Help Cherokee Guys !
My 08 Grand Jeep Cherokee w/ 90K miles has run perfectly until last week. 3 times, in maybe 60 successful starts, I turn the key and the engine won't crank, or even click (as if locked up)...although the dashboard lights go on and the radio
works, and the key will still allow me to lock and unlock car. My spare wireless
remote key, which I keep in the car, produces the same results.
After locking the car, and waiting 15-30 minutes, both keys work fine, and the car starts and continues to run fine.
Took the car to an authorized Jeep dealer for him to diagnose, and hopefully fix the problem, but we could not duplicate the "no start" problem, and his master computer indicated that EVERYTHING was working fine.....so it's hard to fix something thats not broken. I hate to start replacing parts, w/o being sure
it will correct the problem.
Any suggestions would be GREATLY appreciated.
tunafish60

 

sounds like the trans or shifter switch (in park) problem...

 

Things like this can he hard to diagnose at a dealer when it is that intermittent. It can cost you a lot of money taking it in unless they can actually see it happen. Next time it happens, go to the pdc under the hood and pull the fuse labeled WIN. That is for the wireless ignition node. That is your "ignition". Remove the fuse for a few seconds and replace it. That will kind of reset the module and may allow the vehicle to start if that is the problem. I have seen those modules lock up sometime and cause a no start. See if that makes any difference. If it starts after that, the WIN needs replaced.

 

Thank you so much J Wheeler.....that's a great idea. What is the "pdc" and where is it located under the hood ?
Your help is very much appreciated,
tunafish60

 

The PDC is the Power Distribution Center under the hood. It's the box with all the relays and fuses in it.

Here's something else you can try. When it won't start, shift to neutral, hold the key in start and move the shifter back and forth a little. If it starts, it's the Neutral Safety Switch or adjustment thereof.