Neutral Safety Switch or something else?
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Douglasville, GA
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Neutral Safety Switch or something else?
My 2001 XJ has been having a hard time starting the past few days. When the key is turned the lights and power come on in the Jeep but it doesn't even attempt to turn over. I took it to Autozone to have the battery, alternator, and starter tested. The guy who tested it was able to jump the starter by doing the screwdriver trick. He believed the non-starting is an issue with the ignition wiring.
I'm starting to think that it is the neutral safety switch. I got home and tried to start it again and nothing happened. I shifted to neutral and tried again and it fired right up. Also, there is a check engine light that has come on since visiting Autozone which makes me think it's more likely a NSS issue but I haven't had a chance to go have the code read.
Am I on the right track of the NSS causing the problems or do you think the problem has something to do with the starter or ignition wires?
Thanks for your input.
I'm starting to think that it is the neutral safety switch. I got home and tried to start it again and nothing happened. I shifted to neutral and tried again and it fired right up. Also, there is a check engine light that has come on since visiting Autozone which makes me think it's more likely a NSS issue but I haven't had a chance to go have the code read.
Am I on the right track of the NSS causing the problems or do you think the problem has something to do with the starter or ignition wires?
Thanks for your input.
#4
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
It sounds exactly like the symptoms of my NSS. If you're handy, it's not a difficult job and taking it out and repairing it is a lot less expensive than replacing it.
#6
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Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I6
Thanks for your opinions. I bought an OBD II scanner to pull the codes and it should be here Saturday when I will have the time to clean the NSS if I need to. Hopefully the code will be the transmission code I have seen that correlates to the NSS acting up.
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#8
Bump. I'm wondering if I have the same problem. It used to happen once a month- I'd move the shifter a bit, turn the key on and off, and it would start after 1-5 tries. Now it's getting REALLY bad, about 50% of the times it takes a few tries, sometimes dozens. I've had it start right after pounding on the column repeatedly. Today it almost started, then died. I've never had that happen before. Guy parked next to me heard a "pop like it was in gear." I played with the shifter and it started, so nothing is consistent. It's a 2000 Cherokee Limited, automatic.
Any good links on how to replace the NSS? I'm new to Jeeps.
Any good links on how to replace the NSS? I'm new to Jeeps.
#11
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Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
When mine got bad and before I got around to disassembling and reconditioning it, I used to turn the key to the on position and jump the starter solenoid with a screwdriver. Just make sure you're in park or neutral if you use the jump the starter method.
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