96 Jeep GC Laredo - neutral safety switch?

Trek

Trek

Inactive
Have a 96 Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo that won't start consistently. Turn the key, dashboard lights up, but the starter won't crank.

BUT

Most of the time it starts just fine.

Have a shimmy in the front that comes and goes. I swear there is a busted motor mount somewhere (DH says no, but...).

I'm wondering if this on again, off again shimmy has anything to do with the tranny, and... could it have busted the neutral safety switch? If so, where the heck is the switch?

:sb: Lost my book in the move. A year and a half ago. :shk:

I love my Jeep with all it's 187000 plus miles. I don't want DH shipping it off to the junk yard on me!! DH can't crawl under the cars anymore, but my 15 year old can. If someone can describe the switch and it's general location... the two of us can figure out the rest!

Thanks!
 
C

CountryLady

Deceased
You don't say if your tranny is automatic or Manual, which can really change its location.

If its automatic, and if it is the neutral safety switch, the intermittent aspect of your problem may indicate a loose wire.

To learn exactly where your neutral safety switch is, call or visit an AutoZone store. I've worked there, and they can either locate it on their computer OR look in one of the Haynes Manuals to find its location. People need to look at things in the books quite often, so we just rip the plastic cover off and look it up. They have generic ones they can put back on. :D

A couple of other ideas are...

If you have a straight drive, check the start button that has to be in contact with the clutch petal or it won't start. My floor mat got up between them on my truck, and sometimes prevents contact, which = no start.

Disconnect and clean the battery terminals, then reinstall them. It can make all the difference, especially if its colder weather when it doesn't wanna start.

Sometimes there is an invisible crack in the distributor cap or wires that will cause a vehicle to be hard to start, esp in damp weather. Look inside the distributor to see if there is any corrosion on the contacts or rotor button. Also check the spark plug wires for leakage by starting the engine, then opening the hood in the pitch dark. Some of them look like plasma balls they leak electricity so bad. :eek:

ANY time you happen to have your check engine light come on. Go to AutoZone and they will test it FREE. They can test many sensors too. Its important to develop a rapport with one of the 'gray shirts' (managers) there.

Good luck...
 
Trek

Trek

Inactive
CountryLady,

What a great advertisement for AutoZone! LOL... You sure you don't still work for them? ;)

My tranny is an automatic. A simple loose wire would be a relief to find! I'll be heading out to AutoZone late this morning. Keeping my eyes open to find a "grey shirt". Thanks!

The battery terminals are a possiblity. I cleaned them, but they look like they have seen better days. The only code I could pull out of the Jeep was a "12", which means Battery or power to the ECM disconnected in the last 50 key cycles. Keeping my fingers crossed that there is not a short in one of the wires.
 
D

DARKSTAR

Contributing Member
Does your starter make a click when you try to start it? If it does then the starter is going, contacts inside the soleniod burn off. If no click i would go with the saftey switch
The safety switch is located on the left (drivers side) of the pan it is a three wire conection. towards the rear edge of the pan.
 
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