I have reciently noticed a crackling noise comming from that plastic "box" thing between my steering wheel and the dash, you know, where the keys go, lol. Also sometimes when I start it my radio, wipers, climate control, and the other acc. don't work until I wiggle the key. It has just above 152000 miles on it. is anyone else having this problem??

Should I put a new Ignition switch in? do you think it is something I should worry about? We used to have a 94 Grand Cherokee Laredo which caught fire after sitting for about 6 hours. But, the cause of that one was a bad rear wiper motor. I kind of would like to keep this one.

Any input form anyone? anyone have this problem before??

That cover should come off if you can find the screws that hold it. The heads should be on the underside of the column.

Once it is off, wiggle connections, play with the key and maybe drive it like that for a few days if nothing shows up right away.

If it is sparking and cracklin' there might be the heat buildup that you can feel too.

JD

Bump... (I can do that... right??)

how many keys do you have on your key chain?

I only have 5 keys, a key chain and three remotes, Its isn't those though, I already assumed that and drove around with just the jeep key in the ignition, still made the crackling noise though.

Hi 95XJ!
I'd go with what JD recommends, take that cover off the column. You'll need a set of torx and if you have tilt, you'll have to unscrew the tilt lever. Once that cover is off, just drive around for a while (as long as it takes) until you see, hear or smell the problem. If it's electrical, it'll show up. Could be a number of things... A loose connection will act that way, and like JD says, heat is a by product. From your first post, it sounds like the accessory power connection.
Good luck!

Thanks for the info, I guess my steering column cover is comming off.

My steering column makes a crackling noise, but only when I'm using the turn signal and hold it halfway (does that make sense?). No noise when just driving. No noise when I fully click the signal to left or right. Get the noise when holding halfway. Obviously some wiring gack. Don't have any solution for you but didn't want you to feel alone.

lol, I figured mine out, Ithe ign switch itself went bad. I replaced than and no more noise. Ironically mine makes noises too when holding it half way, I think that its just the flaasher or something