72gremlinkid

I am not getting power to my starter at all. The ignition key acted up sticking with power to accessories on while in the off mode the night before so I guessed that was the problem and I replaced that but it still does nothing when you go to start it. I can hear at least one of the relays under the hood kick on when I turn the key forward but no power goes to the starter. Starter is fine becasue I can use a wrench across the 2 starter terminals with the igintion in the run position and start the Jeep. What else is in this system ? I tried shifting it to neutral, park, etc already. I tried swapping relays since most of them have the same part number on them. Any help would be appreciated. I already wasted $40 on a new ignition switch and don't want to replace any more than I have to.

Thanks !!

ol"blue

What year is it?

72gremlinkid

oops forgot... 1994 grand cherokee, 4.0....

ol"blue

I'm not much on electrical. See if this can help. Jeep Wiring diagrams
If not post back and I/we'll try something else.

72gremlinkid

Thanks ol"blue but the wiring diagrams just got me more confused ! So I went back to the basics and tried to follow the wires and test the polarity, etc. On the starter I have the Red large Positive straight from the battery, and the smaller one that I jump across to make it start. The smaller one shows that it is grounded though, shouldn't it be neutral until I turn the key ? Orcould it be that my Starter solenoid is just bad ? Every other time I had a bad solenoid it usually made some sort of noise though and this one does nothing at all..... Any ides before I buy a $70 starter ?? Or should I just keep my $2 wrench starter for now ? lol Thanks again for the help..

ol"blue

I'm sending you a Private Message. Hope it's helpful.

72gremlinkid

I figured it out finally !!! .... It was actually the key assembly that goes into the ignition switch. It has a square opening in the ring that rotates the actual switch and a small part of that ring had broken off and when you turn the key all the way forward to start since a small piece was missing it was simply not making the switch go that last 1/4" that is needs to make starter contact.... I appreciate all the help just the same... Thanks !!

fangar

I'm having exactly the same problem, key turns but seems like its missing that last quarter inch. Dash lights come on, starter, all relays and fuses are good, but no power to the ignition wire, Did you have to replace the entire key cylinder?

72gremlinkid

For a while I took a junk socket I had laying around and cut one pat of it off to fit inside where the small swaure thing is to turn the ignition on put that on a 3/8 allen key and that was my key for awhile. But I went to the junkyard and pulled the entire assembly for ten bucks its not that hard take the steeringwheel plastic cover off that goes around it then it takes 3 T20 screws and just unplug the wires.

kurtdaniel

bad ground, i had that problem recently, run a ground wire from the starter to the battery

72gremlinkid

Post is a year old and solution was last post before your.....