I'm trying to get my XJ started after letting it sit for a few months. It refuses to start even with a charged battery, brand new battery cables, brand new starter, good fuses, clean mounting surfaces. I can't find any problems in the wiring harness, so I'm stumped and desperate for some advice. I tried switching the relays around incase the starter relay was dead, didn't help. I'm curious about the ignition coil or ignition switch.

There is not even the usual click that I would get from the old starter which ment i needed to smack it with a hammer to make it work. It does sound like there is a draw on the power when turning the key. The instrument cluster works but not the stereo or interior lights (although the dome fuse is burned out).

 

The thing that is wierd is that all your lights dont work. I think the battery is faulty. Have you had it checked out at autozone?

 

i have not had it checked but i've tried two different batteries. the first one was barrely charged but the second one had some power. tried jumping it with a 4.3L v6 running. didn't work at first. then I just tried jumping it and arcing the small terminal on the starter to the terminal where the battery cable connects and it started right up! the ignition still wont start it though. i'm not sure if that means that the solinoid is good or bad. does arcing it in this way engage the solinoid or is it bypassing the solinoid?

 

When you are "arcing" the terminal you are activating the solenoid.

Have you tried starting in neutral? If it starts in Neutral you have a bad contact on your NSS. Take it apart, clean and regrease.

 

i think the starter fairy paid me a visit while i was inside cuz i went back out and tried it in neutral(which didn't work before) and it turner over. tried it in park and the starter spun. hook up the jumper cables and it started right up. what/where is the NSS? could that have been a factor and i just got lucky this time?

 

The Neutral Safety Switch is located on the passenger side of the transmission. You probably had corroded contacts and moving the shifter Cleaned them.

It is about a $200 part so if your problem returns Google NSS rebuild for jeep cherokee.

 

X2 on nss clean take it off and clean it.

 

X2 on the NSS..But if it is this and you get in a pinch you can bypass it in like 30 seconds.

 

thanks for the help. i'll be looking into that nss soon, along with a dozen other things to get it ready before summer.