I have a 96 Cherokee that is pretty stock, but the thing won't turn over. It happened just twice last week where I turn the key and nothing happens. Backed off and turned it again to have it start normally. I started first time this morning. Now the dash/radio come on but the starter doesn't kick over. It's not the battery as instruments turn on and I replaced that a few months ago.

when I turn the key I hear something turn on like a fuel pump, but the starter doesn't make a sound. Where should I start looking.

Any advice is appreciated.

Jeff

 

Check:

• Starter relay - if you have one
• Wires going down to the starter - make sure they are attached, terminals are clean and they are tight
• Starter solenoid (When it won't start tap it with a hammer)

Also verify your battery volts AND have a draw test done on it. Just because it has enough juice to run your pump and gauges doesn't mean it has enough *** to turn the starter.

My bet is on one of the 3 things I listed above.

 

Also check the neutral safety switch. There are write ups on how to remove and clean it. Try starting it in neutral as well

 

Yup - forgot about that though usually those aren't intermittent.

 

Mine was when it went bad. It would be fine for weeks and then wouldn't start for 3 days. PITA until I finally figured out what it was. The contacts were filthy, I think normal vibration was moving it and causing it to be intermittent. But same thing. Everything kicks on but the starter. I think you can also check it by putting it in reverse when it's not starting, and if the reverse lights don't turn on you've found the problem.

 

Mine was doing the same thing. Hauled a hammer around with me for about a week. Had to rap on the starter occasionally and it would turn over right away. Replaced the starter with a "worldwide" starter from Advance Auto. ($54.99 + $30 core) No more issues.

 

Thanks for all the advice and tips! So I don't know if it is the starter or not.

Yesterday it would not turn over. I tapped the starter, solenoid, moved the thing in and out of park. I swapped the relay under the hood. Nothing worked. Then I drove my little Mazda to work this morning and it started up first try. It hadn't moved from where I left it dead as doornail yesterday. I didn't do anything to it this time either. I just got in and turned it over on the first try. What could it be?

I even turned it off and started it again right after the first start. This is so confusing!

 

If its the NSS it should start in neutral.

 

Thanks. I was going to give that a try if it didn't start in "park" this morning, but it started right up. weird.

 

There's a yellow cable underneath your steering column. It goes from your Ignition Switch thru the firewall and to the "Starter" in your fuse panel I believe. Mine was loose where it would connect thru the firewall behind the fuse box. Everything would light up like normal but starter would not crank. Push that sucker in good next time that happens and see if it works.

 

i had similar problems. sometimes start, then dies when i try to start later. new battery, new starter and couldn't figure it out.

my problem was the wires going to the battery posts. the connections were terrible. i just bought new terminals and cleaned the battery wires with a wire brush. no more problems.

hey, it's worth a try.

 

I clean my terminals religiously. They get full of ***** really fast and would cause starting problems all the time. I scrub em once a week just to be safe. I wonder if my battery is leaking too much acid

 

if your terminals are getting crudy that quick I would peel back some of the insulation on the wires....I will bet they are green....the corrosion will travel right up the wires....just a thought

 

So I should replace my wires? Before eventually they corrode away?

 

It happened AGAIN this afternoon!

Neutral didn't help, but with the key in the ON position, I was able to crawl under and try a trick a buddy showed me. Touch a screwdriver to one set of terminals right on the starter and it spins. Touch to the other one and it spun and Started right up...YAY!

So do you think it is something with the starter or somewhere in the signal to the starter to get it to crank over? I had power to the starter or bridging that gap on the terminals would never have worked. What do you think? I'm taking the starter off tomorrow to take it in to be tested. By the way, that starter looks pretty dirty/greasy.