Kill switch
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 15,016
Likes: 11
From: +34° 25' 35.67", -81° 21' 12.04"
Year: 1993
Engine: 4.0
I'd suggest fixing the issue correctly.
If it's not cutting off when you turn the key off I'd start looking for a short.
I had one do that before. I swapped out the ECU with a spare one I had and that fixed the issue.
If it's not cutting off when you turn the key off I'd start looking for a short.
I had one do that before. I swapped out the ECU with a spare one I had and that fixed the issue.
The quick and dirty way is to add a switch to interrupt the coil on the ASD relay.
But ITA with Lowrange, fix it the right way. This may be a symptom of an underlying larger problem that will leave you stranded at some point.
But ITA with Lowrange, fix it the right way. This may be a symptom of an underlying larger problem that will leave you stranded at some point.
Junior Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 15,016
Likes: 11
From: +34° 25' 35.67", -81° 21' 12.04"
Year: 1993
Engine: 4.0
You tie a string to the ASD relay, run it into the cab and just pull the string when you want to cut it off.
If it's shorted well enough to keep the Jeep running then I'd guess it's got power all the time. Which means your coil is not going to be happy after a while.
If it's shorted well enough to keep the Jeep running then I'd guess it's got power all the time. Which means your coil is not going to be happy after a while.
OP is in Texas, they don't need wipers down there.

To add "antitheft", run the wipers on high and leave the string a bit loose. Watch for relay to launch...you're all set.
Well ive already replaced ecu, starter, starter relay, ignition switch, ignition cylinder, I heard somewhere it could be a bad alternator giving frequent charge? The last owner had it hooked up negative to starter positive to engine block, so I'm thinking it could be a shorted alternator like everything else?
I fixed the same problem yesterday, but it was a lawn mover.
Every time I have electrical problem I begin from electrical diagram.
All bottom fuses shouldn't have voltage. I guess, ign. switch is worn out.
1. remove key, check if fuses have voltage.
2. if they do, remove connector from ign. switch
3. if voltage disappeared, replace ignition switch.
4. if voltage is still there, begin pulling bottom fuses one by one checking voltage
5. if voltage still there with removed fuses, there is short between ign switch and fuses
6 if one of removed switches eliminated voltage, short is in circuit of that fuse.

Every time I have electrical problem I begin from electrical diagram.
All bottom fuses shouldn't have voltage. I guess, ign. switch is worn out.
1. remove key, check if fuses have voltage.
2. if they do, remove connector from ign. switch
3. if voltage disappeared, replace ignition switch.
4. if voltage is still there, begin pulling bottom fuses one by one checking voltage
5. if voltage still there with removed fuses, there is short between ign switch and fuses
6 if one of removed switches eliminated voltage, short is in circuit of that fuse.
Last edited by car5car; Aug 28, 2012 at 02:54 PM.
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CF Veteran
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 4,172
Likes: 4
From: Riviera, Texas
Year: 1998 Sport
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
If your not going to fix the real problem you can always splice at you coil. I always did that for a kill switch on all my cars. Not because it wouldn't shut off just so they wouldn't get stolen. But, I would really try to fix the problem. But, That's me.
87 is wired differently than the '97 pictured above. I'd start looking for relays with the contacts stuck shut or socket problems. It's about the only thing you haven't changed.
I highly doubt it's the alternator.
I highly doubt it's the alternator.
Sweet. Well first I'm gunna pull the alternator and get it bench tested. People say if it's shorted out it'll allow frequent juice and keep running. And as soon as I put the negative on the battery the fuel pump and buzzers start goin off


