I need help with some electrical ignition problems. I was removing the light bar lamp wiring that was close to the positive battery cable I must have touched the battery cable let me just say that the battery cable is in two pieces, top half is connected to the positive post than to a small metal block and then second longer half connects from that block down to the starter. As I touched it by mistake it sparked it caught my eye I wiggled the cable and it sparked again. I did not think anything of it I continue to remove the Led light bar and wiring harness then preceded to start the vehicle it cranked and started for one second and it stopped, it shut down, I tried to start it again and even though I had full power in the dashboard the ignition would not turn over the engine. I moved the shifter to neutral and once again turn the ignition on with no action could it be that the spark I thought what's not affected anything affected the safety neutral switch wiring? Am I missing anything? I have checked the fuses that might have burned out. I've been looking for all the fuses but they all seem to be in tack. Do you know of any other fuses I need to check I tried bypassing it using the starter and solenoid but it just sparks it does not crank over nor starts.? It seems that all indications tend to be the natural switch. How I can that be ??? it" got me stressed.

I need help in diagnosing the problem with perhaps some advice on how to fix it

 

Its quite likely you have a defective cable going to the starter, or a poor earth connection to your engine block

the best way is to perform a "voltage drop test" with a DVM, Youtube will show you how

if it the NSS, cranking the ignition while cycling the auto stick thru D to N will usually allow it to crank at least momentarily

Its possible you have some starter motor failure, I have found the solenoid to be the part that fails most often

 

thank you...i'll start going thru those steps.. Let you know
p.s. As i was connecting the positive and solenoid post to jump the safety switch, i did notice that the head (where you connect the cables) of the solenoid would rotate about a quarter turn. Perhaps that's the problem.

 

. I looked at the points you mentioned and It was the starter solenoid that was bad. I purchased one from NAPA installed it and the Cherokee started right up back as normal..so I thought, A day later the starter went back. After working on the xj I can of figured out that it was the starter. I was surprised that a NAPA part could go bad but it did. I replaced it and till now It starts. Now I have to figure out why the electrical and engine shut off, no electrical power whatsoever. I think it could be the ground I did change the negative cable so I need to check the grounds. But Thank you for your advice...