This morning, I went to the gas station for coffee and the XJ wouldn't start when I came out.... wouldn't even turn over. All accessories worked, headlights, etc, just wouldn't turn over. I had a screwdriver in the back, so I left the ignition switch in the on position and jumped the solenoid with the screwdriver and it fired right up.

This is the first time it's ever done that and it didn't want to crank over when I got it home and parked it. Does this sound like a neutral safety switch symptom?

 

Sounds like it, but then again if you didn't try starting it in neutral (and have it actually work) it's hard to say. When I first bought my XJ a few months ago, it did the same thing. I would have to wiggle the gear selector around in either park or just start it in neutral for it to work. I dropped the transmission pan and changed filter and added fresh fluid (non-flush) and it hasn't done it since.

 

Thanks--good tip. I just tried it again..held the key in my left hand in start position and moved shift lever with my right. With the shift lever in neutral it starts. I guess the NSS needs to be serviced. Of course, it waits until it's in the 20's outside to act up.

 

I just finished rebuilding the NSS. It wasn't difficult at all. It was loaded with congealed grease and the contacts were pretty oxidized. I cleaned it out, lubed everything with silicone paste and reinstalled it. The vehicle starts fine now both in park and neutral.

 

Great to hear you got it done before it snowed outside...lol...Tj

 

Here is a link to one of many articles that gets into how to rebuild your NSS.

http://go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoNSSrebuild.htm