99 cherokee airbag light

99 cherokee while driving airbag light kicks on and gauges quit working. also odometer says no buS. any ideas what could be wrong?

It is most likely a loose connection between the Jeep and gauge cluster.

Try this link -- http://www.jeepforum.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1339049 -- it is for a Wrangler but your XJ is similar.

If a whack on the top of the dash "fixes" the problem, clean the plug connection.

You could also be having clock spring problems.

No-Bus message means that the vehicle has lost the "bus". The bus is the communication system that the vehicle uses so that each module can communicate with one another without a whole bunch of wires. The cluster, overhead console, door module, power seat module, trans controller, body controller, and engine controller all communicate through the bus (among other modules). for example if the PCM wanted to know vehicle speed it just reads that information off of the bus, instead of having to be hardwired from the PCM to the output speed sensor, the trans controller puts that info on the bus. If you have lost communication on the bus it is caused by an open circuit in any one of those modules.

Just smack the top of the dashboard whenever it happens, it's just a loose connector in the dash. Common enough problem that doesn't affect anything other than the gauges.

edit: looks like Tim_MN beat me to it

-sigh-

I have this problem but my gauges work and the airbag light is constant. I think i am actually throwing an airbag diagnostic code... off to the dealership