Jeep Cherokee electrical problem

[andyz1147]

I have a 95 jeep cherokee that has had a history of this reoccuring electrical problem. Most of the time it is at startup, but has also occured when driving. At startup, the symptoms are: I turn the key to accessory and get no lights whatsoever, but still get a door buzzer if the door is open. When I turn the key to start, I still get nothing (no voltage, no cranking, no clicking). This problem is very intermittent and sometimes if you try it 3 or four more times, all of a sudden, it will start up fine. Sometimes the problem will go away for a few weeks, a few months, or a few minutes.
It has also occured when driving, but only twice. This is quite scary because you will be driving and all of a sudden, you have nothing... no power anything, no engine...
The previous owner had the same problems and had put in 3 different ignition switches and the problem went away for a while, but still came back.
I examined the ignition switch and tried cleaning up the terminal on the ignition switch which was tarnished (the red one on terminal facing to the rear of the car). That fixed the problem for about two weeks. Then I traced the wire back as far as I could (about a foot) and replaced it that far because the first 6" were fairly stiff (signs of heat and corrosion). I couldn't locate this wire in any of the Haynes wiring diagrams, but assume that it is a positive coming from the battery that allows the ignition switch to route power to different locations, telling the car to keep running.
I just had the same problem again today (about a week and a half later).

What could be causing this problem? Is there some fuse or relay that isn't working, allowing this wire to get too hot? Could there be something messed up with the grounds?
Thank you all in advance for your help

[AlohaBra]

Use link to download a diagram of the 93MY XJ.
http://www.lp2aenergy.com/PDF/93XJ/

[wwwildman]

Originally Posted by andyz1147

I have a 95 jeep cherokee that has had a history of this reoccuring electrical problem. Most of the time it is at startup, but has also occured when driving. At startup, the symptoms are: I turn the key to accessory and get no lights whatsoever, but still get a door buzzer if the door is open. When I turn the key to start, I still get nothing (no voltage, no cranking, no clicking). This problem is very intermittent and sometimes if you try it 3 or four more times, all of a sudden, it will start up fine. Sometimes the problem will go away for a few weeks, a few months, or a few minutes.
It has also occured when driving, but only twice. This is quite scary because you will be driving and all of a sudden, you have nothing... no power anything, no engine...
The previous owner had the same problems and had put in 3 different ignition switches and the problem went away for a while, but still came back.
I examined the ignition switch and tried cleaning up the terminal on the ignition switch which was tarnished (the red one on terminal facing to the rear of the car). That fixed the problem for about two weeks. Then I traced the wire back as far as I could (about a foot) and replaced it that far because the first 6" were fairly stiff (signs of heat and corrosion). I couldn't locate this wire in any of the Haynes wiring diagrams, but assume that it is a positive coming from the battery that allows the ignition switch to route power to different locations, telling the car to keep running.
I just had the same problem again today (about a week and a half later).

What could be causing this problem? Is there some fuse or relay that isn't working, allowing this wire to get too hot? Could there be something messed up with the grounds?
Thank you all in advance for your help

My son's 89 was doing th same thing, and I suspected everything you mentioned above. I found that the negative battery cable was the problem. Just follow the negative cable from the battery to the engine block. Check to see that the nut at the engine block is tight and that the cable is broken. I found this out during the replacement of my son's cable ( the nut was lose enough for it to lose connection and not start).

[andyz1147]

Originally Posted by wwwildman

My son's 89 was doing th same thing, and I suspected everything you mentioned above. I found that the negative battery cable was the problem. Just follow the negative cable from the battery to the engine block. Check to see that the nut at the engine block is tight and that the cable is broken. I found this out during the replacement of my son's cable ( the nut was lose enough for it to lose connection and not start).

Thank you so much for your advice. I will trace the cable when I have some light in the morning. It is amazing how some little problem like that can bring an vehicle to a halt.