No start, clicking
 

Hey yall, so I have a 2001 Jeep XJ Limited. It wont start, battery has 12.4 when tested with multimeter, starter is only two years old, battery is less than a year old, yet it will not start. No starter click or it trying to crank. Power just goes out. It had a bad starter relay, but I swapped it with one of the fog light relays and it has been fine since. Terminals are tight. It doesnt read full voltage on the dash either. It looks like its reading around 11. I am lost, fuses in the fuse box are all fine. Ground on the front of the engine block does look a bit rusty but doesnt look horrible. Any ideas

Does it start in neutral or when you jiggle the shifter?

it does not. I dont think it is the neutral safety switch

Why? Did you test it?

I did test moving the shifter around, starting in neutral, and it doesnt change anything per say

Check your battery cables, particularly the ground. See my sig, #1. There's a reason that grounds are listed #1.

your sig? what does that mean

cleaned off the grounds with a wire brush, ground cable had a little oxidization on it. Still nothing though.

Did you remove and clean them though?

It means his signature block at the bottom of his post.

I'm a bit confused. So you insert the key and turn to ON and your dash indicators all light up, perhaps your door is still open so you hear the buzzer, etc. You turn the key to start and the power goes out?

well im not fancy enough for a buzzer, but yes. all my light and dash come up including my radio and as soon as i turn the key all power goes

Went and took all the grounds off and cleaned them with a wire brush. Still nothing. I dont know if it means anything, but my switch panel stopped working about a week ago i guess. The rear wiper, defrost, and the fog lights have never worked.

I was going to chime in and suggest the have someone with the key on and tap the starter trick to see if it would temporarily come back to life and tell you a few things you need to know....
but if everything goes out on the dash soon as you turn the key to the point of start/crank position...I'd say your issue could be electrical and further up the chain... as in right there.

Not sure I follow. Do you mean faulty ignition lock cylinder or ignition switch

Battery terminals or cables. Remember that corrosion can wick up in side the insulation and destroy a cable, even though everything looks fine outside.