Renix Ignition Switch troubles
06-05-2017, 12:50 PM
#1
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Renix Ignition Switch troubles
Afternoon everyone,
Well, I went to take my old gal to work this morning and when I turned on the ignition switch I got power as usual; gauges lit up, doors, dinged, everything. When I turned the key to initiate the starter motor - nothing. I tried a couple of times and same result. I noticed something kind of similar happening the other day, but after trying again, it started no problem. I'm thinking that maybe the little rod in the column may have bent? Is there a way to test this or check? Can you buy just the rod? Any other thoughts?
I'd greatly appreciate it any insight!
S/F,
-Matt
Well, I went to take my old gal to work this morning and when I turned on the ignition switch I got power as usual; gauges lit up, doors, dinged, everything. When I turned the key to initiate the starter motor - nothing. I tried a couple of times and same result. I noticed something kind of similar happening the other day, but after trying again, it started no problem. I'm thinking that maybe the little rod in the column may have bent? Is there a way to test this or check? Can you buy just the rod? Any other thoughts?
I'd greatly appreciate it any insight!
S/F,
-Matt
06-06-2017, 12:13 AM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles, CA
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Year: 1989 Limited
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: I-6 4.0L AMC Renix
As I have recently learned, the ignition switch in older XJ's seem to "catch fire" a little bit and it melts the plastic plug and switch so the connection gets messed up. You can try that.
06-06-2017, 12:22 AM
#3
No, I don't lick fish.
Afternoon everyone,
Well, I went to take my old gal to work this morning and when I turned on the ignition switch I got power as usual; gauges lit up, doors, dinged, everything. When I turned the key to initiate the starter motor - nothing. I tried a couple of times and same result. I noticed something kind of similar happening the other day, but after trying again, it started no problem. I'm thinking that maybe the little rod in the column may have bent? Is there a way to test this or check? Can you buy just the rod? Any other thoughts?
I'd greatly appreciate it any insight!
S/F,
-Matt
Well, I went to take my old gal to work this morning and when I turned on the ignition switch I got power as usual; gauges lit up, doors, dinged, everything. When I turned the key to initiate the starter motor - nothing. I tried a couple of times and same result. I noticed something kind of similar happening the other day, but after trying again, it started no problem. I'm thinking that maybe the little rod in the column may have bent? Is there a way to test this or check? Can you buy just the rod? Any other thoughts?
I'd greatly appreciate it any insight!
S/F,
-Matt
Try wiggling the shifter and, if it starts, you need to clean the NSS
Here's a decent how-to video on it...
06-06-2017, 07:42 AM
#5
Seasoned Member
Thread Starter
Thank you both. The NSS does need a cleaning, I'm sure. I've had to "tap" it once in park basically since I bought the vehicle so that the key will release from the ignition. I'll check both again to see if one of those two items have failed me. I'm assuming it's pretty tough to bend that rod? It looks significantly stiffer than the one that got bent in my '75 International Scout II - that little bugger was like a coat hanger - I don't know how it lasted 40 years to begin with.
06-06-2017, 07:07 PM
#6
No, I don't lick fish.
Thank you both. The NSS does need a cleaning, I'm sure. I've had to "tap" it once in park basically since I bought the vehicle so that the key will release from the ignition. I'll check both again to see if one of those two items have failed me. I'm assuming it's pretty tough to bend that rod? It looks significantly stiffer than the one that got bent in my '75 International Scout II - that little bugger was like a coat hanger - I don't know how it lasted 40 years to begin with.
