A couple days ago i bought a 92 xj with 171,000 miles for $1100. I have had a few problems. One of those problems is the jeep not starting. When i test drove it i took it to my house to inspect it. When i went to start it up to take it back it wouldn't start. I hooked it up to my caddy and it started right up so i just figured bad battery. I bought it, and replaced the battery immediately. I found that the longer it sits the more likely its going to start. But if i start it, shut it off and try starting it again it wont work. Changing the battery didn't work and it still wasn't cranking, clicking or anything. So i put a new starter in. It started right away so i went to fill up the gas tank and had to call home for a jump. This time it wouldn't jump at all. So i told my girlfriend to put it in neutral so i can push it to the side while we ran to the part store, for what i dont know, so she put it in neutral and for some reason she tried to start it and it worked. Now starting it in neutral hasn't failed yet, but i gotta feeling that isn't going to last long so i need to find a solution. I think it could possibly be the neutral safety switch. I'M gonna try to take it off and clean it up before i spend $180 on a new one. Anybody have any other ideas? Thanks for your help.

 

neutral safety switch is going bad on you from the sounds of it.

 

I have the same prob in my 89. It's the neutral safety switch IMO. It's a slider plate connection on the side of the tranny I believe. Yours is prolly dirty or caked with mud.

 

Well least he has a simple $16 fix and doesn't have to worry about the battery or starter now.

My starter just looks old and I have a new one so I'm changing it b4 the snow comes.

Hey Caddy check all your joints and grease them while you are under there.

 

Heres a writeup on how to clean your NSS and save a ton of cash. Just be careful with the parts mentioned... you dont want to break it.

http://jeepin.com/features/nss/index.asp

 

Neutral/Park safety switch. Mine's done it to me once, but the PO warned me about it so besides the brief panic, I kind of expected it. Easy enough fix.

 

Nice tip OverlandXJ

 

Mine in my ZJ has been shot for about 1 year, I ended up putting a push button start in it before I figured out what it was....

 

thanks everyone for your input, im probly onna clean the switch up real good before i buy i new one.