gun_dog

Hey Guys,

Guess I should introduce myself. New to the forum. Down here in Florida and I have a 94 Cherokee. I put a new engine in it myself. A 4 inch lift from Iron Rock and some other small mods. It has been my daily driver for about 3 years now, and about 3 months ago it didnt want to start every now and then. Now it wont start at all.

I have replaced the starter, and relay. And the starter is getting power when I turn the key along with the rest of the instrumentation. I can "jump" the selenoid to start it and it fires right up. But when I turn the key to start... nothing.

Someone mentioned to me the "ignition swith" may be bad. So I have that in hand but do not know where that is located at. The steering column is the round style not the box style with the 3 screws for removal. So I dont even know if its in there or not and before I start pulling the steering wheel off I could use some guidance. And if that may be the problem.



Help!

ZINGGG

Try shifting over it to neutral and starting it.

And welcome to the forum!

gun_dog

Yeah, Ive tried that. Nothing.

Ive tried "slapping" it back in park as well. And nothing.

Im thinking
Neutral Switch
or
Ignition Switch

bloddy mud

crank position sensor?

ZINGGG

That would mean that it cranks but doesn't fire.

By the sound of it, you turn the key and nothing happens at all? Try pulling the NSS, cleaning it and adjusting it

gun_dog

Ok, so I cleaned the NSS and nothing.

Turn the key. Everything lights up, no start.

Cherockee

The next thing I would try is to test for power at the wiring harness from the ignition switch. I think in that year vehicle its a heavier gauge yellow wire. Put a test light on it and turn the key to crank. If there is no power on it then it's the ignition switch. If there is power on it (only in the crank position) then the problem is somewhere else, possibly the NSS. Just becase you cleaned it doesn't mean it's not broken.

So check for power from the switch first. Diagnosing the problem is always better than just throwing parts at it.

gun_dog

I have no idea where the Ignition Switch is. The steering column I have is the round type. Not the box type with the 3 bolts. So Im completely lost.

Let me know what I have to do to get to it and Ill check it now.

I am so frustrated, Im ready to put a start button in and say screw it.

bloddy mud

Follow the steering column down and there should be a box with a big plug in. That's your ingation switch. When and if you pull the column there will be a finger like thing that rides on the switch that turns off, does the acc., run and start. I've never pulled a column in a xj but it's fairly easy once you get past the mess of wires and bolts. You got this

97xjCrow

Tried wiggling the shifter while in park while trying to turn it over? Worked for me, im adding an extra auxillary ground today to try to sort out the electrical discreptsncies