I got a 96 Cherokee with the 4.0 and the Auto trans.

When I got to start it in the morning, she never starts the first time...

Ill try and start it for like 5 seconds, stop, then when I turn the key again she starts right up.

I ran injector cleaner, I changed the fuel filter, and a new battery. But nothing seemed to help.

Any ideas?

 

Just turn the key on and wait that 5 seconds... till the fuel pump kicks off, then see if it fires right up.

You could have an open injector allowing pressure to drop when shut down.

How old is the tune on it?

 

The last tune up was a few weeks ago, Ignition coil, plugs, wires, dist cap, rotor button, and oil.

It could be an injector, I thought I smelled gas about a month ago, but didnt think much of it ((BOOM!!!))

But injectors are expensive as hell. Any budget ideas? College students cant put money away for top of the line rigs

 

Search "Fuel Injectors"

If you smell fuel make sure the o-rings arent leaking... there just above the header. Lots of XJ's have burned to the ground this way.

 

I believe it lol, Seen em at the truck boneyard.
Would it make any sense if I said its only during the summer months and it did this last summer?