BigRed93xj

Oh God not again.... This is my daily drive so please help. Last night all of a sudden my xj, while running, just turns off. Engine, lights, radio, gauges, everything. So I put it in park and start it and got home fine. However this morning I go out to start it and NOTHING. I turn the key and nothing happens, no sound or anything. The gauges may have twitched a little when I turned the key but I may be wrong, it seemed like they didnt even move. I checked the battery and I think its good. What else could it be guys? I know this is the kind of question that could have a thousand answers but maybe someone may know what this is.... I really gotta figure this out. Any ideas or thoughts are welcome. Just help me get her running again.

PS: Recently I just had a new exhaust system put in, from the bottom of the header back. And I installed new headlights. I dont know if my jeep not starting could be connected to this.

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Life's a garden...Dig it

93 XJ, 4 door, 4.5 RE lift, 4.0 with headers and cold air intake, 2.5 inch exhaust from headers back, Flowmaster super 44 Offroad edition muffler, brand new offroad bucket seats and one brand new pine tree air freshener... To come... Soon 5.5 inches of lift with coil spacers and shackles, 8.25 29 spline axle conversion to get rid of my 8.25 27 spline rear axle. Aussie front and rear with 4.56 gears. All I gotta do is win the lottery first....

winston427

First things first, have the alternator tested.

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Why is it called common sense if it's not very common?

89 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, D35
91 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25
01 XJ 4.0, AW4, D30, 8.25
89 Wee J

Throttle Jockey

sounds like a main power relay, that may not be the correct term but you know what i mean, if your loosing all electrical power. could be ignition switch as well. like you said, there are so many things it could be. i guess i would start from the top. make sure the battery is in fact good, check all the connections related to the battery, frame grounds and engine grounds. you may need to remove and clean them.

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Well, Sometimes you'll have that.

Jamie57

You might want to try what all the old mechanics do. Follow the KISS way of finding problems. Of course it stands for Keep It Simple Stupid.

Follow the most simple things and eliminate them first.

You must have electrical power to keep our engine running (yeah I know Except diesels, which he doesn't have).
OK then start with checking all the things you need to make electricity flow from the battery to the rest of the vehicle.
You'd be AMAZED at how many times I've found the problem to be a corroded battery terminal. In fact if I had a dollar for each time.....well I'd have a LOT of dollars.
If they are OK now check each ground between the battery and the engine and frame. There are several of them. They are there for a reason. Put them back if they have been disconnected.
Quite likely you've found and fixed the problem now.
There is nothing that will completely shut off the electricity to the ENTIRE vehicle EXCEPT a battery disconnect switch which is not a standard item on a stock jeep. Even a weak battery will not TURN OFF like that. You will always get some kind of warning first.
After you've checked those items and repaired or eliminated them as problems Then you should proceed to look further down the line.
Just replacing the alternator will not solve a bad ground and is a waste of money.
Good Luck

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91 Burgandy Limited (Gone but not forgotten sniff!)
98 Emerald Green Sport Cherry!
London No, the other London! Canada

BigRed93xj

Thanks for the ideas. I actually got a chance on my lunch break to fool around with the jeep and actually I do have electrical power. My radio and some other lights turn on. Does this change the diagnoses? So I have electrical power but when I turn the key it doesnt make a sound or even turn over....

__________________
Life's a garden...Dig it

93 XJ, 4 door, 4.5 RE lift, 4.0 with headers and cold air intake, 2.5 inch exhaust from headers back, Flowmaster super 44 Offroad edition muffler, brand new offroad bucket seats and one brand new pine tree air freshener... To come... Soon 5.5 inches of lift with coil spacers and shackles, 8.25 29 spline axle conversion to get rid of my 8.25 27 spline rear axle. Aussie front and rear with 4.56 gears. All I gotta do is win the lottery first....

Desert Rat

When tracing electrical problems, I've always found it's best to check all your grounds first, just my two cents. I'll bet you a Krispy creme donut thats your problem.

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1998 Sport, 3" Skyjacker lift, BFG 31-10.50-15's on steelies, quick discos I traded for a sub sandwich.Rustys rock sliders and 1" drop crossmember.

ET JEEP

Jamie57 is offering good first start advice. You have to start at the power source. Charge the battery and take it to a shop that can do a load test on it. That will determine the condition of the battery. It may look good. It may show 12 volts. But, it may not pass a load test.

Start there and then proceed with the advice given. Methodical troubleshooting will lead to the problem.