Ok, guys and gals, newbie is back and has had my first problem with the 1996 Jeep Cherokee since I bought it in December.
My Jeep broke down at the school when I went to get the girls from softball tryouts. I thought it was the starter-I had juice to the lites and key, but it would not do anything. So, I took the starter out and took it to Autozone, and it was checked out as good. So, I am thinking the cables-the positive ones look bad and it is possible the inside is corroded. One of the bolts off the starter is loose and broke out from the hard plastic of the starter..
It almost seems like a sensor or something is keeping it from starting. The last couple of days it has sounded funny when starting-more of a hesitation, then starting.
Does anyone have any advis? No relay switch anywhere? Does anyone have a wiring map? Or know where I can get one.
Thanks Stormy

 

just completely dead? no clicking or anything?

 

try putting it in neutral, if it start, than you neutral safety switch is bad and needs to be cleaned(not replaced)

 

my wife's 96 xj does that as well, I need to get around to cleaning it before my wife and kids get stuck.

 

I tried the neutral start, no. And I have nothing-Zip. It just runs the buzzer and lights in the cab and radio. The battery tests good, so it must be in the ignition? What to change first-the cheapest-the switch?
Stormy

 

I " think" the ignition switch is down on the colume on these things like gm's... and the tilt in the wheel can cause it not to start some times..id check the switch and make sure its in right place.. maybe adjust it... I read another thread were when someone tilted wheel all the way down.. it wouldnt start...

 

Ohm out the neutral safety switch. If it doesn't work it won't start. If it doesn't start, it doesn't mean that its not the n.s.s. It could be completely crapped out. Knock out all the variables. Easiest to hardest. Don't work hard, work smart

 

sounds like your nss to me, I got the same problem. Try shifting into neutral, then try to start it while shaking the shifter. It should eventually should start.

 

My does the same thing all the time. Lucky it's a 1987, build the dodge corp, and has dodge starter relay under. If it wont start in park, or nuteral, I just leave the key "on" and short the relay with screwdriver. Starts every time that way.

 

That was under the hood, by the battery, oops.

 

How do i do that?

 

that sounds like a problem that I had. I had starter issues too but that doesnt sound like it. I think you need a new battery cable harness. its probably badly coroded like mine was. its simple and easy to replace. the corrosion travels inside of the cables for the length of them.

 

This is happening on mine. How do you clean it?

 

buy a new one ,best way to clean them.

 

Start simple. Even though your battery might test good the connections to the wires on the terminals might be bad. Take all the wires off and clean everything really good. Its free and you would be surprised by how much stuff is fixed that way.