Here is the problem....

The Jeep (94 XJ) cranks and starts fine if it is totally cold or totally warmed up.

If I start it and drive it a short distance, like to the gas station or coffee shop. It won't crank at all. No clicks nothing.

If I wait about 15 minutes it will crank and start or I can jam a screwdriver on to the back of the starter solenoid and it starts fine.

It doesn't seem to matter the time of day or temp or anything. I switched the starter relay with the AC relay and it still does it.

Any thoughts? I'm leaning toward the ignition switch

Thanks!

 

you might be on to something with the ignition switch. have you tested the battery, or the alt.? i know there was a thread with same type of issue... ill look for it...

ok, i looked: go to the search option, do a tag search and click on the ignition option.

 

check igniton switch my 94 did the ame thing switch had melted causing bad conection

 

sounds like a bad starter to me.

 

i bet its a loose wire

 

If I bypass the ignition and just hotwire the starter it starts so I don't think it is a power or starter problem

I was really hoping to avoid taking the whole steering column apart

If it was intermittent I would agree with you but it is very consistent.



Thanks for the info everybody, I guess I'll try to bypass just the ignition switch itself and check it.

 

he can jump it with screw drver and it starts

 

you dont have to take any thing apart on a 94 in the column its bolted on the out side of the column above you shins were not talking about the key part its the part that the key pushes via a rod from key to swiths sorta looks like this

 

http://www.ehow.com/how_5786081_inst...h-jeep-xj.html

 

i have the same problem and i ran tests and it could be a neutral safety switch or something in the starting system it maybe out of adjustment

 

Thanks I wasn't aware of that!

 

Meaning the solenoid could be bad, check for power at the small wire while the key is in the crank mode, if you have power but no crank, replace the starter.