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wont start. thought it could be the nss but im starting to doubt that

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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 05:42 PM
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From: islip terrace NY
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Default wont start. thought it could be the nss but im starting to doubt that

ok so my xj wont start. I started it last night to move it out of my driveway real quick. then when I went to move it back 10 minutes later it wouldn't crank. I was thinking it was the nss but after 20 minutes of going back and fourth between park and neutral it still wont even crank. so I pushed it back into the driveway. I just tried to start it again after I came home from work and still nothing. idt the nss can put a jeep out of commission for that long. any ideas whats going on?


I was thinking that maybe all the mud I had under the jeep from wheeling the other day froze onto the nss causing it to not work. just an idea that I had.. is that possible?
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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 05:56 PM
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Is it turning over and not starting or it's not even turning over at all?
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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by RTorrez1
Is it turning over and not starting or it's not even turning over at all?

doesn't even crank. I turn the key and nothing. starter maybe?
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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 06:15 PM
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Do you have power to everything else such as light and radio and any other accessories? You should also have your battery load tested to make sure that it's ok. But I think you are right that it may have something to do with your NSS. I know you said you tried to start it in park and neutral but did you try to start it in reverse and or drive. If you get it to turn over then it is more then likely you NSS.
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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 06:28 PM
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Originally Posted by RTorrez1
Do you have power to everything else such as light and radio and any other accessories? You should also have your battery load tested to make sure that it's ok. But I think you are right that it may have something to do with your NSS. I know you said you tried to start it in park and neutral but did you try to start it in reverse and or drive. If you get it to turn over then it is more then likely you NSS.

lights radio windows ect all work as they should so the battery is fine. I didn't think to try starting it in gear though
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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 08:56 PM
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reverse lights work?
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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 09:43 PM
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Originally Posted by Pelican
reverse lights work?


haven't worked in over a year. they come on only every now in then. I know the nss causes that
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Old Dec 17, 2013 | 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by billytoad631
lights radio windows ect all work as they should so the battery is fine. I didn't think to try starting it in gear though
Lights and radio do not put much of a load on the battery, so that is not a valid test. Put a volt meter on the battery and watch it as you crank the starter, the voltage should not drop below 9.6 volts. If there is no voltage drop at all you have a problem with the NSS or the ignition switch. Put a test light on the small starter wire and turn the key to the start position, the light should light up. If not, you have a NSS or ignition switch problem. If it does light up and the battery checked out good, you have a starter problem. The first thing to do is make sure the battery connections are good and clean and check the ground to the block and the battery cable at the starter solenoid.
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Old Dec 18, 2013 | 12:06 AM
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Classic gummy NSS? Hold the key over on start and jiggle the shifter in park and neutral. See if it hits.

Mine will always start it it was turned off hot. If I just re-park it cold, I need, (in my case), to pull back on the shifter while I'm holding the key to start.
If I cared, I'd try adjusting mine before cleaning it.

>>> http://bc4x4.com/tech/2010/jeep-neut...ty-switch-nss/
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Old Dec 18, 2013 | 12:11 AM
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Originally Posted by billytoad631
after 20 minutes of going back and fourth between park and neutral it still wont even crank.
Just got that^^. Still, jiggle it with the key turned over on start.
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Old Dec 18, 2013 | 07:58 AM
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I'd still guess nss. Get under there and lightly tap around the nss with a hammer. Had to do that before when it got real cold. After a few taps I did the usual jiggle and it fired right up.
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Old Dec 18, 2013 | 08:12 AM
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Originally Posted by heydockyle
I'd still guess nss. Get under there and lightly tap around the nss with a hammer. Had to do that before when it got real cold. After a few taps I did the usual jiggle and it fired right up.
This is something I wouldn't suggest to do. The NSS is fragile enough and you want to start hitting it with a hammer... Even if you say to lightly tap it, it's still not a good idea to hit it with a hammer.
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Old Dec 18, 2013 | 08:22 AM
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Put the Jeep in Park, set the e-brake, turn the key to the run position.

Once you've done all that you can either jump the starter solenoid at the start under the Jeep with a screwdriver or jump the starter relay with a piece of wire. Google it.

If it starts when you do that then you need to clean your NSS.
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Old Dec 18, 2013 | 10:38 AM
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Originally Posted by RTorrez1
This is something I wouldn't suggest to do. The NSS is fragile enough and you want to start hitting it with a hammer... Even if you say to lightly tap it, it's still not a good idea to hit it with a hammer.

Eh well to each his own. Mine now starts just fine though. Lightly tapping it can't be much worse then all the jarring it takes on the trail. And when I said around the nss, I meant the area around it, not the nss itself.

Last edited by heydockyle; Dec 18, 2013 at 10:44 AM.
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Old Dec 19, 2013 | 11:58 PM
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Guess Billy is still sitting there in his driveway with a no-start. Too bad jiggleing it with the key turned over didn't do it.
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