XJ: 1999 wont start FIXED THANKS - Great Lakes 4x4. The largest offroad forum in the Midwest

hman1991 · October 18th, 2012, 09:06 PM

i just picked up this cherokee and can not get it to start with key. if i turn the key on and jump the starter it fires right up, i can hear relay click when i turn key to start but nothing. also tried in neutral. it has been setting for awhile. any ideas would b great.

mrclean · October 18th, 2012, 10:05 PM

Sounds like a dirty neutral safety switch. There is a write up about how to take it apart and clean it if you search online.

chriszildjian17 · October 19th, 2012, 02:06 PM

Those switches are pricey to. just had to buy one. the were like 300. it was for a friend but his cherokee did the same thing. switch fixed it

SlayerXJ · October 19th, 2012, 03:34 PM

on my 95, i had to rock it back and forth in park a few times, then it fired.

98ZJ318 · October 19th, 2012, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlayerXJ

on my 95, i had to rock it back and forth in park a few times, then it fired.

Thats the NSS. Mine gives me all sorts of problems, usually just have to roll it threw the gears and it'll fire right up in N. Some people get lucky and can clean the contact points, while others get F'd and it'll break. I need to do this but don't have the ambition.

mikeb2275 · October 20th, 2012, 02:27 PM

see if you can find the relay for the starter and make sure it is clicking when you turn the key on if it does then it sounds like the starter solenoid

hman1991 · October 21st, 2012, 02:40 PM

Alright I bypassed the nss first. No luck. Replaced it second. No luck. There is power going out of the ignition and an hear click of a relay inside on the fuse block. Waiting on someone to come home to varify the one under the hood. I had taken the starter to AutoZone and it passed, also if I jump the terminals on the starter relay it also turns over. I also tried replacing the relay.

go1lum · October 21st, 2012, 03:15 PM

Just an idea, broken wire somewhere?

hman1991 · October 21st, 2012, 03:22 PM

Problem solved. Wasnt getting power to relay. Had a broken wire at firewall. Also for the guys that are having problems with yohr nss. To bypass just the neutral start without messing with your trans. Just connect the 2 black wires togather. I did it on the nss side of the grey plug under the hood. Thanks for everyones input.

October 18th, 2012, 09:06 PM	#1
hman1991 Senior Member Join Date: 02-04-06 Location: Holland Michigan Posts: 474 iTrader: (7)	1999 wont start FIXED THANKS i just picked up this cherokee and can not get it to start with key. if i turn the key on and jump the starter it fires right up, i can hear relay click when i turn key to start but nothing. also tried in neutral. it has been setting for awhile. any ideas would b great. Last edited by hman1991; October 21st, 2012 at 03:22 PM.

October 18th, 2012, 10:05 PM	#2
mrclean Silver Lake Join Date: 11-06-05 Location: clarkston, mi Posts: 6,190 iTrader: (139)	Sounds like a dirty neutral safety switch. There is a write up about how to take it apart and clean it if you search online.

October 19th, 2012, 02:06 PM	#3
chriszildjian17 Member Join Date: 08-13-11 Location: greenville,mi Posts: 89 iTrader: (0)	Those switches are pricey to. just had to buy one. the were like 300. it was for a friend but his cherokee did the same thing. switch fixed it

October 19th, 2012, 03:34 PM	#4
SlayerXJ To Live is To Die Join Date: 04-22-06 Location: Ann Arbor, MI Posts: 2,816 iTrader: (91)	on my 95, i had to rock it back and forth in park a few times, then it fired.

October 20th, 2012, 02:27 PM	#6
mikeb2275 Senior Member Join Date: 11-13-10 Location: bronson,mi Posts: 412 iTrader: (13)	see if you can find the relay for the starter and make sure it is clicking when you turn the key on if it does then it sounds like the starter solenoid

October 21st, 2012, 02:40 PM	#7
hman1991 Senior Member Join Date: 02-04-06 Location: Holland Michigan Posts: 474 iTrader: (7)	Alright I bypassed the nss first. No luck. Replaced it second. No luck. There is power going out of the ignition and an hear click of a relay inside on the fuse block. Waiting on someone to come home to varify the one under the hood. I had taken the starter to AutoZone and it passed, also if I jump the terminals on the starter relay it also turns over. I also tried replacing the relay.

October 21st, 2012, 03:15 PM	#8
go1lum Senior Member Join Date: 11-03-08 Location: Mesick/Michigan Posts: 373 iTrader: (4)	Just an idea, broken wire somewhere?

October 21st, 2012, 03:22 PM	#9
hman1991 Senior Member Join Date: 02-04-06 Location: Holland Michigan Posts: 474 iTrader: (7)	Problem solved. Wasnt getting power to relay. Had a broken wire at firewall. Also for the guys that are having problems with yohr nss. To bypass just the neutral start without messing with your trans. Just connect the 2 black wires togather. I did it on the nss side of the grey plug under the hood. Thanks for everyones input.