i have a 1998 cherokee xj 4.0 4x4. when i bought it there was a push button start wired from the battery to starter and cylinoid. the guy i bought it from acted as if he did not know anything about it. my problem is sometimes the key will start it and sometime it will not, good thing is if the key doesnt do it the push button will. i want to fix this and have it back to normal.

 

Looks like Bubba (the PO) was too lazy to troubleshoot the starting circuit properly and butchered in a bypass switch.

It could possibly be a defective Transmission Range Sensor (referred to as a 'NSS' hereabouts) or a defective ignition switch.

Next time it won't start with the key, place the transmission selector in Neutral and try it. Try wiggling the selector while trying to start while in Park and Neutral. This is not conclusive that the NSS is defective but is a good starting point.

You can search this forum for starting problems, or if the forum search doesn't work (as usual) try a Google search.

There's lots of members of this forum that help you along with troubleshooting this problem.

 

Thanks for the reply....I just removed the (nss) yesterday for a rebuild/cleaning because of some other issues I was having. It has started every time since with the key. This makes sense I will watch it closely over next few weeks and see if there is any change in it. Thanks again