1996 Cherokee Classic - No start

I have been having problem with my 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic, 4.0 L automatic in that it will not start. I turn the key and power comes on to everything, engine lights come on, but nothing, no crank, etc. Usually this happens after driving for awhile. Then if I come back a few hours later the car will start, a little sluggish at the start but starts.

I just recently had the neutral safety switch replaced 2 months ago, and that seemed to work for a bit, but a few weeks ago I started having sluggish starts and then no start one night. The next morning the car started right up. A friend of mine helped me do a simple tune-up, replacing spark plugs, wires, distirbutor cap and rotor, and seemed to work fine, but yesterday was traveling about 200 miles and noticed sluggush starts. At end of trip, parked car for about 90 minutes but then would not start. Nothin when turned key although appeared to have power to everything. However, about 90 minutes later tried again and started up although sluggish.

A coworker of my wife said a possibility is a wire or something getting overheated that prevents ignition system from working and after sitting for a long while to completely cool the engine then it works.

Any ideas? I thought perhaps a starter problem, but it seems that many on here who had similar problem tried replacing a lot of parts but still had the problem.

Any ideas would be appreciated, especially if I can narrow the mechanics focus so as not to be charged an arm and a leg to figure this out when the Jeep is running.

Thanks!

I have been having problem with my 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic, 4.0 L automatic in that it will not start. I turn the key and power comes on to everything, engine lights come on, but nothing, no crank, etc. Usually this happens after driving for awhile. Then if I come back a few hours later the car will start, a little sluggish at the start but starts.

I just recently had the neutral safety switch replaced 2 months ago, and that seemed to work for a bit, but a few weeks ago I started having sluggish starts and then no start one night. The next morning the car started right up. A friend of mine helped me do a simple tune-up, replacing spark plugs, wires, distirbutor cap and rotor, and seemed to work fine, but yesterday was traveling about 200 miles and noticed sluggush starts. At end of trip, parked car for about 90 minutes but then would not start. Nothin when turned key although appeared to have power to everything. However, about 90 minutes later tried again and started up although sluggish.

A coworker of my wife said a possibility is a wire or something getting overheated that prevents ignition system from working and after sitting for a long while to completely cool the engine then it works.

Any ideas? I thought perhaps a starter problem, but it seems that many on here who had similar problem tried replacing a lot of parts but still had the problem.

Any ideas would be appreciated, especially if I can narrow the mechanics focus so as not to be charged an arm and a leg to figure this out when the Jeep is running.

Thanks!


Hey Mitre8,

Try the TPS and/or CPS. If either one or both of those is bad you'll experience the intermitant probs you're having.

Thx, Phil:smile:

sounds like a bad starter with no crank.. common failure sign is no start when hot

Hey Mitre8,

Try the TPS and/or CPS. If either one or both of those is bad you'll experience the intermitant probs you're having.

Thx, Phil:smile:


Phil,

Thanks for the information, but I am a car neophyte so what exactly is the TPS and the CPS?

Thanks, Mitre8

Phil,

Thanks for the information, but I am a car neophyte so what exactly is the TPS and the CPS?

Thanks, Mitre8
TPS = Throttle Position Sensor (Usually on the throttle body)
CPS = Crankshaft Position Sensor (usually on/near bell housing)

Take Care,

TPS = Throttle Position Sensor (Usually on the throttle body)
CPS = Crankshaft Position Sensor (usually on/near bell housing)

Take Care,

If the starter won't even click, you don't need a tps or cps.

Try putting it in neutral and recheck. Is there a security light flashing at the time of failure?

Are you getting power to the starter relay, and to the solenoid terminal?

Usually a bad starter will at least click. Check for battery cable corrosion at both ends of all the cables. Wiggle them, tighten them etc.

P.S. What the heck is a neophyte anyway??? Some kind of aphid??

If the starter won't even click, you don't need a tps or cps.

Try putting it in neutral and recheck. Is there a security light flashing at the time of failure?

Are you getting power to the starter relay, and to the solenoid terminal?

Usually a bad starter will at least click. Check for battery cable corrosion at both ends of all the cables. Wiggle them, tighten them etc.

P.S. What the heck is a neophyte anyway??? Some kind of aphid??

Hi guys, having the same problem with my 96 cherokee and hoping for a little help. I sent a note to the original poster asking for his resolution and will share what I find out........ if anything.
Have to tell you as a women this is a very frustrating thing because my husband, boss and mechanic thought I was nuts when I first started explaining the problem to them! You know, got the dumb blond looks.....anyway, now I'd love to give them a solution to the problem that has them all scratching their heads!
Every once in a while I'd get in the truck to go.......and it wouldn't start. No starter click and full power to radio and such. Raised as a backyard mechanics daughter, I knew enough to put it in neutral and try to start it and......it DID! Woowho, so while I told all the guys about it.......since it would start, it never got much attention. This happened for several months. It never happened when it was cold, always once it had been driven for a bit.
Finally it stopped even starting in neutral..........but a couple times, it would start again after a few hours of sitting. Finally, after sitting for a couple of days........it still wouldn't start. Had it towed to the mechanics, and of course it started! He checked it out......and decided it was the neutral saftey switch......Had it back for a couple of hours and of course.......... running errands, it won't start again!
Darned frustrating!! Thanks in advance for any help! Cin

Cinwhim - What, if anything, happened with the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS)? Was it replaced or cleaned? Given that you used to be able to start in Neutral but not park still points to the NSS.

Cinwhim - What, if anything, happened with the Neutral Safety Switch (NSS)? Was it replaced or cleaned? Given that you used to be able to start in Neutral but not park still points to the NSS.

Well, they said they put a new switch in and the part alone was $350......maybe they got a bad part. He has it back today and is checking it out. I'll update when I know something. Thanks!

I have been having problem with my 1996 Jeep Cherokee Classic, 4.0 L automatic in that it will not start. I turn the key and power comes on to everything, engine lights come on, but nothing, no crank, etc. Usually this happens after driving for awhile. Then if I come back a few hours later the car will start, a little sluggish at the start but starts.

I just recently had the neutral safety switch replaced 2 months ago, and that seemed to work for a bit, but a few weeks ago I started having sluggish starts and then no start one night. The next morning the car started right up. A friend of mine helped me do a simple tune-up, replacing spark plugs, wires, distirbutor cap and rotor, and seemed to work fine, but yesterday was traveling about 200 miles and noticed sluggush starts. At end of trip, parked car for about 90 minutes but then would not start. Nothin when turned key although appeared to have power to everything. However, about 90 minutes later tried again and started up although sluggish.

A coworker of my wife said a possibility is a wire or something getting overheated that prevents ignition system from working and after sitting for a long while to completely cool the engine then it works.

Any ideas? I thought perhaps a starter problem, but it seems that many on here who had similar problem tried replacing a lot of parts but still had the problem.

Any ideas would be appreciated, especially if I can narrow the mechanics focus so as not to be charged an arm and a leg to figure this out when the Jeep is running.

Thanks!
sounds like the starter or solenoid

There is a starter relay in the power distribution center. Check it for corrosion, loose contacts etc. If there is another relay there with the same number on it, swap them and retest.

The NSS provides the ground for the relay. You should see if you can get a test light hooked up to check the circuits at the condition instead of just throwing parts (Money) at the problem.

Here's a link to a decent wiring diagram: http://www.autozone.com/images/cds/gif/large/0900823d80153eb8.gif