We have a 1998 Cherokee classic 4.0 I-6 2wd. A key was broken off in the tumbler and after the pieces were fished out, the new key won't turn to the start position. It does however cycle through off, accessory, and run like it should.

I went down to a local auto parts store with my brother (he owns the truck), and they didn't have a new ignition tumbler in stock. We were talking and decided to rig a toggle switch to the starter. The key could be turned to the on position, toggle switch pressed, truck starts, toggle switch depressed. It sounds like a fun project and I am now in the plan stages. I would appreciate any hints or special pointers from the veterans on this very active and apparently knowledgeable forum.

I do have a service manual (Haynes) which has wiring schematics, instructions, ect. Of course this project won't be found in the manual and I want to build a clear understanding of what I am doing to my brother's truck before I actually do it.

I came across this link while browsing your forums. It seems pretty helpful.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/10078577/J...ring-diagrams-

A search turn up nothing for a similar project, but if you have heard of another thread detailing this sort of thing I would love to hear about it.

 

some of our tractor trailors at work use a push button to turn them over once the key is in the "on" position. It works.......BUT in your case..your ign switch is already screwing up...dont let it leave you stranded replace it.

 

What you need is a monentary switch (push button) You turn key to on.. then press and hold button until it turns over then let off. Simple as that.

 

Yeah that is exactly what we are planning on doing. I explained to my brother that his current ignition switch could completely fail and the original plan of legitimately replacing the entire assembly is a more fail safe approach. That said he would like to go ahead with rigging a push to start button into the dash.

In case the new setup fails down the road, I will design the project in a way which will allow the truck to be returned to stock.

Now I have some schematics and such but I am not sure which wires to splice or re-rout the the switch.

The dark blue wire coming from the switch seems to be the starting wire...then do I just ground it on the other side?

I am a photographer and will post some pictures of the schematics I am looking at later. Thank you all for your help!

 

Watch out.

Don't get a dead short going and burn something up.

OTOH, some modern luxury cars make a big deal about push button start.

 

My buddy has a push button start in his 88 f-150. He has a 302 crate motor in it though, so he had to re-wire evrything anyways.

 

run a wire from the small bolt on the starter
to a button
then from the button to a positive terminal in the fuse box
by the drivers kick panel thats it

 

I had to do this to my old ZJ cause of a ignition problem i could never seem to find..

 

Thank you everyone for all of your help. I also need to figure out just where to place the button, what kind of button to use, and try to engineer a method of adding it that won't look too shoddy.