If someone says his JEEP is hard starting or starts for a few seconds, and then dies, and he has checked or replaced EVERYTHING he or she can think of !! , check to see if this JEEP you are working on is a "LIMITED" model Jeep. All "LIMITED" model Jeeps ( XJ, YJ, MJ ) come with FACTORY SECURITY ALARM SYSTEMS already installed. So the alarm system may be set "ON" !!! Which means you will NOT be able to start your motor, until the alarm system is disarmed, PERIOD! You can set the alarm system to "ON" or armed mode just by removing the battery terminals. Or if someone has unpugged the alarm module ! It thinks someone is trying to steal the Jeep !! To turn "OFF" or disarm mode, the alarm system – shut your drivers side door, and put your key in the drivers side door lock and turn the key "Counter ClockWise" one turn, which actually Locks your door, and then turn the key "ClockWise" one turn, which unlocks your drivers side door, which also means your alarm system should now be in the OFF MODE or disarmed mode and you now should be able to open your drivers side door and get into your "LIMITED" model Jeep and put in your key in the ignition and start the motor ! So don’t forget , " if it’s a "LIMITED", the factory alarm system may be ON".
Just a tip for all of us Shade Tree Mechanic want-to-be’s, including ME.

 

Really BIG font. Good advice though. There isnt a alarm on mine. She's a sport.

 

new thing learned for the day

 

I feel sort of bludgeoned by that wall of large text, but that's a good tip, thanks for sharing

 

Hi i know this is an old thread, ive got a xj1997 2.5 vm td the security light is lit and jeep only starts for 2 seconds , no amount of opening and locking doors seems to reset the system, i tried a different rke receiver and jeep started and ran a few times left it for 10 mins to celebrate upon my return security lamp relit on dash and back to not starting its a lhd as i,m in Spain so should be same speck as a USA model. I,ve got the wiring diagram for the security system and door locking but i cannot figure out which wire goes to the ecu to interfere with the fuel quantity adjuster and stop the Jeep from starting, also my tailgate is stuck shut but i think thats a seperate issue, any suggestions would be greatly welcomed ,regards Rob

 

If the 97 has the fancy key with the chip in it. The car may have forgotten the key is a correct key.

When I got a couple of extra keys made for my 99 the lock smith had a problem happen and the system lost touch with all of the keys.

I do not remember all he had to do, but it involved leaving the car sit with the key in the ignition in I think the on position for something like 30 minutes to get the computer to recognize the 1st key and reset the system.

 

No chipped key just the rke factory immobiliser i,m leaning towards there being a fault in the rhs power door lock module, where i live the nearest dealer is 100 klm,s away ,does anyone have a good idea how this system is set up, a lot of people seem to use just the key to unlock the doors and that disarms the immobiliser so i,m thinking i have a fault with the locking system rather than the rke+fob , security lamp on the dash stays solid no flashing, any suggestions welcome,regards Rob