So Ive searched online to find possible problems with my ZJ but I seem to only, or mostly, find info on XJs. Two weeks ago after a heavy rain here in Charlotte my 96 Zj wouldnt start. I charged the battery with my trickle charger and it worked fine. Today its dead again, totally dead. Lights wont turn on etc. I took my battery down to advanced auto, they charged and tested it and its fine. SO I guess something is draining my battery. I drove my jeep yesterday and everything was fine. No hard starts, no dime lights, nothing that would indicate the battery was going to die.

Could it be an ignition relay? If so where the heck is it? I know thats dumb and I should know but its not in my fuse panel.

Where whould I start looking for shorts? I have a multi-meter and I think sometimes the ignition switch gets weird on jeeps, any test for that?

Not sure if Im missing something really simple but any help would be great, thanks!

 

I forgot to mention that after the last rain storm my radio completely stopped working and there was water on the passenger floor board. Could water have gotten in, effected the radio, and is now draining the battery? Maybe a long shot.

 

my 93 zj did this too. After market radio kept draining battery, verified with my multi meter. I live in a rainforest, so tons if rain to short out lotsa electrical stuffs. Removed fuse for radio, battery checked ok, then jeep still wouldn't start. New battery, same ol problem.
New alternator, No Problem starting.
I eventually used multi meter on friggin everything before getting to the alternator, which the meter indicated was faulty.
I almost rigged up a NSS to my dashboard, thinking ignition etc was the problem.
Hope this helps! Aloha!

 

Dang, a woman who knows her way around a multi meter. I like it.!

 

The ignition relay, is generally speaking, going to be considered the same thing as the starter relay by most people.

 

Two things; the neutral safety switch (NSS) and the ignition switch, have easy simple testing procedures you may use to verify wether or not they are functioning correctly.

I believe they both use resistance-based processes for testing?

 

Turns out it was my aftermarket radio as well. I guess the guy I got the Jeep from cut some corners with wiring. I rewired, replaced the fuse and its been good for about 2 weeks now. Hopefully its 100% fixed.