Cherokee Sport Won't Turn Over

[rnd22outofcash]

This 1995 (could be '97) Sport 6 cyl., auto on some days will not turn over. When the key is inserted nothing happens when the key is turned. (not a battery or cable issue) This is a hit & miss situation. If it does not crank (which is 50/50), I can turn the key as far as I can as if I were cranking the vehicle, put my foot on the brake, and press the button on the shift leaver and move it gently back and forth and most of the time it will then turn over. I have to have it in just the right spot or something for it to crank. Is there a contact switch under the console going to the shift leaver that needs to be replaced? This really seems to be an issue on cold or rainy days. Eventually, it will crank but it might be 5 minutes or 30 minutes. Thanks...

[thinmints]

Originally Posted by rnd22outofcash

This 1995 (could be '97) Sport 6 cyl., auto on some days will not turn over. When the key is inserted nothing happens when the key is turned. (not a battery or cable issue) This is a hit & miss situation. If it does not crank (which is 50/50), I can turn the key as far as I can as if I were cranking the vehicle, put my foot on the brake, and press the button on the shift leaver and move it gently back and forth and most of the time it will then turn over. I have to have it in just the right spot or something for it to crank. Is there a contact switch under the console going to the shift leaver that needs to be replaced? This really seems to be an issue on cold or rainy days. Eventually, it will crank but it might be 5 minutes or 30 minutes. Thanks...

You could have a couple of issues, i would start with the starter, i had a very similar issue it turned out to be the starter after time the starter solenoid develops a flat spot and eventually gets to the point that if the starter solenoid is on that spot it wont start then i would look at the NSS , have you tried putting the jeep in neutral and try to start it, if it only starts when you do that then you need to replace your NSS try these ideas let us knows what happensopcorn:

[fredjacksonsan]

NSS (Neutral Safety Switch) FTW.

[rnd22outofcash]

Thanks for the input. I have tried neutral but it has never turned over in that position, only when moving it every gently up and down while in park. I read on the forum last night something about Crankshaft Position Sensor (CPS). Any thoughts about that? Since it won't do anything in neutral, then I guess that eliminates the possibility of the NSS.

Just seems to me that the shift leaver is contacting something to make it turn over but I don't see anything below the floor console. Any other thoughts?

I have given thought to the start as sometimes when it does turn over, you can hear it drag as if the start is trying to go bad or the battery is weak, but new battery and cables, so don't think the battery is problem. Thanks...

[fredjacksonsan]

For the CPS, symptoms include rough running, possible shifting issues, and the engine will cut out for a second or two sometimes. Also, starting is hit and miss, sometimes it will turn over but not start, then start right up 5 minutes later.

What you've described indicates that voltage isn't reaching the starter sometimes, until you jiggle the shifter.....this definitely looks like the NSS; you didn't mention that you had to jiggle the key, so IMO it's not the starter switch on the steering column, nor is it the starter itself - jiggling the shifter wouldn't affect the starter.

There's a great little how-to located here on the NSS that you might want to take a look at.

[rnd22outofcash]

Once the jeep starts, it runs great, so doesn't appear as though it is the CPS. On the steering column, I just turn the key as if I were going to crank the vehicle and hold it so the key is not being moved but staying in the start position. As I mentioned, I push in the button on the shift leaver and move the leaver in a back and forth (maybe 1/8 to 1/4 inch) movement and the starter turns over (sometimes). I have also taken the steering wheel and roated it as much as I could and also rocked the Jeep back and forth while in park and that (I guess) has also allowed it to crank. Just one of those weird issues that happens about 4 or 5 times a month with no notice.

[Saudade]

Are you saying that if you hold the key to START, and move the shifter gently it will eventually crank? If so, then that is likely the NSS. Could be hard to remove but easy to clean and rebuild.