My 97 Grand Cherokee Laredo has the display screen for service and notification of low fluids and shows the jeep body. It tells me how many miles til my next service and so forth. I was wondering what could cause it to just start blinking and locking my doors and cutting power off to all my gauges including my speedometer while i am driving. The jeep stays running just all the gauges stop working. Any Ideas

RTM
read the manual yet?
car WJ
2000
chapter body
read
page 100
its all there to read.
http://www.jeep4x4center.com/knowledge-base/index.htm?utm_source=cj#service

If it is only "perform service", this is likely your mileage counter telling you to get an oil change. If it was a "check engine light" it would be amber in color and would require use of a scanner to acquire codes and check for faults. Here's how to reset:
On a 1997 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo if the "Perform Service" light is in the middle of the dash Simply press the "SET" button until the display shows the "0 miles to service", Then hold the other button below it down until it resets to "3000".

Check all the vacuum hoses on the intake manifold for a leak. Replace all broken and cracked lines. Check from the coil to spark plug wires with an inline spark tester for fire. Check the spark plugs for fouling and cracked terminals. Inspect the spark plug wires for worn or cracks. If you can check the fuel pressure to the throttle body. Also look at the air filter. Hope this will help you.

Review the Repair Manual Section-23-Body-ewj23S

Good luck.

200K + is not uncommon for a Jeep, especially if you have a 4.0 engine. Providing you keep up with all service including transfer case, steering and brake fluid annual change and differentials. I use all synthetics in mine (except for differentials, where I use regular lube and lucas additive) and, get over 350K as routine!!

Does the vehicle crank for extended period of time upon first starting? If so the fuel pump needs replacing.

Is it manual or auto trans? If manual the gear lube is thicker when cold and the syncronizers tend to stick and not slide free for grind free shifting or for locking into gear.
If Auto trans if the jeep is warmed up setting then cycle the gears before driving. If that helps then the fluid is not getting through the valve body properly. It could be metal in the body or filter or cold seals are letting fluid by til the seals warm, expand and hold pressure. I'm assuming trans fluid is good, not old. One item that can lead to poor cold shift in an auto trans is a bad torque convertor. Since it seems to be a second gear issue the second section of the trans could have a bad seal. In an auto trans I'd take to a shop and have a cold pressure test done. They will tell which one is the problem.

undo the lower plug on your diff housing,drain tighten plug up, undo top plug fill til overflow,same as front,oil refer to owners manual or call local service centre

change all fluids in front and rear diff axles as well as transfer case if its 4x4 also belt change brake check and I have great luck using LUCAS fluids for increasing life of all engine and trans components, can be found at local parts store they work very well if you take care of this jeep it will last for a very long time

a slim jim is not a good ideal to be using in todays cars and trucks with airbags everywhere and wires inside doors..call a pro and if he pulls out a slim jim send him packin...there a re far better tools to use than a slim jim