sapperguy

So if you read my intro thread, you know I picked up a 2000 Grand Cherokee that wanted to randomly not start. Got the cps replaced, drove it almost all the way home (just over an hour drive) with no issues, and out of no where, it died driving down the road. Pulled it over, shut it off, tried to re-start it, no good. It will turn over but it won't fire. After sitting for a few minutes and blocking some poor lawn mower shop's driveway in the middle of nowhere Missouri, it started. Here's the only trend I can find. If I turn the key and the gauges start reading (fuel, oil, battery, engine temp) it will start. If they don't start reading, it won't. That's all I've got. No check engine light, no weird noises, nothing. It just dies and will or won't start depending on it's attitude. I'm taking it to the local off-road shop today to get it checked out (they come highly recommended and won't ask for your first born for labor charges) but I'm curious if anybody else has had a problem like this?

Cherokee_Mike

Check your battery voltage.
I recently had a problem on my 2000 WJ - poor starting, engine kept cutting out and difficult to re-start and when the engine did run it wasn't smooth.
Even though the battery was only 6 months old it was only reading 11.5volts and the next day I checked it again and it was now reading around 7 or 9 volts - seems like the battery was failing internally. Fitted a new battery which was supplied under warranty and all has been well since.
May or may not be the problem with yours but a simple item to check.

dave1123

Gee, that sounds just like the bad ignition switches on the GM cars! That would be my guess. Try cycling the key when it won't start and see it the gauges turn on or wiggle the switch.

I once had a similar problem with my old Chevy truck and lost my temper. I slammed my fist into the side of the column and BINGO, everything came alive.

Welcome to CF! If you have a Limited, I'm assuming you.ve got the 4.7 V8, right. Also you location is important. I once posted with a guy about a cold starting problem. I found out his idea of cold was 65* in Hawaii, while I'm freezing my butt off at -15* in the great white north!

sapperguy

Yes the v8 and I'm at lovely fort leonard wood missouri

dave1123

Yeah, well, your user name gave me a clue. Thank you for your service. I'm a Navy vet myself, long ago. I just chased Russian subs around Cuba from the air. I come from a long line of military people, mostly Navy and one Marine.

As I said, check out that ignition switch.

sapperguy

I dropped it off at the shop this afternoon. I wanted to get a professional look over since it's 14 years old and I have no maintenance records on it. Maybe they can figure it out.