Ever since I bought my 98 XJ, I would occasionally have to start it from neutral, as it wouldn't start in park (especially after filling up with gas......not sure what the connection is there).

Recently, my Check Engine light came on and today it wouldn't start at all (at the gas pump). I attempted to run it through all of the gears to no avail. I was able to get it started by unhooking the battery to reset the computer and dropping it into neutral. Now, I can start it from neutral a couple of times before I have to unhook the battery again and my Check Engine light is still on.

This sounds like the NSS to me, but I could be wrong. Any ideas?

 

Is this a manual or an automatic transmission? I agree, it does sound like an NSS. You can search on here, and find some good information on cleaning the NSS.

 

i think you found you own problem, but i dont know much about auto's, every car i ever owned was a stick shift.

 

Here's a write-up on cleaning/adjusting your NSS. > NSS rebuild

 

The NSS is a mechanical switch, so from my point of view I don't see how disconnecting the battery would make it work again, if in fact the NSS is bad. I'm not saying it's impossible but it seems unlikely. Given your prior problem I would still say replace/rebuild the NSS but be prepared for other problems. Find out what the cel is for so you can fix all your problems.

 

Thanks, guys. It is an automatic.

 

The only thing the NSS does is provide a path to ground when the transmission is in park or neutral. If this path to ground is not made, the starting circuit does not work. You turn the key and get nothing. The only connection between the battery and the NSS is the battery ground cable.

You may have some wiring issue that moving the battery cables may fix. You may have to do some electrical troubleshooting.

 

tried to clean my NSS once upon a time.... went through the trouble of getting it off, only to find the screws were so rusted I couldn't even open it up to clean it....a new one is like 130$ or some outrageous price... thought about getting one from a JY that isn't corroded so I can clean it up...Just slapped the original one back on.. who needs reverse lights anyway....