1993 Jeep Cherokee my Cherokee

D3W3Y1488

MEMBER
1993 JEEP CHEROKEE
6 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
170,417 MILES

I have a 1993 jeep cherokee 2wd auto trans 4.0 liter intercooled and its been a pretty good running vehicle and I have owned it now for a good 4 or 5 years now and just recently I have been encountering a strange problem with it, sometimes at very random times I will get in it to go and when I turn the key everything is normal dash light come on radio comes on but it wont turn over, it wont do anything no sound or anything, so its not the battery and its not cranking so its not the engine and I dont think its the starter because I dont think its going that far, so what could be the problem, do I need a new ignition switch, is my starter fried could I have a short, becuase it only does that sometimes. And other times it starts right up.

1 Reply

ZACKMAN

MECHANIC
4,202 POSTS

It does not matter. Diagnostic still starts with the battery. Just because the dash light and radio come on, that does not necessarily mean the battery is good. You can take the battery to an auto parts store, they can put a load test on the battery (the best way) to test. Or you can use a digital volt meter to check the current with the key at on (about 12.6V), and with the key at start position (more than 11.5V).

Go under the vehicle at the starter, check voltage at B+ connector and ground. You should have battery voltage. If you don't check the circuit. Now check the power from the key, with the key at start position, probe the solenoid wire and ground. If you have power, starter is bad. If there is no power, check starter relay.