Turn key to start but nothing
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 106
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From: Magnolia State
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Turn key to start but nothing
I noticed the last few times I've driven the xj it seemed slow to crank up. Like maybe a dying battery. My wife drives it up to her Mother's house and calls to say when she turns the key nothing happens. All the instrument lights come on like normal but the engine will not try to crank. I swapped out the battery thinking it was dead and still new nothing. Is there a fuse or something to look at? I usually research this stuff before asking but the jeep is blocking her mom's car and need to move it. Thank you for any suggestions.
Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 108
Likes: 2
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: Straight 6 4.0
If it clicks when you turn the key ( very faint ) I would guess the starter is bad. If you could try and hit it with something while someone turns the key. I’ve done that in the past and it sometimes work but not a permanent solution that’s only to get it moved. If it is the starter you’ll have to pull it and have someone rebuild it or buy a new one.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: wisconsin
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0l h.o.
I've got a similar problem with the '01, but my dash doesn't even come up. Tried the park/neutral fix with negative results. engine cranks, but no start. One of the local wrenches suggested it might be a fusible link or a bad chassis ground. Thought this tread a good tag-along. Any ideas? Thanks.
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Joined: Aug 2011
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From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I've got a similar problem with the '01, but my dash doesn't even come up. Tried the park/neutral fix with negative results. engine cranks, but no start. One of the local wrenches suggested it might be a fusible link or a bad chassis ground. Thought this tread a good tag-along. Any ideas? Thanks.
Really not a good tag along to this thread.
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Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Magnolia State
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Magnolia State
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
oh, and no check engine light so no codes
CF Veteran
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 338
From: PA
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Clean the engine grounds and check the battery cables for corrosion. Is the starter caked in oil and dirt? Even a light coating of oil can kill it, if its been getting inside. One of the symptoms is a slow crank, even with a fully charged battery.
Another possibility is a flaky ignition switch.
Another possibility is a flaky ignition switch.
Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 64
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Another thing to try - wiggle the gearshift while turning the key to “Start”. You’ll need two right hands.
My NSS was intermittant - sometimes it would start right up, sometimes you could shift out of - and back into - Park, and sometimes you had to just “jiggle the handle” front-to-back and side-to-side to get it to crank. Good luck.
My NSS was intermittant - sometimes it would start right up, sometimes you could shift out of - and back into - Park, and sometimes you had to just “jiggle the handle” front-to-back and side-to-side to get it to crank. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Magnolia State
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Clean the engine grounds and check the battery cables for corrosion. Is the starter caked in oil and dirt? Even a light coating of oil can kill it, if its been getting inside. One of the symptoms is a slow crank, even with a fully charged battery.
Another possibility is a flaky ignition switch.
Another possibility is a flaky ignition switch.
Another thing to try - wiggle the gearshift while turning the key to “Start”. You’ll need two right hands.
My NSS was intermittant - sometimes it would start right up, sometimes you could shift out of - and back into - Park, and sometimes you had to just “jiggle the handle” front-to-back and side-to-side to get it to crank. Good luck.
My NSS was intermittant - sometimes it would start right up, sometimes you could shift out of - and back into - Park, and sometimes you had to just “jiggle the handle” front-to-back and side-to-side to get it to crank. Good luck.
Where is the ignition switch? where the key goes? This is a video of what happens when I try to start it...
Last edited by HarleyRob; Jul 29, 2018 at 01:40 PM.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 106
Likes: 1
From: Magnolia State
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
ok, pulled the starter and had it tested. tested good. reinstalled. cleaned all grounds and checked battery cables. tried jiggling handle all around while turning key. STILL NOTHING.
Where is the ignition switch? where the key goes? This is a video of what happens when I try to start it...
Where is the ignition switch? where the key goes? This is a video of what happens when I try to start it...
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