So my 98 xj 4.0l wouldn't start. I turned the key and it would beep as it passed a certain point then everything would go dead. My radio's lights were on but wouldn't turn on. The radio's lights would go off if I opened the door or pressed the break and the electric door locks made weird clicking noises when I tried to lock the doors (and wouldn't lock) is this a neutral safety switch thing? Thanks. And it wouldn't start in neutral.

 

I'd check all your ground connection points first.
It soulds like you're not able to complete a circuit.

 

It's weird because the interior lights were still on and power was going to everything... Something just isn't connected right.

 

Ok now, I reset the ecu (held the ends of the battery together for 30 sec, lights on and off) then I could get everything on the dash to light up and then once I turned the key all the way, nothing and I can't get the dash lights back on unless I reset again.

 

Update!: so we went and got the battery tested, its fine. So we bought some terminal cleaner and cleaned the cables and terminals and scrubbed them with a brush. Then we reconnected everything and made sure it was all tight and she barely but surely started up and I got her home. We will see what she does in the morning I'm done for today lol. Thanks for the input

 

still sounds like a bad ground to me.. check your ground connections on the block also

 

I will do that more in depth tomorrow

 

while youre looking at that I would say check the starter connections for corrosion also

 

I'm considering replacing the positive battery cable all together soon. Probably will actually. But I'll definitely do some snooping around.