Was starting fine. For two days it started starting hard. Then it stopped. It'd click click click, then not start, then you'd try again and nothing, no sound. Tried turning on headlights, no light but beeping indicator inside. Radio clock sometimes on, sometimes not. Friend came over and jiggled the wires around the battery, got it started again. Have to push gas down hard to start it, and hold the gas down to keep it alive. After a while it'll idle without gas.

What is going on ...? Supposed to drive an hour and half tomorrow.

1997 XJ i6 AW4

 

The symptoms you have are consistent with a flat or bad battery or main battery cabling (or both)

The main cables or earth points are almost certainly implicated or you would not have been able to start it at all

If an XJ is started with a battery that is providing less than 12V to the computer will usually not idle without throttle input

measure voltage at the battery with a multimeter, with engine off, then running

engine off, voltage should be above 12.2V, or battery needs charge or is defective

engine running, should be above 13V

Inspect main cabling and earths very carefully, they are known to be suspect

 

Awesome, thank you. I cleaned up the grounds and it is starting better. I'm thinking I'll replace the battery cables ... Thanks again, love this forum and jeep people