Long story short, I hit a deer a few weeks ago and insurance totaled the car. I bought her back and fixed her, which was really just a lot of body work, some new lights, and a new radiator.
I also replaced the AC condenser and some rotting lines while I was in there, scrubbed off some rust, re-wrapped some wires, etc etc.

(Since this wasn't a MODIFICATION and more like a replacement I'm not sure if this should still be in the stock thread....sorry if not)

1995 XJ Cherokee Sport 4DR 4.0L 6cyl 5spd

I went to go bleed the radiator, but now she won't start. She will turn over but not fire.
This is definitely not a deer issue...as she ran after the accident. I drove her onto the trailer and everything.

Had a friend jump the car in case the battery was shot. Car will still turn over but not fire.
She got a new starter last July when I re-did the oil pan gasket so I don't think its that.

There are 3 things I think it could be, but since I'm learning as I go, it could be something I'm missing.
1. I unplugged a bunch of things while cleaning the engine bay. I have two connectors that aren't attached to anything BUT I'm not sure if they are just there and not part of my trim build. Pictures below. I'm going to pull the electronic schematic later and see if I can figure it out.
2. When I got her she had that stupid Cobra security system installed, but the previous owner unplugged it so it was never really a thing. I ripped it out. Did I accidentally impact something?
3. I've had starting issues in the past, I have a feeling my battery cables are starting to be crappy. Especially the one that goes to the starter as I have an unknown oil leak and it is getting grimy.

Any additional ideas?


Unknown Connector #1.

Unknown Connector #2

Unknown Connector #3 (I think this goes to the horn. I'm not sure why I have two of them on the passenger side though

Not sure about the first 2 pics, but the last one might be for your battery temp sensor? The horn wire for the passenger side would not come up that far I believe.

I'm guessing the 1st one is the underhood light.

What colors are the wires going into the other 2?

The 3rd one doesn't look like it's been hooked up for a while.

The wires going to #1 is (black) and (red w. black stripe)
The wires going to #2 are (purple w. green stripe) and (black w. blue stripe)

It technically is closer to the horn area I just pulled it up for the picture. it branches off the actual horn wire....my gut is telling me it might have been hooked up to the alarm system for actually setting off the horn for the alarm.

So #1 does appear to be the underhood light. Wire colors match FSM.

Not sure where the other one connects.

You can download the '95 fsm here:

This one is one PDF (all 2100+ pages)
https://archive.org/details/addition...y=xj+jeep+1995

This one is a ZIP file with all the chapters as separate PDFs. Click on the 1995 link to download.
https://web.archive.org/web/20110706....com/tech.html

Does it have spark?

Thanks so much! I have the FSM and the official parts manual - I struggle a little deciphering the electrical stuff.

I love the different chapters sectioned out though. That’s extremely helpful.

Back to the root of the issue though…I picked up a new positive battery to starter cable, battery to fuses cable, and negative battery to engine block cable.

if those don’t fix it then I’m at a loss

I’ll check that tomorrow

Ugh, I went to replace the cables and realized the battery to starter cable terminates in this...thing. I don't know what it is called, and can't find it in either the FSM or the PC.

1. Can someone guide me to what it is called?
2. Do I need to find a cable that actually has this connected to it? Or is there a way I can bypass this and connect with a standard cable end?




Searching these numbers didn't do me any favors

FSM diagram, I need to find the red circled part

Parts Cat regarding Battery cables

This is going too haywire, since your engine turns over - i would let the main / starter / ground cables rest for now-

check for fuel and spark - only then go forward

The only reason I wanted to replace the starter cable now is cause it's been on my to-do. I had a pretty bad oil leak that completely gummed up everything, and I've had issues in the past with it. Figured multiple birds with a stone

You don't need that big clunky connector at the starter. Your new main battery cable will go to the big bolt on the starter..think its a 5/16. The 2nd little wire is the "on" for your starter solenoid. You will have to cut it at that old connector and crimp on a new ring terminal, or splice in some extra wire and a terminal if the original wont reach....but how about you get it running first before you do secondary mtc

I GOT HER RUNNING!!! 🖤

Turns out this was the culprit and I messed with something I shouldn’t have.

I really appreciate everyone’s help and I definitely learned a bunch!

Now to bleed the radiator and get her bumper back on, and fix this sh*tty header (front body not engine) I got off the parts guy 😵‍💫

*EDIT*
I did take everyone’s advice and stopped messing around with the battery cables. Cleaned off the gunk on the starter end and wrapped it with a little bit of shrink tape to protect it from any more oil leaks and put them back on for now.