So I drove my XJ last night and had to put the defrost on, only to smell a burning rubber. So I figured it was the clutch and turned off the defrost.
Today I went out to start it and NOTHING! I have battery power (stereo and heater fan). There is no clicking or anything. I turn the key and only my stereo comes on.
What could this be? Please help!

 

anyone?

 

does it make a click or anything?
can you hear the fuel pump from your gas tank when you first turn the key forward?

 

When you say the stereo comes on... are any of the other electronics affected?
Maybe that burning rubber smell you caught was wires or a relay melting.
I'd turn the key into th forward position (running)
Make sure you are in park,
and try to jump the starter with a screwdriver.
Basically, put on a glove (leather works well) graba a screwdriver, and make the connections on the starter-sylenoid.
Make sure you DO NOT tough the screwdricer to ANY body (of your jeep) parts.
It'll ground out if you do.
You follow the red wire from your battery to the sylenoid, usually it's the thick wire with a bigger ring on the end.
You touch the tip of screwdriver to the OTHER wire connection stud, then allow the screwdriver body to make the connection with the thick/red/big ring wire/stud. The juice takes the path of least resistance, turning the starter.
If the starter turns, you know the problem is somewhere electrical from the ignition to the starter.
Then you get to download the schematic of your jeep dash and learn how to take it apart so you can track down the bad wire.

Good luck bro.
Billy

 

you wouldn't happen to have pic would you?

 

did you check the switch on the steering coloum under the dash. mine burned up recently.

 

Sorry man-
I'm non-technologically advanced.

 

[IMG]file://dmc-fs7/fs7_ctx_homedir$/Wczerw/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/starter1[/IMG]

[IMG]file://dmc-fs7/fs7_ctx_homedir$/Wczerw/My%20Documents/My%20Pictures/starter2[/IMG]

The solenoid is on the top of the starter,
(the smaller cylinder).

This is located lower on the car, usually you have to lie underneath it and reach up to jump it.

On the top pict, you can see the front of the solenoid, the two posts you have to "jump" with your screwdriver.

RemEMBER!!!!

touch the little one that does not have a wire coming DIRECTLY from your battery first, then make the connection with the screwdriver to the post with the hot wire.

If you touch the hot wire first, you'll get bit!

Good-Luck!

Billy

 

did you try running CEL codes?

 

also check ur fusialble link

 

UPDATE - turns out it starts while in neutral, so it's the safety switch.
better that then having to trace a bad wire.
Thanks BillyBoy for your input.