Starting several weeks ago my starter would cut out intermittently. 1 hit then nothing turn the key again then good. It was making some weird noises also so I changed out the starter after testing voltage and what not. No more weird noises and the clicking seemed to stop. Well fast forward couple weeks it cut out on me again. Then yesterday morning I stumbled onto something. If I turn the key over hard it cuts out. If I go slowly or back off it a little after I turn it hard it's good. If I go slowly and "overturn" the key it cuts out after it hits a certain point.

Doesn't or hasn't yet cut out while driving. Just while trying to start. Hoping to fix it before it does.

So basically what am I looking at here? I don't really know where to start on this. I'm much more a mechanical not electrical guy. Hoping it can be fixed without a new ignition and getting a new key.

96 XJ 4.0, auto, 4x4.

 

No one replied but what I ended up doing is pulling the switch and cylinder of the column. Cleaned all the connections I could get to and regreased the column lock and where the cylinder dowel goes into that slot inside the column. After that I couldn't make it mess up no matter how hard I turned the key over.

 

Thanks for the update!..........

 

Well that was short-lived. Worked for a few days bit stayed cutting out again today. Looks like a new ignition switch for me.

 

that is what mine did to me too. I put a new ignition switch in from the dealer. everything worked great. then a couple days later it got out of adjustment again. I re adjusted and everything was good for a couple of days and now its out of adjustment again. I said screw it and just put in a push button starter. as long as i had it in the run position it would start and run around fine. now my radio doesn't want to work. i think its really out of adjustment. i dont understand why it keepd moving. i tightened everything up good, and they are still tight when I went to readjust them. guess its time for a new switch for me too. I was just hoping that since it was from the dealer and brand new that it wouldnt be bad. it was a pain in the butt getting the connectors to line up and go in the switch the right way! not a job i was looking forward to doing again.

 

Franttic, when you pulled the ignition out did you remove the igniton cyl from the switch, sometimes the "cup" on the end of the ignition breaks .

 

Yes. I pulled it. Mine doesn't have that cup. It's a dowel that fits into a slot on a rod that looks to run down the column. When the key is turned it pulls back on that rod.

 

ok, i think you are on the right track! good luck!

 

Not sure if it's an issue but, did you disarm the airbag while working on the column? Or just work from the passenger seat?
On our 96 models, there is a screw on top of airbag that will disarm it for service.

 

I turned the screw it to disarm the bag.