I have a 92 XJ. I have never had a problem with starting it before today. I drove it yesterday with now problem. Today it is cold and very rainy and now it wont start. The batter connections are good and so is the battery. When i turn the key the only sound it makes is a very rapid clicking noise. It doesnt even attempt to turn over. I tried wiggling the shifter (auto) thinking it was the nss (it think its called) but still no go. PLEASE help this jeep newb out

Thanks
Mike

 

sounds like you have a bad starter seloniod.

 

Whack the starter with a BFH 9not too hard) and try it again.

 

Its pretty dark out right now, and I cant see s**t. Where is it located in the bay. thanks for the quick responses.

 

lol some one had that problem out side my work the other day with a rustang. you can still start it all you need is a screwdriver and to turn you key into the run position. this is how you do it, locate your starter. After that turn your key to the run position, then you have to take the screwdriver and touch the terminals of the starter together. 9 times out of 10 it works,(i discovered this by a random dude) i was 100 miles away from home with my dads 01 ram 2500 24 valve diesel. no way to get it going and some diesel mechanic showed up at the fuel station and was like got a screwdriver? he crawled under the truck and vroom-vroom she started right up. I was a happy man.

 

your starter is under your oil filter,looks like a big can laying on its side.

 

Mine did the same thing just replaced the starter switch and it is not real cold now but I think it is good. The old one was kinda black around the connections. It was tuff to get to. Its on the top of the steering column behind the dash. The directions I had said to remove the steering wheel and a bunch of other crap. I think that you could just drop the steering column with two bolts after removing the bottom cover panel and then remove the two bolts that hold on the ignition switch and just replace it. There is a rod that goes down the column and ties into the switch. There is a couple other things that are tied into those screws by the way. When you take out the old one just turn it over and put the new switch in the same position as the old and then re-install it. Here is the site I got the instructions from. It was very limited but I figured it out. It would be helpful if there was pictures but there was not. Anyways here it is http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_do_you..._Jeep_Cherokee Hope this helps you.

 

With your right hand keep pushing forward to "P" while with the other try to start. Propably is the nss as you already mentioned.

 

If the NSS was the problem he wouldn't get this:

 

Fuel pump relay? It's not uncommon for them to click repeatedly when they go bad.

 

Could I get a starter switch from any autoparts store? The starter is $65+ so I'll change that as a last resort..

 

ok I replaced the starter switch but now when i turn the ignition no sound is made. that clicking went away.

while under there i notice 4 unplugged wired and i couldn't find where they plug into.

Three in this picture the larger blue, and the smaller black ones.

 

and then the black one in this picture.

Are these plugs supposed to be plugged in?

sorry for the xl pics

 

starter switch? do you mean the solenoid? if so make sure you didnt put the starter wires on the solenoid backwards.

 

no i replaced the ignition switch like stated by Jwear83.

maybe it is the starter solenoid that is acting up and not the ignition switch.