'96 Cherokee will not crank over. Battery shows 12.6v and drops to 11.7 when the key is put in the start position. I replaced the the starter (I have 260,000 miles on the original). I checked the Fuses (30amp and 15amp under the hood). When I pulled the switch out of the steering column I noticed 2 of the wires were corroded on the lower pigtale (on the column side) so I cleaned them up and replace the switch. I have 4.0L with standard trans 4X4. I can push start it, it starts very easy and runs great, It stopped working Friday. I went to start it at lunch time and nothing, it won't crank over but all the lights work. I can push start it with no problems. I checked for any check engine codes, computer says there are no active codes. There was not any indication that something was going wrong. When it's running it runs great.

 

use a short wire or screw driver to jump the two connectors on the starter that the orange lines point to in the pic ignore the blue

 

I checked the voltage at the posts, on the small post 0v and at the outside large post I show .07. When I crossed the two post I did get a small spark the first time nothing after that.

 

you should have 12v + at the larger top post
if you don't you need to clean the positivest and negative battery terminals and maybe replace the cables

 

Battery is about a month old cables are new and tight, I checked the voltage at the fuse box and it's the same as the battery.

 

if you don't have 12v at the starter on the post with the battery cable connected to it then you have a bad cable or connection


a bad ground can give you a 12v reading but not give you sufficient power to start

 

You may want to check your crankshaft position sensor. I'm not 100% on your model year, but that was the issue I had. Same thing, no indication that something was wrong beforehand, just kapoot. Lights worked, and all. If you have a digital odometer, turn the key (just to get the gauges to light up) and wait a few seconds. If you get a code on it that says "no bus" then I would almost bet it's the CPS. I posted images under this topic and also a 'how to' thread. Good luck.

 

I have 12.56v at the large post, crossing it with the small post causes the Bendix to engage

 

do you have a auto box if so check the neutral safety switch maybe thinks its still in gear

 

I have a standerd Trans, I can push start it and it runs just like normal.

 

I have a analyzer, it shows no active or pending codes (crankshaft position sensor)

 

A crank position sensor would cause the engine to crank and crank and crank and crank..... because the engine is trying to find the postion of the crank, in order to release the spark to the right cylinder at the right time.

in all honesty, It sounds like you have a dead cell in the battery. Just for the fun of it, try jump starting it. If all else fails, I was wrong. Cranking the engine over is the equivalent of a Load test on the battery, If it is too much of a load for a dieing battery, then of course its going to die to 11. something.

 

Battery is about a month old, I checked it out anyway and it checked out ok. I did try to jump start it with jumper cables, no differance. I push started it with my other cherokee and it runs great, I actually drove it about 25 miles to get home.

 

did you test the battery? or just put the multimeter on it? use a load tester, and just because you bought the battery a month ago, doesnt mean that its not defective or that it hasnt sat in the warehouse for who knows how long before you bought it. If it is your starter, double check and make sure your flywheel is ok, they tend to get sharp teeth and chew up starters in older veichles

 

that should engage the starter and crank the motor

jumping the two large post should only spin the starter

you may need a new starter