96 Cherokee odb1 4x4 Sport 4.0L Automatic

I have a no click, no start going on. My belief is that it's the ignition switch. I just want to be sure, what I am assuming is the most logical choice. Starter is brand new, and I spent a good hour doing nothing more than following wiring, cutting the sleeves open to view the wiring etc... and I see no bad wires. All help would be appreciated. I have learned so much about my Jeep from everyone on here and all the PM's I've received over the years.

The battery is not the issue, it's been tested and it's fully charged. Everything in the Jeep works, windows roll up and down, all lights, radio etc work. It worked great, went out and had dinner, the next day, put the key in and nothing. No sound, no cranking, just everything else working as it should.

Would the ignition switch be the most logical option to go with first? Is there a way to test it and I cannot figure out definitively is there an ignition switch relay? i thought there was, but I don't see it under the hood with all the other fuses, unless it's labeled something else (all my fuses under the hood were replaced in March. All of them) and I don't see one under the dash that is labeled ignition switch. If someone knows where it might be, or what it's actually called under the hood, please let me know.

Thanks!

Jessica

 

In the under hood fuse box (called the Power Distribution Center or PDC) is a starter motor relay. With a helper at the wheel, take the top off the PDC and listen carefully as the helper attempts to start the vehicle. If you here a click from the starter motor relay each time the helper attempts to start the problem is likely between the battery and the starter (connections, starter solenoid, etc). If you hear nothing at all (no clicking from the starter motor relay) the most likely candidate is the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS). This sensor sits on the side of the transmission and is responsible for letting the computer know when the vehicle is in Park or Neutral. If the NSS fails to let the computer know that the vehicle is in Park or Neutral, the computer will not allow the starter motor relay to activate. You can find posts referencing the jumping of the NSS connector in order to determine if it is the culprit (search google for "jeep xj jump nss"). If the NSS is able to be ruled out the next likely candidate is the ignition switch. Some folks here will attempt to jostle the shifter in the park and neutral positions while also holding the key in the start position to see if the vehicle starts...if this works it helps to identify the NSS as the culprit.

The ignition switch can also be ruled in/out by removing the starter motor relay and using a multimeter on the relay sockets to see if 12v + shows up on the appropriate relay socket position when the ignition switch is turned to the start position. I don't know the relay pin to check off the top of my head. If I was in my own garage, I would just test both control side pins of the relay with a multimeter. When the ignition is in the start position, the positive voltage for the relay is provided by the ignition switch and the ground side is provided by the PCM (computer).

 

Thanks. I took that dang thing a part a couple years back (NSS) and cleaned it and everything else. LOL If it's a problem, and I recall correctly it was a pain in the **** to get to. Sigh. Of course.

I do remember cleaning it out etc... so I hope that's not it. If it's the NSS I should be able to sort of wiggle the shifter **** and it might still start, correct? I think that's what I did years back when I discovered that was the issue.

I appreciate your reply so quickly, I shall try everything you suggested in 6 hours when I am home from work.
-Jessica

 

Man you were right on the money.

I know it was an obvious choice, but since I had cleaned it and taken it a part not that long ago, and because I don't really drive that much each week (less than 50 miles) I didn't think it would be having issues, since it hadn't been off road or been through any crazy places that might have gummed up the works with the NSS but Voila!

That was my culprit. Damn NSS. I'll have to take it a part when I get home, and look at it, they're so expensive to replace so I might just bypass it permanently.

Hope the rest of my day goes as good as this has so far. hahahahahaha

Thanks again!
Jessica