93 GCL I6-197Kmi. Intermittant No-Start

[CoachKarl]

Hello Everyone,

I found a post from this fellow (BenBB) in the Archives a few years back that describes exactly my symptoms:

"Recently i've been having a problem on and off with starting my jeep. Its a '96 with an I6. Some days it will start right up no problem, but others i can turn the key and nothing. All it hear is a clicking sound coming from the passenger side, and the clicking continues even if I take the key out of the ignition. When i continue to keep turning the key it does nothing just makes some faint noises. I tried to move the shifter thing maybe its the NSS or something. A few more times..still nothign. Then out of nowhere it fires up and no problems for the rest of the day. "

Fortunately I have to deal with this issue inside my garage, right next to my toolbox. I am suspecting this is a PDC issue. Can anyone elaborate on a similar experience?

Thank You

CoachKarl

[CoachKarl]

Update,

I pulled and inspected all the pertinent fuses for the ignition, all okay.

I got my head under the hood and listened carefully as my son threw the key. Relay clicked properly but no sound from solenoid. (I switched relays around a bit and got no better results.)

I cleaned off around the starter, loosened, tightened all the nuts/bolts holding it on. I ran a wire and jumped the solenoid directly from the battery, with positive results. So the starter/solenoid are okay.

I crawled back a bit further, and had a look at the neutral switch. (P.Side, Mitsubishi 4 sp. automatic trans) I think I'll poke around the ignition switch on the column before I go back and fool with that puppy.

Does anyone know of any major harness defects to watch out for? This is an old car. Well maintained, but 170K miles (190 in the title of the post was a guess before I really had a good look at the thing)

Will post back in the morning with ignition switch teardown results.

[CoachKarl]

Update,

Problem solved. (Until further notice)

I Pulled the ignition switch as follows:
1. unscrewed 3 x #20 torx, (with hole)
2. unplugged the two harness connections
3. Blew 80 psi in every hole I could,
4. Banged (gently) on the bench,
5. Blew 80 psi again
6. Shot CRC into the keyslot & obvious friction points,
7. Threw the key back and forth about 50 times
8. Greased up the parts that I found grease on
9. Re-assembled

I owe this fix to you all. The forum does have many instances of this problem, but the subject lines are typically misleading. It requires some dilligence to sniff out the solution, which I did. I'd recommend y'all typically start your subject with something like "93, 4L, 160Kmi: (Your specific problem)" That way anybody can look at your post title and say "Hey, that's my car!"

Like Red/Green always says: "We're all in this together, and I'm pulling for you." Posting the solution to your specific problem will always to our mutual benefit.

Coach Karl

[CoachKarl]

Update.
This problem has recurred. When left outside on sub 20 degree f nights, the no-start problem happens. The car would start find in the 40 degree afternoons. Through further research in this forum, I found that the Neutral Safety switch is also a culprit. This JGC has 160K miles on it. The NSS was gummed up with something akin to the consistancy of tree sap. I removed, cleaned with carb cleaner, and re-assembled, and re-installed it. Problem solved. I came upon the solution via "search this forum" with key words, "reverse lights don't work". The NSS controls those as well.

Karl