Went out today to move the Jeep, turn the key, dash lights but NOTHING beyond that. Not even a click! I talked my daughter who's the primary driver and she said it's "been doing that" and if she tries again it starts.....but I couldn't get it to. Looks like it just got worse.

Someone that's been down this path please help me!

Thanks

 

Could be the neutral safety switch. Shift it to neutral and give it a wiggle when starting it, iirc that will work if that is your issue. There are several good write ups on here on how to clean the NSS, so there should be no need to buy one.

 

OK, I should have stated that I tried moving the shift around, no even a click out of the starter, moved it into neutral, same thing. Also tried moving the wheel right a left, same thing. All I have is ignition lights.

My daughter tells me she would go ignition, start position and it would be dead. She would turn the key back to off and then it would start. Makes me think it 's something to do with the ignition switch?

I've searched the forum already, I can't seem to find anyone with a similar problem.

 

Wiggling it while its turned to start, like fisher says, is what I need to do now and then.

Cleaning the battery terminals to shiny lead on all four surfaces is something to do sometimes anyway, might as well do it now. Sometimes a corroded connection will just let a little current through, (dash lights), but no more.

Shiny! Good luck.

 

make sure you have good connection at the starter

 

OK, just worked on it, checked all connections, no problems, battery good, tapped on the starter...none of that help. However, I pulled the starter relay and put it back and it fired right up! Drove up and just bought a new one and it's happy again.

PROBLEM: BAD STARTER RELAY $13 fix

YAY!

Thanks everyone for the ideas.

 

Also Check and clean or replace your battery cables .Also clean your grounds. We had a similar problem ,maybe the same, ended up begin the battery cables where all corroaded inside the sheathing.

 

After a few days of being fine....I'm back to square one, the Jeep wouldn't start tonight.

I pulled the battery and checked it, verfied good at local parts shop. Cleaned the terminals and posts, the cables look great. STILL NO START. All of the dash lights up. Tried wiggling the shifter in park AND in neutral, nothing at all, doesn't even engage the solenoid. Not so much as a click.

Will the neutral safety switch act like this? It started fine for 3 days after replacing the starter relay! WTH?

 

OK, I think I figured it out. Tapped the solenoid while my daughter held the key and it fired right up! Looks like it's time for some parts.

SOLVED AGAIN: STARTER SOLENOID

I think swapping the relay out tweeked the voltage to the solenoid just enough that it behaved for a few days...until it got hot enough to stick again. Jes, isn't working on cars fun!? LOL

 

&$*&#%

Replaced starter, same problem! Took the new starter and the old one to local shop and both tested good. THIS IS BECOMING THE PROBLEM FR0M HELL!

Guess I'll try attacking the neutral safty switch next. However, I don't get anything from jiggling the shifter around in park OR in neutral.....nothing. Can this happen with a failing switch? The Jeep started this morning fine with the old starter, daughter drove it to school and it started after school.

HELP!

Does anyone know where I can get a wiring diagram of the starter system?

 

If the NSS is really bad it wont start in any gear...
Try jumping b and c, see if it starts.

 

I had a 2000 WJ with similar issues. It ended up being the ignition switch. The dealer repaired it and it was not all that expensive (I do not recall the exact amount). I have seen write ups on this, do a search, might be an easy fix if that is your probelm.

 

1990 That green one from the relay to the solenoid needs to get power for it to start.

 

Awesome....you guys rock....THANKS!

 

Will you please link me to that website where you found that diagram?

Thanks