Jeep won't Start - Off-Road Forums & Discussion Groups

WickedZJ · #1 05-18-2009, 01:02 PM

I have a 94 5.2L Grand Cherokee. I drove it home from work no problem on Friday. Went out to try and start it this morning and nothing not even a click. I checked the battery and had 12V, put the trans in neutral still nothing not even a click. I swapped out the starter relay twice with two other relays and still nothing. After searching on here and seeing someone ask if it could be jumped with a screwdriver or not I figured I would try that and still nothing. Saw sparks as expected but nothing out of the starter. I replaced the starter about a year ago could it be dead already? Could there be anything else to check? Best I have found from people so far is hit it with a rubber mallet. Any help is greatly appreciated.

WickedZJ · #2 05-19-2009, 05:06 PM

Anyone? I tried hitting it with a rubber mallet and no luck still nothing. I guess I will have to pull it this weekend and go from there.

jeepjunk · #3 05-21-2009, 04:02 PM

Old school trick incoming!
Pull starter and put direct voltage to it and see if it spins. Also your batt shoud be showing 14v.....not 12v when fully charged. Your Neutral saftey switch sounds like the most likely culprit tho.

WickedZJ · #4 05-21-2009, 05:21 PM

So after checking everything with the starter I decided to try and jump it again. This time it started fine. I let it run for a few min then shut it off and it started fine. I shut it off and let it be for like an hour and a half. Wife was getting ready to leave so I went to start it just to make sure and nothing again. Now I thought I saw somewhere that it could be a ground problem. So I was checking the negative terminal and am able to pull it off by hand. I know I need to replace this but does this sound like it could be my entire problem?

jeepjunk · #5 05-21-2009, 05:49 PM

most definately

WickedZJ · #6 05-21-2009, 11:25 PM

Well went to autozone bought a new ground cable and added a side post to my battery and still nothing. I know I have a good solid ground now. So the only other thing that fits the symptoms I am seeing is the neutral safety switch. For $12 I will pick one up tomorrow and swap it. However can someone tell me where to find it?

jeepjunk · #7 05-22-2009, 01:21 AM

Should be on the passengers side of the tranny below the hump. Not for sure but that is the general location. Usually a 2 wire plug into a screw in switch.

WickedZJ · #8 05-22-2009, 10:18 PM

OK found the NSS. Now the question is how do I get it off? It seems one of the trans pan bolts is in the way. Do I have to remove it or is there another way?