XJ acting funny-looking for advice

[tjl1388]

When I turn the key nothing happens at all. Turn the key off and on a couple of times and it eventually starts normally. I hooked jumper cables to it and it doesn't help, so it is not a battery issue. Could it be the selonoid (sp?)?

 

[climbon]

Saftey "N" switch. Had same problem replaced it and now it's fine. Located on right side of tranny. Dealer will want around 300.00 for it.

 

[Matthew Currie]

Depends on how much "nothing" you've got. If you mean that absolutely nothing happens, including no idiot lights, gauges, buzzer, etc. look to the ingintion switch. If the "nothing" is no crank, look to the neutral safety switch first, then the starter. If it's the NSS, sometimes it will still crank in neutral when it fails in park.

 

[Paris]

Does the end of the positive cable look fried? Sometimes the cable going to the starter solenoid can wear thin and develop pinholes in the insulation. When you try to turn the engine over the positive cable grounds out and energizes the chasis. It doesn't happen everytime, just intermittently, but when it does, it's like you described: absolutely nothing happens, no headlights, no radio, nothing. If you move the cable around a little the car starts, or sometimes it starts after a few minutes without doing anything. They best way to spot it is that after a while the insulation at the battery end begins to show signs of overheating.

 

[Ron Hyslop]

If the fan still works, it's the ignition switch.

 

[4wheelin']

I had that problem and it was the starter, I've gone through two in the last 3 years and for about two weeks I carried a stick so that if it wouldn't start i could knock it with the stick that would fire it right off. I'd say that its worth a try to knock the starter and see if it fires up. I also reccomend cleaning the battery contacts...

 

[tjl1388]

All the lights and radio fire right up, just nothing else. It will not start in nuetral. I take it out of park and put it back in and it usually starts.

 

[Joe R.]

do not go and buy a new switch. take it off the passenger side of the tranny... make sure you record where it was sitting when you unbolt it. There is an adjustment there to adjust when the engine can start... Take the switch completely out and disassemble it. there will be a wiper arm which controls the backup lights, neutral/park starting. This usually gets all gummed up inside. clean it with electrical contact cleaner. and use di-electric grease on the inside. This repair will only cost you about $6 for the contact cleaner and grease... alot better than $300... I had this problem, it started out with no backup lights, then it got worse to where i didnt know when my jeep would start. Mine is a 95, it has been nearly 60,000mi and still no problems. Try it!
~Joe~

 

[Dragonslayer]

Definitely sounds like the Neutral Start Switch (NSS).

The switch itself is fairly easy to rebuild yourself. Just don't lose any of the
tiny bits. Plenty of info on how to do this online.

Putting it back and re-aligning the switch is another matter.

The Shop Manual says to align the vertical groove on the valve shaft with a
"standard line" that is molded on the switch cover. Sounds easy, but for me,
this has always been a blind shot, hit-or-miss ordeal. It also often resulted
in me still having to jiggle the shifter handle in order to engage the starter.

Instead, I've found that using a "beep" continuity tester on the "B" and "C"
terminals on the switch harness to be more accurate. Most digital VOM
meters have a continuity tester built into them.

There are 8 terminals on the connector. Looking dead-on at the connector
end, with the retaining clip held at 12 o'clock up, the "B" and "C" terminals
are the two center terminals, lower row.

1) Set the transmission in "Neutral".

2) Slide the switch fully onto the transmission and install, and torque,
the Adjusting Bolt. This assures that the switch is fully seated and
square against the transmission body.

3) Install the lock washer, and torque Attaching Nut on the valve shaft.

4) Return to the Adjusting Bolt, and loosen it by 1-2 turns.

5) Connect the continuity tester to the switch harness terminals ("B" and
"C") and rock the switch body a few degrees, back and forth, using your
hand until you hear a "beep". Keep rocking the switch body back & forth
a little until you think you feel that you've found the "sweet spot" or
center-most position for obtaining the "beep".

6) Hold the switch body securely and tighten the Adjusting Bolt.

7) Get in the driver's seat and confirm everything by putting the transmission
shifter in every gear.

You should hear "beeps" only while in Park, and Neutral - without having
to jiggle and shake the shift handle.