pritchett511

4.0 jeep cherokee when it sits for the night it won't start (turn over) the next day, I changed the starter I have power going to it as well, I changed the relay I don't know what else it could be, I researched some things about the nss but could something be freezing and not working properly???? Any help would be appreciated thanks

Turbo X_J

If the starter has 12V going to it and fails to operate, it's the starter.

pritchett511

I already replaced that

Kalali

How old is the battery? You need to load test the battery. Static voltage readings can be deceiving.

pritchett511

Battery was in the jeep when I got it. It looks more old then new. Today is above freezing and I went outside and it fired right up. I didn't put cables on it or anything just turned the key and it fired.

tjwalker

Next time it fails to turn over, try starting in neutral and also try starting while wiggling the shift lever.

If either of these strategies allows the engine to turn over, you have identified a problem with the neutral safety switch.

foreveryoung001

I'd run it right down to the parts store and have them load test the battery for free. That might be the cause or it might rule it out, but start with testing the free stuff, and to test it properly, it needs to be load tested.

I'd also refresh all your grounds, and really inspect all of the connections to and from your battery. All of that is free, is good maintenance anyways, and just might be part or all of your problem.

Start with the basics, rule them all out as the problem, and then start looking at other things. Doing what was recommended for the NSS (wiggling the shifter and trying to start it in neutral) is also easy and free and could give you a real good indication about it being the NSS.

Temperature related problems can be a bugger to track down sometimes, but I'd still start with the basics, and the first "basic" when its cold around here, is make sure your battery has enough cold cranking amps.

firehawk618

Clarify "turn over"

To me that means starter cranking the engine. *I turn the key but it doesn't turn over*

I have discovered to the vast majority on the internet "turn over" means the engine is actually running. *I turn the key, the engine spins around but it will not fire up*

pritchett511

In my 3rd post when I said turn key and it fired right up I ment it turned over sorry, and yesterday I turned the key and it didn't crank but had all power everywhere else, today I get home and I turned the key and it turned over and started like nothing is wrong, I didn't wiggle the shifter or anything

XJlimitedx99

Sounds like either a bad battery or parasitic draw on your battery. Go get it tested. Refreshing your grounds would also be a good idea.

pritchett511

Well I just came in from messing around with my jeep. I have power to my starter, so I took a screwdriver to it and get nothing but winding. I pulled jeep up 5 ft to see if it will hit the flywheel and still nothing. I'm not sure how the NSS works but I've tried putting it in neutral and I get nothing. Thursday is our "jeep night" so I'll go over grounds and for some reason I keep having a feeling my starter freezes up in this cold weather (it's been below freezing every time I try to start this thing).

Turbo X_J

Let me get this straight, the stater is spinning when the key is turned to "start", but the drive is not engaging the ring gear? Just as an aside, it was -15F here this morning and my ride fired right up.

Larry's XJ

Sounds like the bendix is sticking/frozen. Pull the starter and check it out. Consider taking it in the house and leave it on the register overnight.

pritchett511

That's right, is it possible for some water to get in there n freeze it up?

Turbo X_J

At this point I'll stick with my original answer, it's the starter.