When I try to jump it with a screwdriver all I get is one spark and then nothing.
We cleaned the battery posts and changed the connectors and ran a new wire from the positive to the starter. I have someone coming with voltage tester. Hopefully that will help us figure it out.
By the way, I am a she

 

Just tried changing the starter relay, no change.

 

Remove that POS starter.


Drive up to Idiotzone and have them test it.

 

Yep. See my earlier posts #9 and #15.

I hope that's the last trip you ever make to Autozone to buy critical parts.

I guess their wax and car wash stuff is OK.

 

You didn't buy a starter for a 99 model did you? If you did you just spent more money then you needed to.

 

Huh?


Now I see where your signature comes from.

 

https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/87...rite-up-88369/

 

Oh crap!!, I just spit coffee all over my laptop... hahahaha

 

Son of a Biatch!! It REALLY is $100 more!! And the funny part is that we cut that plug off the last time we changed the starter (but that was a $25 junkyard quick fix). I guess I will be taking this one back in the AM and getting the 98.

The events of the day...took the pos starter out and back to autozone. Walked out with another one that did not work. Took it back and got the 3rd one, different kind this time but didn't have enough day left to install. Good thing too since I know know how to save a ton of money. Thank You Someguy!!!

 

I predicted this in post #9.

 

Yep Firestorm, you are right. I went back for yet another autozone starter (the 98 this time) installed it and it is no good either. All spin, no engage at all. We do not have a lot of options for parts in this city, but I am done with autozone. The only place I can find a NEW starter is Advance Auto. Everyone else only has remanufactured, NAPA included.

My main problem is still going to have to be dealt with even after I find a good starter because I still get nothing when I turn the key. Still testing starters by jumping with a screwdriver. Since we already tried the starter relay I am guess it is going to be the ignition switch.

 

Posters talked about the neutral safety switch. I think I would verify that next, one way or the other, before tearing into the ignition switch.

Try keeping the key switch turned over to "start" while cycling the transmission lever forward and back through its travel to see if there is a magic area that will allow the starter to engage.

 

this x1000

 

Yea, we have wiggled, jiggled, cycled through and tried to start it in all gears. It is not the NSS. I also already replaced the relay.
I have been youtubing my brains out and I am 99% sure it is the ignition switch. I saw one video that talked about the ignition switch will prevent power from going to the fuel injectors so it seems to me that I would not be able to jump it at the solenoid if there is no power to the fuel? Possibly that is what has made us think all these starters were bad.
I also need to go ahead and replace the actuator pin while we are in there because my steering wheel hasn't locked in a long time.

 

If you are bypasssing the starter, by touching the contacts of the starter you are basically bypassing everything related to ignition switch, NSS, anything.

The only choices left if after touching the contacts and not getting the starter to spin is either a bad starter, or bad wire coming from the battery to the starter, or the ground from the battery to the chassis/engine.

Tripple check your connections, make sure there is no contamination on the wiring, last week my wife's sentra did not started, I clean every contact I was able to see, an nothing happened, good charged battery and nothing, at the end, it was the wire itself that is attached at the battery connector, I removed the top part, removed the wire, clean it using a wire brush, put everything back together and finally it fixit.