I'll apologize now for sounding like a noob, but any help will be greatly appreciated.

I am currently unable to get my rig to start. It's a '93 XJ Sport (Inline 6, 4wd and a manual tranny) with 250k. Thought it was the battery so I changed it (yes it's hooked up correctly and the posts and connectors are clean). I have all of my lights (including reverse lights) and aux electronics working. My gauges are reading (Battery reading at 12) and the electric fuel pump is starting up when the ignition is in the on position. When I go to crank the key, nothing's going except for one click. It won't crank, won't start with a jump and tapping the starter has done jack s**t. The last couple of times it started, it took a little coaxing. It would crank but it sounded super slow, like you could actually hear the battery just sucking power but not doing anything. Gave it a little gas while cranking and it started up though (if it had a carb on it, the whole giving it gas thing wouldn't be all that weird... too bad it's fuel injected) and once running, the battery meter would read at 14 and the rig would run like a champ. Now I'm not even getting that. Haven't tried to push start it but not sure if at this point that makes a difference.

 

remove the starter and get it checked sounds like its shot

 

Neutral safety switch.

 

good battery super slow cranking... starter...

 

Since your starter sounds bad according to you go head and change it. Then if/when that dosnt work. Change your crankshaft position sensor. Im assuming you checked for spark and fuel presure? No spark + no fuel pressure=cps! At least in my case it did. Check it out.

 

Thought he said no crank. And with a bad nss he would have no crank.

 

Thanks for the input guys. I gleaned from the other posts I read prior to posting my own that I could rule out the NSS by giving the shifter a good jiggle or toggle while trying to start it. Was I misunderstood in trying that as it may only work to rule things out on a automatic transmission?

 

Yes and it may not work at all. There is no rule on how parts brake or ware. Better way to check is if your reverse lights work. If they do then its good if they don't its bad. Assuming that your bulbs are good.

 

Do 5 spds have a nss?

 

I think so my buddies vet has one buy the shifter and its a 5 speed. But not an XJ I have yet to own a stick XJ

 

According to the Haynes manual the NSS is an auto tranny thing only... so that one's been checked off the list.

 

Dude im telling you check the crankshaft position sensor..

 

Agreed. It's exactly what was happening with mine. Starter fixed it. Refreshing the ground wires wouldn't be a bad idea while you're at it.

With a bad crankshaft position sensor it will crank all day long, but it won't start.

 

Hey my jeep just did the same thing. Had some slow cranking the past couple days and now it doesn't even crank, click, or anything even though the battery is fine. What was your problem in the end?

 

Neither a CPS nor an NSS will cause a slow crank. the NSS will cause NO crank, not slow crank and the CPS will cause no start, not slow crank.

Start thinking, people.

freegdr said it - good battery super slow cranking... starter...