I have a 1995 XJ with 2.5L. It has a new battery.

I noticed when it is really cold out (like below 10 degrees) it wont crank. I will turn the key like 20 times and maybe get the solenoid to click twice but won't crank. Hooked it up to a jumper cable, and still wouldn't crank.

I replaced the starter and the battery cables, still won't crank when its cold. Starts fine when its warmer but not when its cold.

if i take a screw driver to the terminals on the starter it cranks.

Does anybody know what this is? I thought for sure it was frayed battery cables or bad starter, i am confused now. Ignition switch, tumbler? but why only when its really cold...

As always, thank you guys for the help

Kevin

 

Neutral Safety Switch comes to mind here.

 

An electrical connection could easily be affected by the temperature. If the connection is literally hanging on by a thread, then when the metal expands and contracts with the temperature, it could make the connection work, then not work at different temp, then work again.

I've been trying to track downa bad ground in my turn signals, but it only shows up when its above freezing... mid 30's or so, and it hasn't been that warm around here in quite a while. They're working for now, but I need it to get above freezing at some point when I'm home and have time to track down the issue.

You might have the same sort of issue... NSS and Ignition switch are what jump out to me as possible candidates, but it could also be bad grounds, bad battery cables, or bad connections anywhere along the run.

Were it me, I'd clean up all the grounds, battery and starter connections first, then grab the multimeter and test the battery cables. If you see high resistance in the cables, then you have an issue, probably with corrosion eating the wire inside the insulation. If you have low resistance, then they are probably fine.

Once all that is done, next time it happens, try starting it in Neutral, and/or jiggle the shift lever while you're trying to start it.

See if any of that helps solve your problem, or at least points you in the right direction of a diagnosis.