cptwinklestein

This will be my first post. Also sorry for the lengthy explanation that will follow. I am completely new to the world of auto repair, so please excuse my lack of technical knowledge.

I own a '92 four door cherokee and within the past three to four months a new problem has manifested. What happens is that the thing won't want to crank. When I turn the ignition I get power to all of my lights, radio, etc but the engine won't crank. I noticed that it does this more often than not from a hot start.

For instance, if I get in the truck in the morning it usually cranks fine, but if I stop at the gas station and turn the truck off it usually won't want to start once I try to crank it back up. I have found that I have to fiddle with the gear selector to get it to start (coincidence?).

Also I have felt it slipping gears before (when I shift from reverse to drive it revs up in neutral before it shifts to drive).

Any suggestions on this issue?

3278

My first thought was just that your starter might be going, but...

...this sounds like your neutral position sensor. Do you have a manual or an automatic?

cptwinklestein

It's an automatic.

I just mentioned this to someone else and they also said that it could be the neutral safety switch.

Potatowalker

At first I thought old battery or starter, but then you mentioned the shifter thing so I'd say look at Neutral Safety Switch first.

cptwinklestein

Is there anyway to verify accurately that it was in fact the NSS? Also would anyone have any suggestions as how to take it off and repair/replace it?

So far from my research on removing NSS' I have found that it can be tricky to take them off as they are very brittle.

3278

Well, you could hook up to it with a multitester when it's not working properly, but your problem isn't regular enough for that, I wouldn't think. One solution would be to bypass it, and if that works, then you'll know it's the NSS. [Alternate method of bypass here.]

I would try my hand at cleaning the hell out of it, first. Take everything apart, clean it up with some degreaser, and put it back together again. Often will save the parts replacement.

bigvig

I recently replaced my starter, but tried to make myself think it was something else so I was thinking/hoping battery. Someone else suggested trying the NSS, but it was in fact, my starter.

From your explanation, Im thinking the starter. Ive had a few of them go and it seems this is what they all do, and its always worse when its hot out.

When you say "wont crank", do you mean absolutely nothing? You have power to everything, all gauges look fine, fuel pump kicks in, etc., but when you turn the key there is absolutely nothing? If so, Id bet a paycheck its your starter. Here is what you do:

Get someone to help you and one of you turn the key, and the other tap the starter with a heavy screwdriver, wrench, hammer, etc. Not hard, just a tap like your knocking easy on someones door. If it kicks right over with a tap, its your starter. Easiest way to identify the problem. HOWEVER, even if it doesnt turn right over it still could be the starter.

If its the NSS, when you get a "no crank", turn the key to the off position, shift it all the way down, and when youre going back up, stop in neutral. Then try to start it. You should try it a few times to determine if its the NSS.

Try those couple things and see when happens then post back here.

3278

I second all of this.

The other thing you could do, with a multitester and a buddy, if you could get it in a no-start condition: check the voltage at the starter. If it's getting power but not turning the starter, then the starter is bad; if it's not getting power, then it's probably [but not certainly] the NSS.