96 jeep labors at start

Hello all, I have a 96 jeep cherokee 4.0 L inline 6 4x4. Over the past few months I have noticed that it really labors when it starts. However, today I went outside and tried to crank it and it wouldnt start. It would turn over but very slowly and the engine wouldnt start. I put a new battery in it about 7 months ago and a new starter in about 9 months ago.

I think it is something electrical. Every so often (about once a month maybe?) my interior lights will completely shut off and the car dies too. I would recrank it, and after much laboring it will start and run fine. I am a hunter and take the car offroad in order to get to my blind. There is a deep hole i have to go through that is filled with water. Every time I go through it my voltage gage goes crazy and the generator warning light comes on. This is probably related and thought you all needed to know. Any suggestions? THanks a bunch!

your light comes on probley because you are getting water on the belt and it slips instead of turning your alt. I would have your charging system checked, I would suspect a bad alt.

It has been sitting for a day now and i did the following:
tried to jump start to no avail
check distributor cap, cleaned connections. It is getting spark and turning over seemingly enough to start the engine.
tightened connections on starter
checked to see if fuel was in the rail. Fuel was in rail but was unable to check pressure because i didnt have the proper tools, but fuel did spray out of the cap.

All of this was done to no avail. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Check for a loose battery connection, not only on the battery itself, but where it's attached to the block.

Also, I just had a similar problem with my '92. Had fuel, had spark, but no start. It was usually just a tough start in the really cold weather (near zero degrees), but got progressively worse by not starting when it was a mere 25 degrees, then not start at all. Towed it to the shop. It ended up being a faulty computer. $$$ replacment costs. Look for other fix-it alternatives first. :2cents: Good luck!

Hello all, I have a 96 jeep cherokee 4.0 L inline 6 4x4. Over the past few months I have noticed that it really labors when it starts. However, today I went outside and tried to crank it and it wouldnt start. It would turn over but very slowly and the engine wouldnt start. I put a new battery in it about 7 months ago and a new starter in about 9 months ago.

I think it is something electrical. Every so often (about once a month maybe?) my interior lights will completely shut off and the car dies too. I would recrank it, and after much laboring it will start and run fine. I am a hunter and take the car offroad in order to get to my blind. There is a deep hole i have to go through that is filled with water. Every time I go through it my voltage gage goes crazy and the generator warning light comes on. This is probably related and thought you all needed to know. Any suggestions? THanks a bunch!


I have a 96 sport (not 4x4) . I don't know if a bad fuel pump is your problem but I experienced the same "laboring" and it WAS my f.p. It finally went out and after two tow-ins and 3 f.p. replacements my problem was cured. Now I never run the gas down to E and I try to always listen for the "hum" of the pump when turning the key to ON position before cranking......