We have a 2004 Grand Cherokee Laredo with a 4 L engine. We replaced our neutral park position sensor and the car started fine for a while. Now all of a sudden it wouldn't start until I shifted transmission level back and forth with foot on break. Finally the dash lit up and the engine cranked and started. We have a brand new heavy duty battery. The engine starts fine when it can get the signal to crank. Could there be an intermediate intermittent problem somewhere else other than the new position sensor? Any help would be more than appreciated. Thanks Cleve

 

This should be in the technical section, not the general Chat section.

 

I fixed it.

 

Thanks, Cruiser.

Sibley, since you have a problem with the dash not lighting up, I'm thinking the problem is probably NOT the NSS. That should have no effect on dash lighting. It really sounds like you have a lack of power, which suddenly comes back. That's not NSS behavior.

I'd check your battery cables and connections carefully, both ends (at the battery and wherever it connects. There are multiple places to check.. Don't be gentle. Push, pull, tug, yank. If there is a flaky connection, you want to BREAK it completely, so that you know it's there, so you can fix it.

Remember that corrosion can wick up inside cables and ruin them, so just pretty insulation does not guarantee that your cables are okay.

See my sig, #1.

 

Thanks for your help.

 

thanks. Will check it out.
Cleve

 

By the way, if your battery cable connectors are bad, do yourself a favor and STAY AWAY from these:



Garbage.

These kind of battery terminals are sold in every auto parts stores, and quite a few supermarkets and convenience stores. They will get you rolling in an emergency if you are stranded. That's ALL they are good for.

If you need to replace cables, either go OEM, or get you some (as below) and have some cables made. I like get cables made by http://www.bestboatwire.com/custom-cables/custom-battery-cable-assembly. I go up one gauge from OEM (more is a waste) and use the clear heat shrink on the connectors, so I can see if any corrosion starts.


Military battery terminals. Good stuff!



Here's a military terminal in use with cables as described above.


BestBoatWire.com cables with clear heat shrink on a military style terminal from Fastronix.

 

Here's a better view of the military terminal with the cables. This approach provides a very solid, reliable, and convenient way to attach multiple cables.

On my Cherokees, I go up from 6 AWG to 4 AWG on the battery cables. I don't know what they are on the Grand. I have not needed to replace mine yet.

 

Before
After

I cut these ones off mine. And put these ones on it.