97 manual cherokee sport wont start

[2ftr]

hello everyone

I went out to my car this morning only to find that it wouldnt start. Its been acting a bit funny lately so im not suprised. its always cranked for a second before the engine would start, but it always started so I never worried about it. recently, I started to have problems with the idle when it started. The idle would be really high, or it simply wouldnt hold an idle and would shut off if I didnt gas it. in the last couple of days it wouldnt start at all, but it would click and the radio and gauges would turn on and eventually it would start. this morning I couldnt get it started at all. The gauges turn on but I only get a small quiet click when I try to ignite it. the lights turn off when I turn the key all the way and come back on when I let off of it. Thats all of the symptoms that I have noticed, any help would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Dan

[dave92cherokee]

Take the battery out and take it to autozone or somewhere you can have it tested. It sounds almost like the battery is having trouble providing the power to the starter. If the battery tests fine put it back in and check all the connections to the starter and those coming off the battery to make sure none are corroded. Then check the fuse in the engine fuse block to make sure it's good and the fuses inside the passenger compartment. If everything looks good and it still won't start try the old fashioned way of putting a screwdriver across the starter to jump start it and see if it cranks if it doesn't then it might be a bad starter.

[thinmints]

if you are going to take the battery and have it checked you might as well take the starter with you as well its really easy to take off and you can save a trip back to the parts store at the same time, also before you do any of that try putting your jeep in neutral and try and start it, You may have a bad NSS if it starts with no problems when you have it in neutral