So, this should make for a pretty good first post. And, after searching the FAQs and write-ups, i still couldn't find anything to help...if i've missed something, i apologize, but a little direction would be awesome!

here's the deal...i recently went down to New Orleans to pick up my brother's 93 cherokee sport. it has 176xxx miles, auto, non-4x4, and the four liter. the thing is, the jeep was recently stolen. the a**holes who stole it broke into the steering column on the left side and pull the starting mechanism with a pair of cable locks...which they then proceeded to leave in the car after dumping it. needless to say, it was recovered. so, i flew to NO to pick it up, figured out how it was started, and got it to start. i was then able to drive it all the way to TN with no problems. i shut it down a few times on the way to gas up, started right back up again. get home last night, shut it down for the night. get up this morning and it starts up again. then, for some reason, a few hours later, i go to start it and it won't turn over. now, i know a small amount about cars - enough to know that it's not the battery, the connection, or the starter. when i go to start it, i hear the started winding, but it just won't fire. wtf? why? needless to say, i'm baffled. i do know how little i know, though, so am sure there are many things it could be. if anyone out there could give me some pointers as to what i might look for, i am in your debt.

in summary...starts fine...runs fine for 500+ miles, starts again this morning...then BAM! no starting. thanks in advance to anyone who can help me even in the slightest.

 

Is the starter spinning but not engaging the flywheel, or is the engine turning over but just not firing?

 

i'm not actually getting anything from the engine. it doesn't sound like it's even beginning to turn over. and, to clarify, before it was stolen, my bro had no issues of this sort with it.

 

sounds like it might be unrelated...
The starter bendix might of gone bad.

Try tapping the front of the starter very carefully with a hammer/rubber mallet and see if it will turn over.

 

Sounds like a new starter. The teeth might be broken and not allowing it to engauge with fly wheel.

 

i tried that. i tapped the actual starter, and made sure the connection to the solenoid was solid, which it was, and still nothing. should i try doing it while actually attempting to start it?

 

might need a new starter...

I still think its unrelated to the steering column though.

 

luckily i'm savvy enough to know how to replace the starter. i just hated to start replacing things in a hope to fix it and then get nothing. not too sure how old the current starter is, though, so it just might be it...looks like i have something to do in the morning...

 

check for a spark?
fuel pressure?

 

Don't replace it yet. Pull it and look at the teeth and see if they are good. If not then replace it.

 

I know Advance Auto can test your starter to see if it's good or not. You may want to check with your local parts stores to see if they can. Plus if it turns out bad, you buy a new one and already get the core amount right then and there off the bill.

 

well, i'm about to go take a whack at this thing. i'll eyeball the starter first and if i can't really tell anything, there's an advanced auto right down the road. thanks for all the help and i'll keep progress posted.

 

also when checking the teeth try to spin the bendix with your finger. it should spin one way very easy and the other should be more difficult to spin. if it spins freely both ways then yes the bendix is bad and i recommend replacing the whole starter and not 'rebuilding' it.

 

well, pulled the starter, tested it, and it's fine. still no start-up though. i'm wondering now if it has something to do with the ignition? whatever it is, it's giving me a headache...

 

no progress today, had to work all day...
but...to do tomorrow. put starter back, see what happens.

anyone think it could be in the distributor cap maybe? coil? plugs? anything?