3rd Times a charm (start problems)

[99Cherokee]

Ola

Well need a little help with the Jeep. Every morning and after being off for about 5 minutes it takes 3 turns of the key to get the Jeep started. Its like clock work. I am thinking the sparkeys are not firing in sequence but would love to hear if it could be something else. Well wouldn't love to hear it if its expensive. The battery is new but could it be a bad cell? thanks for any response

[89ltd]

when you say it takes three turns of the key, do you mean that it is not turning over or it is turning over but will not start.?

[99Cherokee]

It's turning just not starting until 3rd try.

I have to turn the ignition completely off after each try then 3rd time, bang

[Saudade]

Uh... How long are you holding the key in START?

[99Cherokee]

The same as if you were starting it with no problems...about a 3 to 4 second turn, 3 times, on the third (sometimes 4th) turn it starts up

[Saudade]

and.... what if you were to hold it on start longer than 3-4 seconds? Will it start?

What if you turn the key to RUN, and wait a few seconds, then turn to start?

[99Cherokee]

Same thing..

Has to be turned completely 3 times before starting...no if ands or buts.

Turning it on run 3 times doesn't work and holding it longer doesn't work, nor giving it a little gas or giving it no gas at all...Like clock work has to be turned 3 times to start

[Saudade]

OK, so that's pretty bizarre to me. Maybe you need to look at some relays. Possibly the on-off cycles are getting a bad relay to finally "connect" and get you going.

When you turn the key on (do not start), do you hear the fuel pump going?

Have you checked to see if you're getting spark during the first start cycle?

[99Cherokee]

Yes the fuel pump kicks on, I am not sure about the relays haven't dealt with that before. I think it may be the sparks because I resently hauled my wifes dodge stratus from Florida to Colorado using the Jeep. May have burned some of them out

[Moe Norman]

My 2001 Cherokee Sport does the same thing, only it starts on the second time. I've gone so far as to keep the key turned for 10 seconds (out of frustration) and still nothing. It will teeter on the edge of starting. Then I put the key back to OFF and try the second time and bingo, it starts like nothing was ever wrong.

The beginning of the problem appeared to coincide with my engine light coming on. I believe the engine light was due to a loose gas cap, however.

Also, it doesn't happen every time. I'd say that it required two attempts about 90% of the time when the problem first started about a month ago. Now it happens about 60% of the time...so it seems to be improving. The odds of getting it to start on the first try increase the more recently it was that the Jeep was running. For example, it's more likely to start if I just turned it off for a few minutes than it is to start after sitting over night.

It's very confusing.

[AlohaBra]

Tip: this is an old thread....starting a new thread is actually a better idea. Also..since 99 has not reported back...we don't know what he finally found.

But, your problem is probably the fuel system depressurizing while it is sitting.

The fix on the 01 MY is a new fuel pump module that is located inside of the fuel tank, which will entail draining and dropping the fuel tank. A somewhat costly fix.

The workaround is to:

1. turn the key on and wait for the pump to repressurize the system
2. then turn the key off
3. then use the key to start the vehicle with fuel pressurized again

Report back if this does not work.

Best regards....