Battery good, but NOTHING at start

[wjdoyle]

I have a 1992 with 165,000 miles. For the past year, I would have a problem after shutting off the vehicle where turning the key would do nothing. If I waited a few minutes, it would start. Two days ago, however, it would not start at all and now I'll need to tow it to the shop.

After reading the posts, I've seen mention of the crank sensor, starter relay and solenoid as solutions to starting problems. Battery is good, gauges come up when I'm in the "On' position, but no cranking at all.

Any help would be appreciated.

Bill

[Saudade]

No click, no sound, no nothing at all? If so, I'd start (no pun intended) with the solenoid. You can run a jumper from the battery to the solenoid to see if it kicks in. If so, then look to the wiring or maybe the ign switch. If not, change the starter.

The crank position sensor won't prevent it from cranking, just starting due to no spark.

[Bad_Wing]

If nothing at all when turning key, check safety switches. A quick way to check an auto is to put foot on the brake and slowly move the shifter hoping for cranking. My 93 GC neutral safety switch is crazy expensive, so I've "cleaned" it a couple times. Adjustment can be a pain.

[macmac911]

I have the same issue. It is the Neutral Safety Switch. I have not gotten around to cleaning it, I know the replacment is not cheap. What I do is carry a screw driver with me, and when it acts up mostly when it is cold out, I jump it with the screwdriver at the starter.

[rlagrand]

I have a similar problem that appeared this morning.

My Jeep - '97 Cherokee Sport w/ straight 6 & auto transmission - 4WD

When I turn the key I get a nice click from under the hood but no action. I think I hear a secondary click from near the floor or the shaft tunnel
update
with tranny in DRIVE - no clicking
with tranny in PARK or NEUTRAL - clicking
with starter relay pulled - no clicking
update 2
The clicking is coming from the starter area - solenoid?

The brake warning light on the dash lights up and the radio display blanks out until the key is released from the 'start' position. The volt meter doesn't dip at all.



Any thoughts?

How hard is it to clean the NSS? What's involved? Procedure?
update - found it:
http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...+safety+switch

update 3

FOUND IT! The battery terminal connections had become corroded. A little sideways tap with a tool to turn the connection slightly on the terminal and it starts right up. I'll clean and grease the battery terminal connections thoroughly this weekend.

Thanks.
Robert

[Saudade]

I got some corrosion preventive felt washers that go under the terminals that seem to help keep things clean. Everytime I open the hood I check the termnals. You may want to slice and peel back a bit of the insulation to see if the corrosion has reached the wire as well. Mine did and I had to change the cables out.

As for your clicking behavior, this is normal. The NSS prevents energizing the starter in when not in park or neutral. Unless there's some reason to mess with it, I'd leave it alone.

[rlagrand]

Originally Posted by Saudade

As for your clicking behavior, this is normal. The NSS prevents energizing the starter in when not in park or neutral. Unless there's some reason to mess with it, I'd leave it alone.

Yeah, I had pretty much ruled out the NSS after I determined that changing from PARK to REVERSE altered the behavior of the clicking.

Robert