95 cherokee wont start

hi, could someone please help!!!!!!!!! iwas driving down the road and all of a sudden with no warning my jeep just died, all power, engine everything,i played with batery cable, dash lights came back on. someone tried to jumpstart me, nothing. changed starter, nothing, change battery also. the power seems to be there now. but when i try to start it, its as if the battery was totally dead,, all you hear is a click sound.:shakehead

Hi Michelle..

1st off, I know this can be or is overwhelming. Sry.. Cars are trucks etc... It's a process..

Start here-> http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=687635

I know it's a long, incomprehensible read at 1st, but read it. Again, several times if necessary..

Your issue could be several things. Battery cables, various sensors, etc..

Posting here to help fix your problem will require time and work on your part in order to receive the correct diagnoses of your particular issue. Every Jeep is similar, though unique in it's quirks.

All of your feedback is welcomed and when available, waited for...

-Has there been any work done to your Jeep recently?

-As far as the replaced battery and starter, and still No Start... Try starting it in Neutral.. Does that work?

**There are 2 things that really come to mind here.
1.NSS- (Neutral Safety Switch)
2.CPS- (Crankshaft Position Sensor)

**Look here-
CPS 1/2 way down..
http://www.lunghd.com/Tech_Articles/Engine/Basic_Sensors_Diagnostics.htm


**And here-
NSS.. .
http://www.cherokee-jeep.com/1-2swremov.htm

~Good Luck!! :banghead: I know..

hi citizen at large, thankyou for your reply, no, there hasnt been any work done on it before this happened, i tried starting it in nuetral, nothing, still as if its just dead

Check all the cables both power and ground to make sure all connections are tight and don't forget to check the ground strap from the back of the engine to the firewall. Another member recently had a problem similar and turns out it was a loose ground wire causing it not to start.

Have you changed the battery cables< could be bad ground or cables could be corrided unside causeing voltage loss. [email protected]

The click sound is the key to the problem... Have someone turn the key while you listen outside the engine compartment. Keep your hands in your pockets, not in the engine compartment! If you changed the battery, even if the terminals were not great, just doing that usually is enough to get it started. I'ts likely that you have a bad starter relay or as the citizen said, possibly a bad ground (which you can usually see sparking or smoking when trying to start) A quick way to bypass that is to take a jumper cable and run just one side from the negative (-) post of the battery to a good solid place on the block (not near fans, belts or exhaust) If the engine cranks with the cable in place change or clean the ground cable at both ends.
When describing a no start, it is important to specify if the engine cranks (turns) or not. I assume yours is not turning.
By the way... If you find out where the click is coming from, check the wiring at the starter to see if volts are getting there (big fat wire:12v all the time, smaller side wires should be intermittent 12v, only when key is turned .It's best to use a volt meter for this, not a test light (lights lie sometimes)

I know I said a lot there.. but dave atually gets the credit for the ground strap checkings.. lol

Thanks though thundergod.. 1320=bro?? If so, w3'123 130th312s! LOL!!! Damn, that actually took some thinkin'! Glad to have you either way.. You seem quite knowledgable on these subjects.. You are/have been a mechanic before?

No credit needed just glad to be keeping another one on the streets and out of the scrap yard.

You can check the resistance of the Crank sensor with an Ohm meter to see if it is within specifications. Disconnect the electrical connector near the back of the fuel rail. Place the ohm meter's test leads on the B & C terminals. If it reads no continuity, then the CPS should be good. If possible take to the nearest auto parts and have the codes read. That should tell you what is wron.

To test for a bad starter or a bad relay, you can buy a remote starter switch from the local auto parts store ($14 or so) and hook it up according to the instructions (one connection to battery and one to small terminal on starter) turn the key to run and hit the button, if the starter turns over then it is the relay, if the starter clicks or fails to turn over then it is the starter.

Wildguy: This is where communication is important: The "customer" Michelle, says that she had no power anywhere, then some power that went away as soon as she turned the key (paraphrasing) You can take the crank sensor out of the car and put on the front seat... The vehicle will still crank (but not start) This is the first indication that there is an insufficient electrical connection that is breaking down under "load" provided by starter.
I don't mean to be "picky" about this but too often I've seen the same communication breakdown (led zep?) between customer/service writer/ technician. It tends to waste a lot of unessary time.
We haven't heard from Michelle but I think the jeep is already back on the road.