A week ago my jeep was running fine. On day I tried to start it and all I hear is a faint "click" and no attempt to turn the motor over. I turn the ignition to off, then try to start it again and the gauge lights don't even turn on and I do not even get a "click", totally dead. So I replace the battery. The issue persists. So I replace the starter thinking it is a bad solinoid. The jeep fires right up! I drive it home and park it. About an hour later I try to start it and the same issue happens. A "click", then nothing. It is acting like a short in the wireing somewhere.

With some research I have thought it is possibly a ground shortage between the battery and the engine. Or possibly an ignition switch issue.

I have an ax15 manual behind my 99 4.0. So I believe I do not have a neutral saftey switch. Correct?

What are your thoughts?
Thank for the help!!
Need to get my daily driver running.

 

I would try cleaning your grounds really well and check your battery cables for damage/corrosion.

 

x2

 

Clean all the grounds and retighten, check condition of cables also to see if they need to be replaced.

 

I cleaned them about 4 months ago. New battery so the posts are clean as a wistle. Positive cable looks a tad dated but it also does not appear coroded.
I really think it is a short somewhere such as a ground. Do y'all know where the batter ground cable connects to? Where on the block?

 

bump

 

There's one on the side near the distributor and there's one from the firewall to the back of the block. They were both filthy when I cleaned mine.

 

I had a similar problem happen shortly after installing my remote start. Naturally, I thought it had something to do with the remote start and the starter disable, but what had actually happened was this:


the lead battery terminal, after many cycles of loosening and tightening, literally broke in two. Couldn't even see that it had happened until I tried to disconnect the battery.

A month later, the negative terminal did the same thing.

 

This.
They can also corrode away so that even when the bolt is tightened all the way, it's not tight on the post.

 

Since it fired right up. Did you wiggle your shifter (if automatic) while trying to start it? Did you try starting it in neutral? If it starts then it is the safety switch on the transmission which is a common issue.

 

He's got a manual so no NSS. There is, however, a clutch interlock switch that goes to a relay in the PDC, so maybe check that?

 

And now that I think about it, have you checked that relay by swapping it with the radiator fan relay?

 

Pdc? Is this the kick panel fuse box? I have been wondering where the clutch saftey switch is.

Is it possible it is the ignition switch?

 

Bump

 

Pdc is the one under the hood. I imagine that the clutch interlock switch is attached to the pedal arm like the brake light switch. It's possible it's a bad ignition switch but check the relay first