I just put a new re-maned engine in my 96 Cherokee starter will spin but not engine. Any ideas? Also when I turn key on I get power for about 5 seconds then lose all power.

 

Is it a manual trans? Does it have the correct flywheel? I think the 2.5 is different from the 4.0

 

It’s an automatic. I pulled a 96 4.0 out and put 98 4.0 back in. Same flywheel and torque converter.

 

You may have a poor connection or wire in the main cables, or possibly a bad battery

Does the engine rotate manually with a 3/4" spanner on the damper crank bolt

A starter can also be bad, I have taken a few apart, and the brushes are worn or stuck, they will often still appear to work ok when taken out, but cant turn under load

Does the starter pinion engage with the flywheel ?

 

I’ll have to check and see if it rotates when I get off. I also ordered a new starter that’ll be here tomorrow. I’m gonna start small. I’m hoping it’s gonna be something dumb that I’m over looking.

 

Sorry, you're profile says 2.5L so I thought that was the swap.

 

This is actually on a friends jeep. Mine is a manual 2.5. I should’ve worded a little different sorry for the confusion. Will update once we try new starter.