Hello everyone, new to the forum. Anyway just recently got a jeep cherokee about 2 weeks ago. Don't have any problems with it besides this starting issue.
Problem: When I start the jeep it starts up everytime. But lets say its only running for like 15 minutes and I shut it off then, try to turn it back on it wont start. No crank or anything at all. But if I let it sit for a little while it starts right up. Also even when I shift through the gears still nothing happens. It doesnt stall or anything it stays running fine.

Any suggestions?

btw its a 1996 jeep cherokee inline 6

 

I would start by checking all your ground wires and making sure they all have good connections. I had that happen to me with my old Trans Am years ago...

 

Yeah but if that was the case wouldn't it affect the initial starting. Like the jeep starts perfect everytime. Only when I shut it down after its been running for a couple minutes it wont start back up.

 

check the wiring in the steering column. I use to have a 96 XJ where the wiring for the ignition switch got corroded and would cut out randomly. So take off the two covers around the hazard lights switch and the title wheel lever (tip: you need to unscrew the tilt wheel lever to remove covers) then peak your head under there and see if you can find any bad looking connections. Make sure you look closely because a bad connection may not just jump out at you. Try wiggling wires when your jeep won't start if there are any connections in question.

 

Thanks Ill look into that steering column ordeal. Ill let you know if thats the culprit later.

 

Special thank you to '98XJ4life!

Got it to not start and wiggled on those wires in the steering column and it fired right up.
So we have the concentration of the general problem. Thank you sir.

Hope this thread will help someone else that has the starting issues.

 

I thought the same at the time I had the problem. It drove me crazy for a couple weeks. My neighbor who is a master cert. ASE mechanic came over and in less than 1 min he found my ground wire loose on the back of the cylinder head. We tightened it and everything was gravy from then on. He explained that it was prob just loose enough that once the car started and ran for a bit everything would warm up and it would lose contact.

At least you figured it out it sounds like! Lots of knowledge and experience on this forum! Good luck!