I have a 98 XJ, 4.0/automatic. I'm having an issue to where it won't start in Park, but that is for an other thread. The problem I'm having now is when I drop it down to Neutral and turn the key, it barely turns over at all and the battery shorts out. Everything goes completely dead. When I unhook the battery and hook it back up, everything seems fine until I try to turn it over. It shorts out again and everything goes dead. Any ideas?

 

sounds like the starter is drawing WAY to many amps. Maybe try starter?

 

I'm willing to bet that your NSS (neutral safety switch) is on the fritz.

 

I'm pretty sure that's why it won't start in Park. Would that really cause the battery to short out every time I try to start it?

 

Wait Wait. You turn the key and all the electronics die? That sounds to me like your connections are corroded. Clean the battery terminals clean the wires connecting to the terminals (if they can be) then while your are re tightening the terminals over the battery posts give it a good 1/8 turn so it makes a GOOD connection.

To me it seams that you have a bad connection. When it is loose or highly corroded you will go to start the car and everything dies until you adjust the cables. What is happening is that your starter is drawing ALOT of current from the battery. With the loose/corroded connection there is only a small area conducting current so it will either arc and burn the surface (causing more corrosion) or just have too much resistance (from corrosion) to allow a good connection

 

A good staring point, ALWAYS clean and check your battery / alt connections. Fluid film does wonders in this area after you clean them!

 

Update: I had a very corroded negative terminal. I cleaned it off really good with baking soda (it's spotless now) and made sure I had a great connection. When I turned it over....same thing.

 

Figured it out. I was getting ready to take the starter off and noticed the connections were covered in oil (which uncovers another issue). I cleaned them off and it fired right up. Thanks, guys.

 

Glad you figured it out before you took it on the road. The same thing happened to mine from driving over washboard dirt roads- connection came loose and everything would just shut off while I was driving.

 

Glad it wasent actually the starter or anything else expensive. Oil may have came from filter from last oil change.

 

It's nice when things don't cost any $$$$$$$$$$ isn't it?

 

GJ.

I was about to tell you to check the other ends.

What is the problem?

 

Yes, it's definitely coming from the filter. The last time I changed the oil, I made sure that the gasket from the old filter wasn't on there. Not sure what could be causing this, but I'll look into it the next time I change the oil (very soon).

 

While your checking that, also check to see if its coming from the housing rather than the filter.. Theres an O-ring between the filter housing and block that tends to wear out.. I had a the same problem of oil dropping on my starter but then again my started went bad.. So just my 2 cents on what to keep a look out for.