First I'm new here so I really didn't know where to post this. I'm a caregiver and live five miles out of town. Here my problem... the other day I drove to town came home and parked the car with no problems. The next night it was supposed to get cold but I forgot to go out and run the vehicle to endure the battery would be alright. The day after I had to take my mother to an appointment and when i went out to start the car click click click from the starter. Believing i had just hadn't connected the cable tightly (there's a short in the system so i connect and disconnect the pos. cable...has worked for three years or more) I reconnected it again. That time, then it turns over but won't crank. The following is a list of things i've done and the problems I've had up to this point.

* checked and cleaned battery terminals and connectors.
* checked for fire coming out of ignition coil (none).
* checked it wirh a reader recieved (p1694 code)
* checked code online and replaced (crankshaft positioning sensor (CPS) second time i''ve replaced it. [ good thing the housing was burnned from sitting on the manifold have no idea why they make the wires so short.]
* replaced ignition coil (only to find it wasn't that so put old on back on to save money (( second time i've replaced it)))

Problems that still occur:
* Indicator light on dash panel light when key i on but no guages.
* Headlights, wipers work showing battery was strong enough to start engine. (But loose headlight switch in dash)
* Blinkers and caution lights blink at different intervals:
a) left blinker - dot..........dot.......dot
b) right blinker - dot . dot. dot.
c) caution lights(both left and right) - dot..........dot.......dot

After talking with my father, who lives in another state, about this he suggested there wasn't any power going from the ignition switch in the column back to the engine and to test it. I have a multimeter but don't know how to us it and the book that came with it only shows you how to set it up.
After hearing that I realized a while ago I was driving in a rain storm with my lights on and wipers going. At one point when I turn on my right turn signal I lloked down and all my guages and dash lights went out. It freaked me out but all was well a few minutes later after i urned on the left signal.

I guess I'm wondering instead of checking all these engine components and replacing everything, is there something like a power rely switch in the column ? Or is like my dad saud and the ignition swtich may need to be replaced? If so on either account how do i do that. I hope someone understands all this, because I don't. I have a mechanic but he's in and out of the hospital alot and right now I really need answers.Caregiver --- time crunch.

Any help is greatly appreciated.
ps: jeeps are great when they run, but one small problem and eveything goes haywire. Not a fan.Have kept it running for all these years by the grace of GOD appearently.

 

I am also having a similar problem. I have a 1996 Jeep Cherokee Sport.
I went in to get my oil and transmission fluid replaced and when that service was completed, the car would not start. There was power to my vehicle just like yours (lights worked, radio worked, dashboard lights good etc.) but it would not start the engine/motor.
My dad did the best he could to troubleshoot:
- cleaned the battery and its ports
- checked battery, still going strong... so not a battery issue
- replaced a small copper-colored wire underneath the car battery

No luck, car still would not start.

My mom's mechanic was able to start the engine/motor but did so only using a specific rig (i am not sure what's it called).
Mechanic determined that it's likely the car needs a new ignition switch that might be the issue.

I'll post later with an update, but another issue might be the starter and solenoid.