99 random no start
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I have a 99 with ~216,000 miles, been slowly taking care of little things here and there. The last couple weeks it has been randomly not starting. At first I could just turn the key again and it would start up. Now sometimes I have to climb under and short the starter leads and she fires up instantly.
New starter
New starter relay
New ignition switch
All the grounds except for the 1 or 2 by the ignition coil have been cleaned and Ox-Garded
New NSS
The relays always click in the passenger junction block. Just recently a few times I've turned the key and the blower fan and accessories haven't turned off. Usually they does.
Thanks in advance for any ideas!
Edit: did the last 2 grounds tonight, we'll see if that does anything tomorrow
New starter
New starter relay
New ignition switch
All the grounds except for the 1 or 2 by the ignition coil have been cleaned and Ox-Garded
New NSS
The relays always click in the passenger junction block. Just recently a few times I've turned the key and the blower fan and accessories haven't turned off. Usually they does.
Thanks in advance for any ideas!
Edit: did the last 2 grounds tonight, we'll see if that does anything tomorrow
Last edited by rcguymike; Jun 22, 2016 at 10:17 PM. Reason: Forgot about the new NSS
Senior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 542
Likes: 2
From: Phoenix, AZ
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 L6
Go look in the how to part of this forum and find the NSS thread. Neutral Safety Switch. Take it off/apart and clean it up real good and put it back together with dielectric grease and report back. Have fun, it's kinda of a ***** to get off and on if I remember correctly... But a new one is like $200 I hear and you still have to take it off and put it back on haha.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Go look in the how to part of this forum and find the NSS thread. Neutral Safety Switch. Take it off/apart and clean it up real good and put it back together with dielectric grease and report back. Have fun, it's kinda of a ***** to get off and on if I remember correctly... But a new one is like $200 I hear and you still have to take it off and put it back on haha.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Another interesting thing I can add...Makes me think grounding issues. If I put my foot on the brake and turn the key to start, the blower fan will stay on. Once I let go of the brake the blower fan turns off. Huh!?
Herp Derp Jerp

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 17
From: Parham, ON
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
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Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
did the last 2 engine bay grounds tonight, hopefully that fixes the problem. Fun fact: the ground on my TPS that used to say ~50 Ohms now says 1.3 Ohms!
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
boo...still no start. But it might have been running better idling at speed(not as much snoring).
Edit: Oh and still does the fan/brake on off thing...
Edit: Oh and still does the fan/brake on off thing...
Herp Derp Jerp

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 17
From: Parham, ON
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
Ok lets stick to one thing at a time lol. Do you have a test light or multimeter? You've gotta figure out at which point the circuit is failing
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
I figured since I replaced almost all of the components, grounds might be the only thing left...lol I have a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering Technology and I still can't fix Chrysler's crappy grounding and can hardly make sense of the FSM wiring diagrams. I'm pretty sure there are extra lines as it appears they ground 12v supply leads depending upon some of the switches settings...
Herp Derp Jerp

Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 18,251
Likes: 17
From: Parham, ON
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L OBD-II
Oh yeah of course you have a multimeter lmao.
Bypassing components is sometimes a legitimate troubleshooting step too eh. I wouldn't hesitate to bypass the NSS.
If you wanna see really bad wiring go look at the headlight circuits. Check out how DRLs are implemented.
Also hit up the 1998 and 2000 FSMs just in case lol. My 1999 had a 2000+ fuel rail on it, stock. Lol
Bypassing components is sometimes a legitimate troubleshooting step too eh. I wouldn't hesitate to bypass the NSS.
If you wanna see really bad wiring go look at the headlight circuits. Check out how DRLs are implemented.
Also hit up the 1998 and 2000 FSMs just in case lol. My 1999 had a 2000+ fuel rail on it, stock. Lol
Last edited by salad; Jun 23, 2016 at 04:46 PM.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Yeah maybe my new nss is bad:
P1899 OBD Trouble Code
1 result found
P1899 - Chrysler
Type Powertrain - Manufacturer Controlled DTC - Manufacturer Controlled
Description
Park/Neutral Switch Circuit Conditions
Cause
Engine cranking and P/N indicated, or in drive with VSS over 50 mph, engine speed at 1985-4400 rpm, TP sensor indicating open throttle and the PCM detected a Map input that was over 66% of the BARO input with a high P/N input.
1 result found
P1899 - Chrysler
Type Powertrain - Manufacturer Controlled DTC - Manufacturer Controlled
Description
Park/Neutral Switch Circuit Conditions
Cause
Engine cranking and P/N indicated, or in drive with VSS over 50 mph, engine speed at 1985-4400 rpm, TP sensor indicating open throttle and the PCM detected a Map input that was over 66% of the BARO input with a high P/N input.
Thread Starter
CF Veteran
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 1,226
Likes: 11
From: Laurium, MI
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Checked this morning and the reverse lights aren't working. I bought a NSS from ebay with a 10 year warranty so I contacted the seller to see if I can take it apart to troubleshoot or if they can send me a new one. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Neutral-Safe...-/310682388721
What's the easiest way to bypass it in the mean time?
What's the easiest way to bypass it in the mean time?








