Hopefully someone can help me. I got a 90 XJ Sport, 4.0, 6 cylinder. It has a new starter and battery is good. When I turn the key, lights and all come on but no crank at all. I do know I'm missing the battery ground wire, which been missing for a few yrs but I've just recently learned about the importance of these ground wires. Another thing I've noticed is oil on a lot of parts in the engine. Where should I start? Battery ground wire? Alternator?...which I think may not be the problem. Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Does it start if you jiggle the shifter or put it in neutral?

 

Guess it's about time to get one, huh?

 

I've tried that in the pass when I had starting issues and that seemed to work...not this time though. What causes that? (The jiggle to start thingy)

 

Neutral Safety Switch(NSS) on the side of the auto trans. Usually the first sign of a problem with it though is the loss of reverse lights. But the first sign I got although I didn't know it was related to the NSS was the trans wouldn't stay in first gear in the 1-2 position. Shouldn't upshift until 4K rpms.

 

You can confirm this by cutting the NSS harness and splicing these two wires together:



If it's an NSS problem you'll be able to start. No reverse lights tho.

 

Thanks. I'll give that a try and let you know what happens.

 

I cant believe anyone is willing to reply after hearing you dismiss this.... I'm going to have problems sleeping tonight...

 

Well like I said...I RECENTLY LEARNED about the importance of the neg ground wire. (Battery to chassis wire) When I bought the jeep from a friend 3 yrs ago, it was never there. Also, I'm clearly not a car guy but I wanna be.

 

try to start the car by continually sliding the auto shifter right thru the range while cranking, as it should also start also in Neutral..(check for bad NSS)

If that doesnt work, measure battery voltage at main starter motor terminal, which should be above 12.3V

Have an assistant crank it, and measure, should be +10.5V..if no assitant, turn ignition to On position, short ALL THREE starter wires with ring spanner..MUST be in Park!!..as vehicle should start

Thoroughly clean area around starter motor and just above with degreaser and rags..till it is spotless!...examine whether oil is running down from "Oil filter apaptor", due to failed o-rings, which is a very common problem

 

Awesome. Thank you so much. I will try everything I learned today on the jeep tomorrow and let you guys know the results.

 

I'm with you Billy!!!

Until there's a battery ground, what's the point?

And after that, an oil soaked starter?

 

I'll get a wire on there asap. The starter has no oil on it because i installed that 3 days ago.

 

But you must have had some sort of ground there. There can't be nothing if you were driving around.

Feel like sending an image of what you've got?

 

Won't it run with the small ground wire from battery to the chassis gone just issues with about everything else....esp gages and lights?. I think that's what he has missing.