could even put it in the engine bay and tie into the CCD bus at the PCM if you felt so inclined)
dietz wireup on using the vinivan consol, combine his console with my ZJ wiring stuff and you have yourself a rigged up but perfectly functional consol for a XJ that looks and works the same.



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