I've got a 96 country that seems to have a mind and attitude of its own. Very randomly it will not start and it usually happens at the store across the street from my house. It happens enough at that store that i quit going there. I now drive to the store 2 miles down the road. I can take it own weekend trips with no problem what so ever. I've replaced the starter twice and the electronic ignition and it still does it. I'm sure you guys know how frustrating it is to trouble shoot intermittent problems. Any suggestions or insight is appreciated. When this happens I usually have to just sit there and wait, and keep turning key till it will finally crank. It has never left me stranded for more than an hour.

 

what are the symptoms when it won't crank? Any clicking? Do the headlights dim at all when you turn the key?

Sounds like you have a bad ground - there are two to check.

One is a thick black wire at the Battery (-) post running to the fender, the other is a copper strap at the rear of the valve cover running to the firewall. Clean up the contact points with some sandpaper and reattach. Recommend also wiping on some dielectric grease before re-installation.

You could also have a bad terminal connection. Clean the battery terminals REALLY well with sandpaper or a terminal tool - even if they look ok, just do it, there can be an invisible layer that forms blocking *most* of the current from flowing, enough to not start, but not enough that the electronics are dead too. Recommend also wiping on some dielectric grease or battery terminal grease before re-installation. If that doesn't work, replace the terminals. Same reason as above...they're cheap...i've saved people a $200+ repair bill by spending $4.30. Sometimes cleaning them just doesn't work. Recommend also wiping on some dielectric grease or battery terminal grease before re-installation.

 

It has never happened at night. All of my electronics work when the key is on, it just wont start. No click or anything from the starter.

 

I'll give that a try, Thanks

 

When it happens next, try wiggling the shift lever while turning the key and also try starting in neutral.

If either of these techniques allow the engine to crank, the problem is the "neutral safety switch", which really is a common problem with the XJ.'

Here is a link to an article that details the "refurbishing" of the neural safety switch. Often restores full function and should be tried before replacing the switch, which can be kind of spendy new.....

http://bc4x4.com/tech/2010/jeep-neut...ty-switch-nss/

 

Thanks TJ. I always try my shifter when this happens. 1 out of every 20 times it happens it will start by doing that. But the problem is so intermittent that i dont know if thats it. Sometimes the only way to get it to start is just wait. It may be bad ground connections and a bad nss so i'll definately look in to that as well. Thanks guys.

 

I was just experiencing the same issues with my 93 sport and I replaced the crankshaft position sensor and it helped alot

 

mine does this every once in a while and my neg battery cable was a little loose

 

CPS will not cause a "No Crank" situation. The vehicle will still crank, but not start if the CPS is bad.