Jeep Grand Cherokee Owners (Problem with mine)--VANITY--

FR ^ | 10/24/2015 | Yours Truly

[TXnMA]

I bet your GC has the same slider-type ignition switch as my Cherokee:

It sits atop the steering column, 'way down under the dash -- and is operated by pushrods from the "keyswitch" -- which is nothing but cams to drive the pushrods... (IOW, the thing you turn with your key is not, itself, a switch, at all...)

Mechanical wear sooner or later causes the actual switch to stop in a position where either

1) it won't trigger the starter solenoid
or...
2) it remains "on" when you remove your key -- and, very quickly, runs the battery down.

~~~~~~~~~~

The thing was supposedly an anti-theft move: pulling the "keyswitch" leaves the thief with no wires to use for "hotwiring".

I have replaced it on my GMC van twice, and on my Cherokee once.

Never again! I'm too old to stand on my head and struggle with replacing it 'way up under the dash -- even with the steering column "dropped". This time, I'm calling AAA and using the "golden wrench" to have my mechanic fight that piece of crap!!!

It surely sounds like that switch / worn cams / pushrods may be your problem, too...

[Paladin2]

Just make sure you have arm breaking insurance....

[sparklite2]

I figured it must have been a four-banger.
Can you imagine hand cranking a V8?

[Paladin2]

The Compression ratio matters too.

My Great Uncles would hand crank some of their tractors the 50s when we would be visiting the homestead.

[dila813]

Yep, your right

[Ghost of SVR4]

Just wanted to post with an update.
Mechanic had the vehicle for a while doing voltage tests, turning it on every morning, letting it run for lengths (looking for something thermal). The problem could not be reproduced at his shop. I picked it up from him (started right up) and drove it home. Turned it off, on, off, on. All good. Drove it to work this a.m., found a spot and turned it off. Trying to start it up, no dice. Same symptoms as before. I tried a few times through the day and about 5-6 hours later it started. I got it home and parked it in the garage. Again, tried to start it, nada. Was doing lots of reading and looked a bit harder at the starter cables. Wiggled and jiggled the yellow wire (with a female end) going to the starter solenoid and it turned right over (immediately smacking myself on the forehead for NOT trying to start the vehicle before checking on the starter wires). So, it’s 50/50 right now. Might be the wires are shot from living in the northeast, might be something thermal with the starter or a transmission sensor (NSS? Although I am not finding that part for my model vehicle). I have an appointment with the dealership next week to get hooked up to their computers.
Just posting as I have come across a lot of people having this same issue on many other forums (and varying cherokee model years). Hoping to get mine fixed and post the solution that ended my frustrations.
more to come and thanks to all for posting so far...Gave me lots to read up on and investigate.

[Ghost of SVR4]

Another update —
It is very difficult to get to the starter on 2010’s (probably lots of cherokee’s for that matter). I wanted to check the lead to the solenoid and noticed scratches on the female receptor (where voltage tests were done against). I had a hard time actually removing the receptor to expose the male solenoid end on the starter. I wiggled it pretty good back and forth (like that is somehow technical) but made a mistake. I didn’t try starting my cherokee before doing this. I got the receptor almost off but due to the limited space to work with (very cramped) and not wanting to chance too much more I re-seated the lead. The vehicle started right up right after. I drove it to work the next day and and parked awaiting the no re-start. Fired right up. Drove home, parked in the garage. Started right up after turning her off. Drove to my fiancee’s home; off, on, off, on. Started right up. Looking at the connections it is not obvious the contacts have problems (and I am not saying this truly is my problem; I have read of other’s doing the same and their problems re-surfaced a month or so later) but I have a good idea now. This weekend I am going to drop the starter and clean it well. Thinking about replacing the connectors but that will depend highly on if I can get to the things. As it stands just getting the starter removed for cleaning will be a chore as it is VERY tight in there. Hope this helps others.