So I have a 1999 cherokee and have been having issues with it starting. About a month ago I drove it, came home and went to start it a few hours later....nothing. Tried jumping it, did not help. I let it sit a few days, went to try it again and it fired right up.....a few weeks later same thing.... took the battery out and had it tested, came back great....took the starter off had it tested, passed....out of no where started up again drove great for about two weeks then the same thing happened after about twenty minutes it started right up. Last night I noticed the ground from the engine block to the chassis was frayed, I replaced that with a 8 gauge wire, still nothing. I switched relays around, pulled and tested both starter and battery and replaced the ground, I have no idea where to go next...help please

 

Also, never had any problems with reverse lights, and when I try to start in neutral still does not start so I would assume to rule out the NSS

 

I have the same issue on my 99... Replaced starter worked fine for 8 months and now it did it again a couple days ago..make sure battery cables and terminals are clean...

 

Took off the terminals and wire brushed both the terminals and the *****....still nothing

 

If its still not starting... Tow it to the dealer ASAP to get it diagnosed, they can't do it when its running.

 

Try jumpering the NSS @ the connector towards the back of the engine to see if it starts. When mine started to croak it worked in neither Park or Neutral. Until it did. Then it didn't again.
Backup lights use a different section of the NSS and aren't necessarily a valid test.

 

Wigle the shifter while you turn the key, you will be amazed

 

Thank you.. Will try the NSS Jumping tomorrow since I will be at work all day today...I have tried wiggling the shifter with no luck. I will let you know how the NSS goes.

 

Just a reminder. Check the battery terminals...NOT just the part that hooks to the battery, but the wires that attach to it, physically grab and try to move them... Vibrations can loosten up the wire going to starter system. Ik its obvious... But go back and double check, its happened to me, And its like Damn how did I not notice that the first, second, or third time!!!!

 

NSS is a frankly uncommon issue.... And this symptom set fits many other possible answers that are much more likely .

 

It's an extremely common point of failure with the AW4 equipped XJ's. Certainly not the only possibility but a possibility nonetheless.

 

Nss is definitely not an uncommon issue, i see it happen all tge time on xjs ive gad 3 and its been a problem on all of them

 

Went through and tightened everything up... Also found the thread on the NSS cleaning so I went ahead and took that off and cleaned it up....She fired right up Lets hope its for the long run this time... will post on any changes... Thank You to all, and Happy Turkey Day!!