My 96 4.0 auto xj won't start. I can usually remedy the problem by keeping the key cranked and moving the colum shifter around in park until It starts to crank. Sometimes neutral will work if park dosent using the same method . It's like a sensor dosent recognize its in park. It does this mostly after I run it for a really short period of time and go to restart it EX(going to the gas station less than a mile away and then trying to restart after filling up) which I find really odd. I think it's a switch but I dont know which ones to check or where they're at.

 

I'm thinking neutral safety switch.

 

You are more then likely correct thinking that it's the nss. Either it needs to be cleaned out and regreased or it simply needs to be adjusted.

 

Definitely NSS , get a new one online 80-100. It's possible to rebuild, I did to save money, you'll get a few more years out of it.

 

These are classic symptoms of a failing neutral safety switch, so I'm with the others.

The NSS can often be "refurbished" to return full function. Worth a shot. Here is a good link to the procedure. A couple of days before you dig in, spray the fasteners with penetrating oil; they can be pretty tough to break loose..

http://bc4x4.com/tech/2010/jeep-neut...ty-switch-nss/

 

Saw that Tjwalker posted, figured I would come in and learn something like I do in all his other posts. Thank You!