Ask the Car People.SM


Jeep Cherokee Start Stall Idle Problems

275 messages,  Last post on May 11, 2013 at 8:28 AM

You are in the Jeep Cherokee and Jeep Grand Cherokee Forum.

What is this discussion about? Jeep Cherokee, Transmission, SUV

Messages Page 1 of 28

#1 of 275 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever by flajeep95

Oct 27, 2006 (1:00 pm)

My Cherokee has 150K, sometimes I need to jiggle the shift lever (3spd Automatic) just right to get it to crank. Do you think it's the neutral safety switch or a linkage adjustment? Anyone else ever experience the same problem? The problems tends to be worse when I do quick trips. Moe ( my cherokee's name) has been over the river and through the woods and around the block a few times. His still strong and I want to keep him Jeeping.

#2 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [flajeep95] by johnnyb173

Nov 07, 2006 (7:46 am)

Replying to: flajeep95 (Oct 27, 2006 1:00 pm)
I have a 93 that's doing the same thing. Did you ever figure out what the problem was?

#3 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [johnnyb173] by flajeep95

Dec 08, 2006 (11:44 pm)

Replying to: johnnyb173 (Nov 07, 2006 7:46 am)
I'm still jiggling, I spoke to a mechanic and he says it's a problem with a switch thats mounted inside the tranny. His cost for the switch is about $300. I'm still researching it,there's got to be a cheap easy fix

#4 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [flajeep95] by wheatley1

Dec 10, 2006 (11:09 pm)

Replying to: flajeep95 (Dec 08, 2006 11:44 pm)
It's funny how when I read these posts on here I have had the same problems that so many others have had. I could not get mine to start once so after a tow to the garage and a day of working on it the mechanic told me about the $300 dollar switch, but if you are looking for a cheap easy fix, my mechanic gave me one of those two. Just start it in neutral when it won't start in park. Basically the computer isn't sensing the tranny position properly, even though mechanically it's in park. This is kind of a generic fix, but if it's like mine is, it doesn't always fail to start, just on occasion. Bottom line is the only way to fix this, so I've been told, is to replace the switch. Mine is a heap anyway so I opted to do the neutral start instead.

#5 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [wheatley1] by johnnyb173

Dec 11, 2006 (6:25 am)

Replying to: wheatley1 (Dec 10, 2006 11:09 pm)
I did the same thing for about two years. Sometimes the backup lights would work, sometimes they wouldn't. Sometimes it would start, sometimes it wouldn't. So, I would put it in neutral or push forward on the shifter in park and it would start. But, eventually it got to the point that it would take about twenty minutes of messing around to start it. Not a good thing if you want to be on time to work or wherever you are going. So, I took it to a garage and they told me about the neutral safety switch. I bought a new one on eBay for $120 (including shipping) and my brother-in-law and I changed it. It's actually not too hard to do, but the old one was goulded on and it the new one was tight and had to be forced on. But, now my reverse lights work and it starts every time.

#6 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [johnnyb173] by flajeep95

Dec 15, 2006 (11:13 pm)

Replying to: johnnyb173 (Dec 11, 2006 6:25 am)
Hey was the NSS mounted externally on the tranny or internal? Also, has anyone out there tried adjusting the shift linkage?

#7 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [johnnyb173] by dawnindallas

Dec 20, 2006 (9:29 am)

Replying to: johnnyb173 (Dec 11, 2006 6:25 am)
Johnny, could you pass on your eBay seller??? I'm in the same boat and will have to get a switch. I've had the exact same problem with my '92 Cherokee Laredo for a little over two years. Now it won't start in neutral or park. I haven't tried pushing the shifter forward in park, but I'm going to give that a shot in the short-term. It would be also be nice to have reverse lights again! I love my Jeep and am not ready to part with it! Thanks for the eBay info!

#8 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [johnnyb173] by dawnindallas

Dec 20, 2006 (11:43 am)

Replying to: johnnyb173 (Dec 11, 2006 6:25 am)
By the way, it worked! That is, pushing the shifter forward in park. Thanks for sharing that!

#9 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [flajeep95] by johnnyb173

Dec 21, 2006 (6:11 am)

Replying to: flajeep95 (Dec 15, 2006 11:13 pm)
The NSS is mounted on the outside of the transmission on the passenger side. We had tried adjusting the shifting linkage but that didn't work. After taking the old one off, we did notice that there is some adjustment to the NSS itself. The top bolt allows for some adjustment but I'm not sure how much.

#10 of 275 Re: 95 Cherokee Starting Problem with Shift Lever [dawnindallas] by johnnyb173

Dec 21, 2006 (6:17 am)

Replying to: dawnindallas (Dec 20, 2006 9:29 am)
The eBay seller I used was: jeep_parts_4_less
 
Here is a link to a switch like the one that I bought:
 
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/New-OEM-Neutral-Safety-Switch-Jeep-Cherokee-87-96- _W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ33727QQhashZitem270069467385QQihZ017QQitemZ270069467- 385QQtcZphoto
 
If you aren't sure which one you need you can always send him an e-mail. He replied quickly to mine and the transaction was quick and simple.

Messages Page 1 of 28

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement