So, as some people f you might know, I had a wreck in my 98 Cherokee. The airbags deployed and everything. The jeep protected us well.

Now it is time for me to go get the wreck to bring it home, after dealing with insurance for over a month. Did I mention I bought an almost identical jeep for its replacement?

I am told by the insurance company that my old jeep won't start. This will be an issue, as I need to be able to get it up on my neighbor's car trailer.

I am hoping there is a fuel pump shut off safety somewhere that I can reset? I would assume this is the most likely reason it wouldn't start?

 

You would assume incorrectly. There are a lot of reasons why it might not start.


Assuming you will be able to drive it home is a good way to get yourself into a nightmare.

Tow it to a place where you can work on it safely, and where it can stay for a while.

 

I am not assuming I can drive it home, I need to get it on a trailer. I also don't intend on working on it, it is totalled with a salvage title. I will use it as parts for the new jeep.

 

get yourself a u-haul dolly and push it up onto it. Thats what ive always done.

 

Big crank straps or a hi lift can winch it up onto a trailer.

But as far as possible safety shut offs, I don't know anything about that. Wish I could help more. I'm sure someone can shed some light

 

Probably $100 to have it dragged on to a flat bed & placed wherever you want it.

 

Yes, a flat bed is easiest and safest.

If the suspension is OK, you could use a tow dolly and a winch. Transfer case in neutral, automatic shifter in park if it is a part-time 4 X 4. If it is 2WD, remove and secure drive shaft.

If it is a full time 4WD, you must tow it with all 4 wheels stationary on a trailer or flatbed if you don't remove the drive shaft.

Your battery probably went down, or it may have been busted in the wreck. You might have a direct short to ground somewhere because of the wreck; there is wiring all over the place. I would be leery of putting power back to it and trying to run it; it might catch on fire. You would double total it then.

 

I am going to have AAA tow it, but now I have to wait a week for my new plus membership to take affect. It was the cheapest option at $32.

I can't believe it doesn't have a fuel pump shut off switch. I thought that was required. Oh well, I'll get it home and hopefully get it started so I can at least move it around on my property.

 

Many Ford vehicles from the late 80's onwards had one that would shut off the fuel pump in case of a hard hit or a rollover. The reset switch was normally in the trunk or behind a panel in the rear of the vehicle.

To my knowledge, Cherokees and other Jeeps don't have one.

 

I'm not surprised, the design hasn't changed much since the 80's besides adding airbags and such.

 

Well if you were banging around off road, climbing a rough hill for example, you don't want the fuel cutting off.

 

All that you would have needed to get it on a trailer was a cheap come a long like from Harbor Freight. All of the car trailers I have ever owned have all had winch's on them when I bought them or as soon as I got them home ordered one.

 

I agree, but it was not my trailer.

The real issue came in as scheduling, the place is only open m-f 8 to 4:30. It would cost me a missed day from work and even that wouldn't work because my neighbor was only available on Saturday.