i recently purchased my first jeep, 1999 jeep cherokee sport. got a killer deal on it so i jumped on it for winter.
the guy i got the jeep from said "sometimes if you turn the key and it don't turn over. just jiggle the shifter (auto) because the linkage is loose and it don't read its in park. then it should start right up"

well it gave me a few seconds of delay the past few weeks. but eventually always started.

now this morning i can not get the jeep to start. key turns and dash lights everything starts up like normal just the starter won't kick on.

buddy said its probably my starter, but when it does start it starts strong and normal. any ideas?

(at times if it don't start first time i can slam my driver door and it will start, maybe from shocking the starter?)

thank you

 

If it work only when you messed with the shifter I sounds like it is your NSS (Neutral Safety Switch) Try starting it in neutral and other gears and if it does that will be your problem. Just make sure that you are holdin your brake peddle when starting in gear.

 

That would be your NSS, it's free to fix, read this..
http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoNSSrebuild.htm

 

i tried to start it in every gear, n, r d, all them and still got nothing. but i will look into the nss for sure

 

Definitely the neutral safety switch here; it's a very common problem on the 4.0 They can often (not always) be "refurbished" to restore full function.

I recommend you start by spraying a good penetrating oil on the fasteners for the NSS a couple of days before you try to remove it. It's easy to break the part if you don't.

Here is another link to a good article on "refurbishing" the neutral safety switch. Between this article and the link to the one zombie posted, you should be able to get the job done.

http://bc4x4.com/tech/2010/jeep-neut...ty-switch-nss/

 

thank you! we beat the starter and it fired up. it got a lil warmer out since the morning. so I'm guessing starter or starter solenoid.

 

still sounds like a NSS issue, but if you really want, pull the starter and take it to a shop to test it before throwing the money down on a new one.

 

As TJ and others mentioned, sounds very much like bad NSS symptoms.
And yes, better soak that in some penetrating stuff, if you plan to clean yours because it can be a PITA to get it off its shaft. I tried, but ended up ordering a new one in the US.
( Here in OZ that switch costed $1024 (yes, over a grand!!!)at the dealership. Found it online for less than 10% of that). Good chance your problem will be solved.
pm: you have backup lights working? Is coupled to the NSS as well.
Let us know how you go.

 

reverse lights work as they should. seams to be worse if its colder outside. still looking into it. thanks allot guys!

 

I had the same issue as yours, plus my reverse light went out. After a year or so if jiggling steering wheel or shifter, it wouldn't start. Luckily I found a local jeep repair shop that replaced it for approx $480 (parts and labor). The dealer wanted $890 ($480 for the NSS rest was labor).

After replacing the NSS my reverse light is back working and never had and issue starting.

 

thanks a lot guys. it is the NSS. if i hold the key forward and just get tension on the shifter towards reverse it starts every time. took a lil seat time to figure out a reliable trick. getting it repaired asap.

once again thanks!

 

damn 480 is crazy. especially when cleaning it usually fixs for free

I thought this was my problem awhile back but in my case it ended up being the starter, but atleast mine is cleaned now.